Using voip device to make call from mobile phone? Possible?: voip IP telephony mobile phones cellphone cell phones

by: ehatchellPosted on 2009-03-12 at 09:45:27ID: 23870628

Well, the first potential issue with solely using a device such as a Blackberry for Wifi/data calls (I know, you're talking about 3G/EVDO but it applies) is call quality (jitter/latency). If you've ever used a wifi voip phone (netgear, cisco, etc) you'll know the situation has to be ideal for placing and making calls (3G/EVDO networks are generally worse). Ideal can be a pain and my understanding is carriers don't have any COS/QOS on their data side. So, let's assume we're past that and they do and it actually works and is usable...

I'm not aware of a provider that will allow you to drop a voice plan and just maintain data... so this might be a hiccup...

I had a few services in mind that I knew of and when browsing around for URL's for you I came across this:

http://voip.about.com/od/mobilevoip/a/BlackBerryVoIP.htm

It includes the sites I had in mind plus a few more. I know people who have tried Skype (my favorite as I prefer more commercial apps) like myself and have found that mileage varies (i use it more of a novelty). I don't know anyone that has tried it as their sole client, but heck, give it a shot. I would like you to, even after you close this post, to come back and post results for quality, carrier issues dropping the voice plan, etc as I'm curious. Some info like phone model (BB Bold, 8810, etc), carrier (ATT, Verizon, TMobile), and location (metro LA, podunk Alabama, etc), service you settled on (Skype, etc). Thanks!

by: MyersAPosted on 2009-03-12 at 10:34:03ID: 23871189

Thanks for the info.

Actually, the reason I used "Blackberry" is because anyone relates that name with a PDA phone. But I'm talking about any type of PDA phone (Blackberry, HTC Touch, etc...).

The reps at my company have PDAs that only include a data plan. I would have to check if all providers offer that option. But at least our provider does provide it.

The reason I asked is because I was interested in offering some type of service that would provide that functionality. Over here, almost everyone has a PDA phone, so I assume that they're paying for both a data and a voice plan. Over here that's at least $70/month ($40 at least for the data plan).

So I was thinking.. since I've seen magicjack advertised so much, and many people use it, I thought that there could be a way of using one of those voip devices and integrate with mobile phones. And since voip is widely used on PCs, maybe those two things could be somehow combined.

by: ehatchellPosted on 2009-03-12 at 11:27:16ID: 23871838

The URL previously provided has options for other OS types (Windows Mobile, Blackberry, etc), so you should be able to patch together something together and build an your own application that connects via SIP or whathaveyou to these said phones.

by: kode99Posted on 2009-03-12 at 15:19:01ID: 23874338

Here's a article with links a number of existing companies that offer this service,

http://voip.about.com/od/mobilevoip/a/BlackBerryVoIP.htm

Most of these will run directly on various PDA models.

If you have a IP to a PC through a wireless device any softphone with a standard voip service would likely work. Voice quality may certainly be an issue as was mentioned by ehatchell. Wireless is often far less than ideal for voip.

by: grbladesPosted on 2009-03-13 at 02:05:12ID: 23877158

http://www.fring.com have a voice service on their application and it is available for many phones.

by: MyersAPosted on 2009-03-17 at 07:34:28ID: 23908408

Thanks for the posts.

Are those options transparent to the user? The purpose is that one somehow installs it, and the user can call transparently through their PDA.

I've also noticed that these services have a per minute charge. If that were the case, then it would be cheaper for the user to purchase the voice plan.

I remember I read some time ago of a service that would constantly be checking any available internet connection (either a wireless connection or the service provider network) and using that conenction for calls. Those minutes would not be subtracted from your plan.

Myers

by: grbladesPosted on 2009-03-17 at 08:59:26ID: 23909457

With fring you load you run the application and then you can see your address book in the list. You can pick an entry and choose to call them using whatever voip option you wish (fring, skypeout or sip). If the number being called is a voip account then it will be free of charge but if you are phoneing a normal mobile or landline then you will have to pay although the cost will be much less than a normal mobile call.
Bear in mind that voip calls use normal data so these calls dont use up your minutes in your talkplan but only the data. Hence the popularity if you have a large data bundle.

by: MyersAPosted on 2009-03-17 at 13:31:59ID: 23912589

Thanks for the post. I'll check those options and get back to you guys.

What about Magicjack? Can that be used somehow?

Thanks.

by: kode99Posted on 2009-03-17 at 13:48:29ID: 23912804

Magicjack is just a USB voip adapter. So as long as you have a computer that is getting internet access through the PDA it would likely work. Not really any different than a softphone right on the PC.

Only problem I could see is a wireless provider attempting to restrict this sort of usage.

I do think that using several devices is a whole lot more inconvenient than just using a phone. To be popular it would have to provide significant savings.

by: paulottPosted on 2009-04-11 at 00:29:53ID: 24121130

For clarification: are you wanting to use your PC to make the VOIP calls, and your Blackberry's data plan for the internet access? Or do you want to simply use your Blackberry's data plan to make and receive calls on it?

I'm actually looking into #2 right now and is how I found your post. I have discovered that some VOIP services seem to work off of your mobile's voice. For example, you can't use Skype for your BB without a voice plan. My first investigation into Truphone seems to suggest the same as I believe their service directs your normal calls through their servers, but I'm not 100% certain on that. Trying to find out more information, like yourself. I'll be watching this thread with interest. :-)

by: themathprofPosted on 2009-05-13 at 09:39:56ID: 24376891

I tried to register MagicJack with FRING. I was unable to because Fring limits Password entries to 18 characters and MJ's PW is 20 characters long. Fring customer support said that they would consider my suggestion (to increase PW length to 20) in future upgrades.

by: MyersAPosted on 2009-09-25 at 12:42:34ID: 25426552

Basically, I want to use a data plan to make the calls. If I can use the data plan to place calls, then I don't need to also purchase a voice plan.

Thanks.

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Using voip device to make call from mobile phone? Possible?

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