using voip from your cell phone

[jamieb]

hi there,

i bought a imate jam and noticed that skype comes preinstalled. i haven't tried it yet, but presumably you make skype calls over GPRS. Is this correct? If so, it is cost effective when calling overseas... considering the MTN data charges.

another idea I have been thinking about. wouldn't it be great if you could make voip calls over a bluetooth connection to your PC. the software shouldn't be too difficult to write. i.e. when you're close to your pc you can dial an international number and it would route it through your pc.

i've also heard that there are some phones available that will automatically switch over to wifi to make calls. i.e. when a wifi network is in range, it will route the calls over the internet.

thoughts/comments?

 

[JStrike]

The Nokia N91 has wifi, but doesn't support alternative calling (i.e calling via skype+wifi when available). No phone does this that I know of. Dont really see why not though.

 

[stoke]

Yup - the 2 technologies are only beginning to shake hands and make friends.
I'm waiting patiently for these slow retarded companies to stop negotiating and seal the deals already.

 

[piranha786]

The Nokia N91 has wifi, but doesn't support alternative calling (i.e calling via skype+wifi when available). No phone does this that I know of. Dont really see why not though.

THE n91 has some pretty feuture, any Idea when available in SA, (on vodacom contracts I mean)

 

[nGAGEd55]

THE n91 has some pretty feuture, any Idea when available in SA, (on vodacom contracts I mean)

AFAIK it hasnt been released anywhere in the world yet

and bout VOIP over GPRS, it will work out cheaper than making a normal call, because to transfer 1meg of data through GPRS will take more than 3min, so it will be less than 66c per minute. But over GPRS the lag is very, very bad. I've tried calling my computer from my notebook through GPRS with my phone connected by Bluetooth, and it just impossible to talk at all. I timed the lag and it was bout 30sec! Maybe it'll be better over 3G?

 

[Daveogg]

hi there,

i bought a imate jam and noticed that skype comes preinstalled. i haven't tried it yet, but presumably you make skype calls over GPRS.

Skype over gprs just is not going to make it. Horredous latency and jitter, but Skype over 3g is works, if you have a decent signal. Did just that while sitting in the wimpy in JHB airport - quality was quite acceptable to New Zealand.

 

[JStrike]

No real idea. It hasn't been released anywhere yet. But Nokia lost my support years ago, when they refused to innovate and stuck with their old designs and tech.

 

[gboy]

What cellphone do you yse to make Voip calls via 3G

 

[mancombseepgood]

VOIP is illegal over MTN

I confirmed this today with MTNSP. So I have skype on my imate, but cant use it 4 voip. Cant use my edge card for voip either. Dial 155 from an mtn handset to confirm this - they will tell you details on policies, fines, etc.

 

[GuRu]

I confirmed this today with MTNSP. So I have skype on my imate, but cant use it 4 voip. Cant use my edge card for voip either. Dial 155 from an mtn handset to confirm this - they will tell you details on policies, fines, etc.

WHAT ! change sevice providers then ! Fine you for what ? making use of the internet ?

 

[Gunny]

I use yahoo for VOIP its less bandwith intensive than skype and the quality is the same and it works well over GPRS also i connect my bluetooth headset (SonyEricsson HBH600) to my pc and can wander around my house while on a call and skype works well on 3G dnt attempt it on GPRS u`ll just get frustrated.

 

[mancombseepgood]

Yeah yeah

WHAT ! change sevice providers then ! Fine you for what ? making use of the internet ?

That's kind of how I felt when I heard their excuse. Appearently even though it is written policy, they are not implementing it (fines). I still don't like the attitude. Problem is.. move where.. Vodacom (Telkom)?

 

[Peter7]

Wait for actually liberlisation where wireless ISPs become the norm, then say cheers to cellphone providers and their ridiculous "DATA rates"!

Everyone will get a "wireless" phone and make free-to-low cost phone calls.

Btw, has anyone calculated whether it's cheaper to use VOIP over the current cell networks with their high data rates, than it is to make voice calls on the same networks?

I know it's something like R499 for 1GB for MTN - sheesh ridiculous!

Come on wireless!!

 

[rasputyn]

Think of it this way...

You open a contract with MTN/VC/Cell C, they give you a subsidised handset for free, at a reasonable subscription so you end up paying for only a fraction of the price of this handset with the subs.
Their reckoning is that they will be able to make up at least a bit of the balance of the price of the phone by charging ridiculous call charges.

Now, all of a sudden, people start making VOIP calls on their larney new free cellphone using the data network be it 3G, EDGE, GPRS, whatever, which the network provider installed at great cost because they thought that they could cross subsidise the thing with revenue from call charges.

This would work out to be cheaper for the consumer in the long run as more and more people do it, but the networks would be loosing large amounts of call revenue to it.

My theory is that if the networks click on the this idea, they will just increase the data tariffs or, in the extreme case, close VOIP ports totally on their networks.

 

[qdada]

but then again the still charge us an arm and a leg for data, if they need to recoup the money invested in their 3g infrastructure they had better learn to relax cause i am not exactly crazy about watching smallville on a cellphone.

they should be encouraging ppl to use the infrastructure anyhow we seem fit.
ignoring this, is ignoring the customer.

 

[Peter7]

My theory is that if the networks click on the this idea, they will just increase the data tariffs or, in the extreme case, close VOIP ports totally on their networks.

Yup, my point exactly - although closing the ports can always be overcome by proxies and VPNs.

A liberalised environment is what we need where wireless is freely available and you can get the phones that support both the cell and the wireless standards.
I'm not too clued on wireless, b/c of the restrictive laws imposed on it at the moment (and ICASA shutting down WISPs in my area), but I'm thinking if the WISPs allow some type of free (or low cost) roaming on their networks VOIP calls will be MUCH cheaper than cell calls (AND BY FAR!). It will annihilate the cell networks revenue - probably to a point where the cell providers become national WISPs themselves since they'll have the biggest wireless footprint of any WISP. I wouldn't wait for mobile virtual networks though since the cell providers will still dictate the data rates. All goes back to competition being in place.

Oh well been around this bush thousands of times over the years... not going to sing this song again....