Source: voipcentral.org

Raketu has liberated its users from PCs. The Skype-killer has just launched a SMS-Text Driven VoIP service; the service essentially marks a new wave of mobile VoIP communication where the users simply need a mobile device to make VoIP calls without depending upon PC or internet connection.

It is indeed a unique proposition for Raketu to leverage their strong presence in MVoIP market. The SMS-Text Driven VoIP as it appears will enable users to make VoIP calls with their mobile phones which are capable of sending messages to other devices.

The users can make national and international calls without leaning over PC or internet connection. Previously, the Raketu customers used to do VoIP calls either from PC to phone and vice versa.

Greg Parker, President of Raketu elaborates,

Our new SMS-Text Driven Service represents a paradigm shift in the ability for users with just about any mobile phone to initiate free or low-cost calls right from their handsets.

The SMS-Text Driven VoIP service is free. It is available in forty countries. The company charges very low cost for rest of the world. The call rates are based on Raketus RakWeb calling rates. The customers who have registered for RakWeb can get 1200 free minutes per month under the SMS-Text Driven VoIP plan.

Image:Mobiletopsoft

Source: voipcentral.org

The wait is almost over. Huchison 3G or 3 has officially launched the keenly-waited Skypephone dubbed as 3 Skypephone in UK. Skypephone means built-in Skype functionality. Thus, as said earlier, the device must simplify the use of Skype VoIP. There is no doubt.

Other countries like Australia, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Ireland, Macau and Sweden will welcome the 3 Skypephone by the end of this year.

The Skypephone brings free VoIP calls for the Skype users in UK. The mobile operator is not charging. However, the customers can enjoy 4,000 minutes of free calls in a month on 3s network. They can enjoy incoming calls beyond that limit. If the customers are outside 3s network, then roaming charge is applicable. The phone does not work in USA.

With Skypephone, you can also make Skype Out calls. I mean Mobile to PC or Landline or any other phone. These calls are not free.

Features:

1.Candy-bar style

2.Color: white and black

3.2-megapixel camera,

4.MPHuchison 3 player

5.Bluetooth connectivity

6.16M bytes of internal memory

7.Micro SD memory card.

8.Price: Just $102

Is it new beginning for MVoIP?

MVoIP or Mobile over VoIP is a dichotomy (Read Vodafone, Orange). The mobile operators have always tried to maintain distance from VoIP. Huchison 3 has embraced Mobile VoIP. Who knows some other day, Vodafone may be romancing with VoIP!!!

Image: Freealternative

Source: voipcentral.org

The news over last fortnight made me speculate that Skype is going to be a mobile service provider. I mean Mobile over VoIP, altogether a different proposition for the VoIP giant. The service will be available in UK very soon, most probably by the end of next month. Skype has teamed up with the recognized mobile operator Three to provide the service.

We have reported here Skype-Three agreement on Skype Handset. The partnership now moves beyond that. They are now planning to offer free mobile to mobile VoIP service using Skype software.

The customers must be overwhelmed. After all, they can make free calls from their handheld devices. However, there are certain critical implications for Mobile VoIP which we can not ignore.

For Skype, MOBIVOX will be the next major issue.

As it is distinctly visible, the mobile operators will loss their revenue if VoIP players like Skype will offer free or cheap mobile VoIP services over mobile operators’ network.

No doubt, the mobile operators can charge VoIP calls as data rates when customers are outside the WiFi areas, however they can not enjoy the hefty share.

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Source: voipcentral.org

Its a victory of Truphone in general and MVoIP in particular. In a landmark ruling, the High Court in London has ordered T-Mobile not to block and initiate routing calls to Truphone numbers by 23rd of this month.

Though a final hearing is in waiting later, it is first time that a court ruling went in favor of mobile VoIP operator, otherwise the regulatory authorities have always maintained distance from the controversy between the mobile operators and VoIP players.

Launched in September 2006, Truphone enables customers to download free software on to their mobile phones and make free or low cost international calls using a WiFi network. It supports most of the 3G phones.

The leading MVoIP service provider has complained T-Mobile of blocking its VoIP calls without any strong reasons. These calls are made to number owned by the MVoIP company.

After the first round court verdict, relaxed James Tagg, the CEO of Truphone said,

The injunction is good news not only for Truphone but for every company trying to develop internet-era services and for every consumer wanting freedom of choice and lower prices.

Further reading

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Source: voipcentral.org

I can say VoIP entered the mainstream in 2006 for good reasons. Time is now conducive for Mobile over VoIP (MVoIP) to see the light of the day. If Coleman has to be believed, there is no doubt MVoIP will be on the road very soon.

Traditional operators cannot ignore it. Rather, they have to adjust with the changing trend.

A recent survey by Coleman Parkes has revealed that seven out of 10 global business enterprises are ready to adopt VoIP technology on mobile devices in next two years.

They foresee increased productivity and lower costs as the main benefits of the emerging MVoIP technology.

The study conducted with 200 firms from USA and Europe shows that they are progressively using data applications on mobile handsets and other applications such as mobile email, internet and calendar applications.

Matt Bancroft, the VP at Mformation (the firm taken for the survey) says,

We have reached the point in the market where mobile business applications are tried and tested and people are starting to use them. But this raises an interesting management challenge for CIOs.

I personally feel the growing popularity of Mobiboo, Jajah, Truphone and Fring has attracted corporate world to embrace Mobile VoIP applications in their corporate communication set-ups.

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Source: voipcentral.org

We have reported here the beta release of Truphone 3.0, a Mobile VoIP (MVoIP application) that enables Nokia smartphone users to enjoy VoIP services from their handsets. The latest version is now officially launched by Truphone bringing free MVoIP services in almost 40 countries in the world.

The customers of these countries can make free VoIP calls from their mobile devices until the end of 2007.

James Tagg, CEO of Truphone explains:

We were the first company to demonstrate SMS-over-IP in our preview version at the beginning of June and we’ve been delighted at the feedback we’ve received. People love free and low-cost text messages. Today, the new Truphone service is ready to download for everyone.

The most important feature of the Truphone 3.0 is that it supports VoIP services over a 3G connection. In other words, you can make VoIP calls in more places. However, you need to move your mobile operator to provide you 3G network. Anyway, the latest version has other important features:

1. Free SMS messages (solely for the Truphone users)

2. Supports multiple SIM cards (useful for regular travelers)

3. Enhanced presence view (you can know when to make VoIP calls)

4. Better managed WiFi access points

5. Works on multiple routers

6. Simple installation

At present, the version 3.0 is supports Nokias E60, E61, E70 and N80 Internet Edition handsets. The company plans to add 25 more phones for its MVOIP applications by the end of this year.

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Source: voipcentral.org

Fring has moved a step ahead in the emerging MVoIP market by enabling its users to enjoy mobile VoIP services on their Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0 series handheld devices. It shows a major expansion of Fring’s MVoIP community.

Tradionally, Fring is a downloadable mobile phone application ensuring P2P 3G VoIP services to Symbian phones. The main features of Fring includes VoIP services without WiFi, Skype support, Google Talk services, Simple installation and no air-time charge, Full-duplex voice quality and user friendly application.

With this addition, Fring now supports nearly 300 Windows mobile phones and Pocket PCs over any 3G, GPRS or WiFi Internet connection.

In a press release, Fring CEO, Avi Shechter said,

Like all fringsters, Windows Mobile users now have real mobile independence to make VoIP calls at no extra cost with rich presence indicators and hold multiple live chat sessions with their mobile, PC and landline contacts all from one integrated contact list.

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Source: voipcentral.org

We have some good news for the mobile VoIP users, particularly for the Nokia smartphone users as Truphone has announced the launch of its Truphone Wizard 3.0 version for them.

The striking feature of the Truphone 3.0 is that it supports VoIP services over a 3G connection. It means that you can make VoIP calls in more places. However, you need to move your mobile operator to provide you 3G network. Any way, the latest version has other important features:

1.Free SMS messages (Exclusively for the Truphone users)

2.Supports multiple SIM cards (Helpful for regular travelers)

3.Enhanced presence view (You can know when to make VoIP calls)

4.Better managed WiFi access points

5.Works on multiple routers

6.Simple installation

Launched in September 2006, Truphone has emerged as one of the most popular Mobile VoIP applications brining free VoIP services to the WiFi enabled Nokia phones.
As of now, it is supporting Nokias E60, E61, E70 and N80 Internet Edition handsets. The company plans to add 25 more phones for its MVOIP applications by the end of this year.

Image with Report: Truphone Blog

Source: voipcentral.org

We have some good news for Nokia N95 users as WiFiMobile has just released its latest software Version 751 bringing VoIP services for N95 in a true fashion.

WiFiMobile made the release of its OneFone software just a few days after Vodafone wiped out VoIP functionality from Nokia N95. The OneFone software will enable Nokia N95 devices to carry out VoIP services.

With OneFone, the users can make VOIP calls either over Wi-Fi or through a 3G network. The software also ensures presence information in the form of a contact list.

Besides supporting N95, the software also enables other selected Nokia N60 devices as an extension to a corporate IP PBX system. It empowers IT Managers to warily manage their companys constantly rising mobile phone costs.

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Source: voipcentral.org

Truphone, the emerging MVoIP company has extended its free VoIP offer to the UK customers who can now call to 40 international destinations still the end of June this year.

The users with WiFi-enabled Nokia Smartphones can talk to other Truphone users without incurring monthly charges or any additional cost. Some of the major countries are USA, Australia, New Zealand, China and most of the European countries. (Get the list of destinations).

The UK customers can call to 1.6 billion landline globally from their mobile phones during the promotion period.

It is interesting note the fact that while the established giants like T-Mobile, Skype are critical towards MVoIP, Truphone looks forward to exploit this market.

Source: voipcentral.org

Truphone has alleged that mobile phone operators are chocking the growth of VoIP industry. The allegation is apparently against the two leading mobile giants, Vodafone and Orange who removed VoIP services from Nokia N95 devices a week ago.

James Tagg, CEO of Truphone strongly objected,

Preventing consumer choice is protectionism in disguise - it’s subsidy abuse. We’re at the dawn of the mobile internet era and consumers should get an open playing field and not a walled garden. If the mobile network operators start blocking services they don’t like there will be no incentive for anyone to innovate. You may own the handset, but they’ll own you.

Truphone, which provides its VoIP services in the host number of Nokia phones including E61i, E65, E90 and N95 has asserted that it will move to European regulators against the mobile phone operators if the issue was not solved.

Truphone also complains the removal of VoIP services from mobile devices violates net neutrality law that ensures Internet providers do not confine customers to specific products, services or content.

Source: voipcentral.org

When I reported the elimination of VoIP functionality from Nokia N95 by Vodafone and Orange and then the reasons of the removal, a Fring spokesperson left a comment in one of my above posts.

I think the comment is an indication that VoIP is there with Nokia N95.

Fring, the emerging MVoIP application will still work on the N95.

With Fring, we can make free mobile calls and send instant messages to other Fring users. At the same time, the Fring enabled phones also support calls to PC based VoIP applications such as Skype and Google Talk without any additional cost.