VIBER- SKYPE KILLER?

Are we ever going to be able to make video calls through Skype on the iPhone 4?
 
Sorry for resurrecting an oldish (even though it is only a little more than a month old) thread, but I don't want to create another one.

So, how does this app work? How much data does it chow to call another viber user?
 
Doesn't work so well, unless both parties are using wifi
 
hi
be4 i could try this i sold my iphone
so could not try it
some1 who has used it could inform us
 
If the call is made over 3G it's not FREE (you still incure data costs) same goes for WiFi (have not found mant FREE Hot Spots around ;) ) Mate of mine was raving over it... I said wait for your next cell phone bill... and he was shocked at his data costs :)
 
I am getting a 'packet switched data call' charge from MTN which I am told is for using VOIP apps like Vibre and skype over the MTN network.

Can anyone confirm whether MTN can distinguish between data and voip?

The only apps I have that could be responsible are Vibre, skype or whatsapp... so when the ad says 'FREE phone calls' be very careful...
 
They can definitely distinguish between the two. Whatsapp is not a VOIP app though, basically it is only 'enhanced IM'.

Bloody buggers know that they will start losing profit when people realize that VOIP is cheaper, so they add a surcharge to keep us from using it and pay their ridiculous call rates
 
I am also on mtn, but at my house I atleast have wifi so maybe that will help. I just want to know how much data it takes to speak for a minute etc, and how much is this packet switched data call charge?
 
Found this on the mtn site... what concerns me is the 'retrospective' charge if you are found to be using VoIP...

In terms of the current regulatory regime in South Africa, please note that these tariffs and the MTN GPRS, GPRS+, EDGE or 3G technologies may not be used to transfer or generate Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) traffic. Should it be found that VoIP traffic was carried over the MTN network using these tariffs or technologies, MTN reserves the right to cancel the agreement that you have with MTN, with immediate effect. You will also be charged retrospectively at R21.93 per Megabyte (VAT excluded) for any VoIP traffic transferred by such means.

Here the link to the legal jargon

http://www.mtnsp.co.za/Support/Legal/Pages/BasicDataTariffDataBundles.aspx
 
and this is where it gets scary, if I call you on Viber you too will be transfering data as VoIP... that makes you liable for the same retrospective charges...

So just having Viber on your phone is a risk... I tell you gimme the good old nokia brick, these smart phones are just no use here in Africa... :(
 
Last edited:
by the sounds of it they will all have that clause... it is a serious issue. Speaking to a mobile software developer mate of mine he says it's unlikely that they track it but it is certainly possible that they know what data is being used for VoIP. If that is the case the providers could, according to their clause, let us all merely call away on skype and viber and then hit us all with a massive retrospective bill...

It IS possible.
 
I am also on mtn, but at my house I atleast have wifi so maybe that will help. I just want to know how much data it takes to speak for a minute etc, and how much is this packet switched data call charge?

Made an hour long call to a mate in Germany, afterwards I checked my balance and only 15mb was used. Though I still can't work out if was from the apps I've downloading before or bcos of viper.

I still haven't noticed any major changes in my balance.
 
by the sounds of it they will all have that clause... it is a serious issue. Speaking to a mobile software developer mate of mine he says it's unlikely that they track it but it is certainly possible that they know what data is being used for VoIP. If that is the case the providers could, according to their clause, let us all merely call away on skype and viber and then hit us all with a massive retrospective bill...

It IS possible.

I've gone through the terms on CellC and there is nothing that I can find remotely like this. VOIP wasn't mentioned....
I'm guessing it's MTN only...
 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter