RSS Feeds
Software
iPhone Apps Could Get Influx of VoIP Functionality
Posted by Mark Wilson at 3:40 AM on August 13, 2008
While AT&T terms of service don't allow customers to use their 3G internet to provide voice over IP, iPhone users could still save minutes utilising VoIP over Wi-Fi. And a company named Global IP Solutions plans to release a VoIP software development kit for the iPhone that will not only allow developers to more easily create simple VoIP programs, but add VoIP functionality to the programs we already know and love. And the possibilities are really cool:
Imagine, for instance, playing Pac-Man where the ghosts are other players strategising in realtime. Or picture Yelp or Urbanspoon packed with a GPS-triangulated chatroom, allowing you to ask others in the area where they like to eat--and if they'd like to meet up for a spontaneous date.
Global IP Solutions is certainly not the only company working on such ideas, but by offering a VoIP SDK to developers, it should make VoIP integration easier for the smaller developer who only has knowledge in one specific area.
The only problem is that even if these VoIP functions are within AT&T's Terms of Service, the resulting applications still need to be approved for the App Store. And if AT&T or Apple gets paranoid about VoIP competition, who knows what we'll actually see released. [informationweek]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
UofITom
Posted 4:15 AM 13/8/08
How does that pacman example have anything to do with VOIP?
UofITom
Tank
Posted 4:12 AM 13/8/08
@mrdale: Yeah, but I'm hoping it gets approved. (also tapping foot in anticipation...)
Tank
mrdale
Posted 4:08 AM 13/8/08
@Tank: iCall is unreleased. (repetatively taps foot..)
mrdale
BanMeAgainBrianLam
Posted 4:04 AM 13/8/08
I'm still waiting for a carrier to realize that they can just put the whole phone service on the data side and stop the silly voice vs data plan BS. It may take a while yet, but I can see it coming.
BanMeAgainBrianLam
Tank
Posted 4:03 AM 13/8/08
iCall has software ready and is free to and from landlines.
Tank
OMG! Ponies! Deservs It
Posted 3:50 AM 13/8/08
This is the one thing that T-Mobile has that really is a killer app. Having your phone switch to WiFi when possible and not use minutes is amazing.
OMG! Ponies! Deservs It
flunkycarter
Posted 3:44 AM 13/8/08
Umm... can we get skype for the iPhone first!?!
flunkycarter
helmsb
Posted 4:39 AM 13/8/08
If I remember correctly the iPhone SDK explicitly states that you cannot create any SDK or framework on the iPhone that allows you to build new applications. I thought this was one of the main reasons Flash is not on the iPhone. How are they planning to get around that?
helmsb
davebg5
Posted 5:33 AM 13/8/08
Yeah...maybe then I'd actually be able to make and receive calls without them continually dropping the connection inside my home since the POS iPhone 3G and AT&T's 3G network SUCK BALLS AS A PHONE!!!
davebg5
rekoil
Posted 5:13 AM 13/8/08
I used Truphone when I went to Canada a few weeks ago - unfortunately it's outbound calls only for now, since it can't run in the background and listen for incoming SIP notifications. :(
rekoil
drelo
Posted 6:00 AM 13/8/08
C'mon Giz! How childish.... Drawing buttholes in between the iPhones. Sooooooooooooo immature.
drelo
kiseki
Posted 8:50 AM 13/8/08
No chance this will be approved for the app store. This hits the core of the AT&T business much more than the tethering app, even though it uses wifi. Jailbreak/Cydia it is!
kiseki
guibom
Posted 9:21 AM 13/8/08
I used the free minutes I got with Truphone, but they went by really fast. Skype is A LOT cheaper for the places I call. I wish there was skype for iphone already.
And they could just make it for jailbroken iphones, so you could use 3G (never gonna happen). Or at least port the old VOIP apps for the jailbroken 1.x firmware.
guibom
dougm
Posted 12:38 PM 13/8/08
@OMG! Ponies! Deservs It: No truer words have been spoken. AT&T and Apple need to work on this...
dougm
rmonta
Posted 10:21 AM 13/8/08
What happened to Fring? That has been the best skype VOIP app I have used, as well as
muliple messaging accounts.
rmonta