Apple Will Allow Voice Over IP (VOIP) on Wifi

[MacRumors]

During the Q&A Session, Apple indicated that they would allow Voice Over IP (VOIP) applications on the iTunes App Store so long as the applications only ran over Wifi, not cellular networks (such as EDGE).

This means that popular internet telephone applications such as Skype could be easily ported to the iPhone. Allowing VOIP to run over EDGE connections would directly compete with AT&T's voice plans, but even Wifi support for VOIP could be very useful.



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[72930]

Awesome...hopefully a Jailbreak app will come fore VoIP-On-EDGE

 

[overanalyzer]

The day Skype or another VoIP app comes out post iPhone 2.0, even for WiFi only, I'm definitely dropping Vonage for good (even though they give me free service when I try to cancel). And yes, I know I could hack my phone, but I actually want a supportable product with a solid upgrade path, thanks.

 

[spazzcat]

Awesome...hopefully a Jailbreak app will come fore VoIP-On-EDGE

I think EDGE will be too slow for this?

 

[SilvorX]

This is pretty amazing news, my parents live in a rural community without a GSM tower (but a couple CDMA towers) so when I "need" to make calls through my current phone, I use Skype. This will be handy if a VOIP based app arrives onto the iPhone, that is if the iPhone ever comes to Rogers

 

[Nanaki]

the best news ever

This will make the iPhone the most coveted platform on the planet. I can't freaking wait to buy a 32GB one.

 

[CommodityFetish]

But note there's no mic on the Touch.

And the SDK can't access add-on peripherals, like a mic.

So yay for VOIP on iPhone, but meh! if you still have to pay for the cell and data plan with AT&T...

Unless you could have the iPhone but drop the AT&T service and use VOIP - can that be done? Within the terms of service?

 

[ubersalad]

This will be insane...no more international roaming charges.

What about Touch, with the right software, you can use it as a phone, too!

 

[overanalyzer]

And the SDK can't access add-ons, like a mic.

Actually, I'm not sure that's true. It was stated in rumors before the SDK release that that would be the case, but Apple said today that the SDK is the exact same APIs they're using at this point. So it should actually allow for using external devices I think.

 

[CommodityFetish]

Apple said today that the SDK is the exact same APIs they're using at this point. So it should actually allow for using external devices I think.

That would be sweet! I hope that's right... It'd be good to hear an official statement on this.

 

[organic bond]

But note there's no mic on the Touch.

Actually, there is a mic: http://touchmods.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-next-1500-please/

 

[MacFanBoyIIe]

That's sick! Finally! I'm really stoked for Skype on my iPhone.

 

[NeoMayhem]

This is great. I will definitely be canceling my cell service as soon as this works well over wifi. I will just keep a prepaid sim in the phone for the few minutes a month I need to make calls elsewhere.

 

[severe]

Hey guys.. I'm an iPhone owner that doesn't know much about VOIP, other than the basics.

Once implemented, would one be able to use their current AT&T cell number as access to this feature? Via WiFi, of course.

In other words.. If I wanted to use VOIP, would I have to use a different line to have friends call me in my home?

 

[NeoMayhem]

I think EDGE will be too slow for this?

Voice over GSM is only 13 kbps, so it could definitely work over EDGE.

 

[jbh001]

Hey guys.. [I don't] know much about VOIP, other than the basics.

Ditto. What I am interested in is if this means functionality like T-Mobile's HotSpot@Home service.

Will someone please explain this to me?

Thanks.

 

[japanime]

Actually, there is a mic: http://touchmods.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/the-next-1500-please/

Right you are. I've purchased one of these mics and have been using it with their VoIP application. It works great.

 

[LucasLand]

so does this mean i can get it to work with my vonage account?

 

[gauravps]

Alright, here's the deal with VOIP for those not in the know. I will use skype as an example because it's all I use, though I know that yahoo and others offer similar services.

It is most useful for outgoing calls, because you can sign in with a username and call other people also signed in to the same service (on their computers or phones) for free.

You can ALSO pay to call landlines, which is something quite reasonable in US/Europe, approximately 2 cents per minute with skype ("SkypeOut").

However, to have people call you while you're signed onto such a service, you have to pay a monthly fee of sorts to have a real phone number that diverts to your skype account when called ("SkypeIn").

I'm in the UK now and on a 6-month contract with 3's "skypephone", which I've been loving - they allow only skype-to-skype voip (in addition to your usual voice minutes), but it's over their 3G network, which is extremely handy for keeping in touch with family/friends in other countries who can sign on to their computers to chat. Especially because it allows one to circumvent timezone differences, as you can be signed on to skype all day long. Of course, the reason for getting the 6-month contract was so that it would run out just in time for the new edition of the iPhone .

 

[b_boy]

This is the information I needed to hear in order to get an iPhone. No sense in having an internet gadget that does not have a major class of communication ability like Skype (VOIP). I use Skype everyday, not so sure on my cell phone.

 

[BrownManUPS]

This is very awesome. A lot of people had claimed that if VoIP came on the iPod Touch that there would be no competition. While I believe this will shorten the gap, I think this still is an excellent feature to introduce. I think Skype should now capitalize and release a Skype third party software to download on macs to install to an iPhone/Touch and include the earbuds with microphone that iPhones do to give the full consumer experience.

The iPhone (and partially touch) is clearly looking to be the way people will do business for a long time.