Hey, you're new around here aren't ya? Did you know you can every post FREE in your EMAIL or via RSS? Oh and if you're a Twit like me you can follow me on Twitter HERE. Enjoy the post.
The iPhone’s VoIP capability is a dud.
When I first got my iPhone I was giddy over the prospects of being able to leverage the phone’s WiFi capabilities to send and receive WiFi calls. As it quickly approaches one year with my iPhone, I realize that not much has changed and that the promise that the iPhone once held for mobile voip caling is dwindling with each day.
Sure, truphone launched an application for the iPhone (which after a bit of difficulty, I finally got working) and there is the RF.com application that allows me to leverage a SIP provider of my choice to send and recieve calls, but when you compare what is out there and available for the iPhone with say, the Nokia N or E series, you see what I mean.If I want any variety, though, in VoIP applications for the iPhone I need to jailbreak it and that is not something I am interested in (nor should I have to do). Both the user and technologist in me is disappointed that there is not more being done on this front and it calls into question whether or not Apple is serious about the iPhone being a business class device.
If the iPhone wishes to be taken serious by business users like me and continue to gain business user marketshare, then they need to start focusing on the business user and incenting developers and partners to create business productivity utilities for the iPhone and hopefully, that starts with more VoIP applications. Otherwise they will quickly find that they will be relgated to nothing more than another overpriced smartphone that let’s me play tetris when I am waiting for my flight.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Unfortunately I have to disagree. there were pretty good VoIP applications on v1 jailbroken phones. So we know the iPhone has the technical capabilities for VoIP.
problem, as i see it, is Apples policies. right now apps cant run in the background, so what is the point in a VoIP app?? none! Plus the applications had to be re-written.
Same can be said for IM clients.. there were awesome IM clients on v1. but what is the point.. they cant run in the background. Suppose they could release a jailbreak version…. but where is the money in that?
@ DB:
The problem is I don’t want to (and people should not have to) jailbreak my phone to use a VoIP application. I don’t have to do that with Nokia’s and dozens of other phones…what makes the iPhone so different?
I truly believe that the iPhone is another example of a consumer products company thinking that they understand the business market, but end of fail because rather than embrace the differences between consumer and prosumer, they merely shove consumer features and functionality down our throats.
At this juncture the iPhone is nothing more than a mobile entertainment device.
true, its Apples policies that are holding it down.
I have mixed feelings about a VoIP iPhone application. We have considered developing such an application but have yet to move forward beyond a prototype at this point. For us, VoIP is nothing more than a transport layer. We are more concerned about the actual development of web/mobile applications with voice technologies regardless of protocol. Given the problems of the 3G network I’m concerned that if all voice applications are dependent on VoIP the applications themselves will fail because of the instability of the network. If applications are developed using Voice APIs, such as ours, which enable voice calls through the PSTN those network concerns are less prevalent.
I agree that “business” use of VoIP on iPhone is lacking, but I’m quite happy with a v1 unit out of jail and running various apps to make my day easier. Mine also has no SIM card for the cell network, so my monthly bill is zero. My rules do not apply to you, but if you don’t want that v1 iPhone, let me know what you want to sell it for… my Wife needs one just like mine.
I’m a big fan of Apple computers. In fact, I have lots of them including an iPhone. But I’ve never been a fan of Apple, Inc. and its business practices. For all the bashing that Microsoft takes, consider for a moment where we’d all be if Apple had been in the driver’s seat with the industry standard business operating system. It would have been everyone’s worst nightmare. And the iPhone pretty much proves it.
Leave a Comment