Truphone Gets Kicked Off Android Island… For Now

Posted on 23 January 2010, at 12:38 pm, by Dan Cohen

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One of the main reasons for using an Android powered phone is, in my mind, the remarkably tight integration with Google Voice. The ability to have Google Voice take over the phone functionality of the device, so that outgoing calls come from it rather than there needing to be a callback is a homerun. It makes a huge difference if, like me, you are looking to move to Google voice full-time. That’s a good thing.

Yesterday Jason posted about the new release of Truphone for Android. As a new Nexus One owner I was excited to see the availability of what I have found to be the best VoIP client for mobile devices. That’s a good thing too.

Here’s the not so good thing…

The two applications don’t seem to play well together. When I first loaded Truphone I received a warning that the two might not be compatible and this is indeed the case. Once I started using Google Voice, after installing the second application Google Voice continually crashed. Time and again it locked up. In fact, even when I wasn’t using the application I would receive warnings that the application had ceased functioning. Worse than that, it seemed to slow down and lock up my phone continually. When I removed Trufone the issues resolved themselves, and the phone was back to being stable and Google Voice worked just fine.

At some point it’s clear that Google is going to have its own VoIP client tied into Google Voice (after all, they can acquire Gizmo5 for fun). At that point I begin using Google Voice to make a WiFi phone calls on a regular basis. Until then, however, Truphone is by far the best option out there. (I have NEVER had much luck with ANY of Skype’s mobile clients). If I have to choose one over the other, the choice is clear– Google Voice stays, Truphone leaves the island, but hopefully an update is in the works that will allow the two to live side-by-side in peace.

Tags | Android Software, Google Voice, Tips & Tricks, VoIP

3 Comments For This Post

Joel McLaughlin Says:
January 23rd, 2010 at 3:10 pm
I tried Truphone a while back. Google Voice is MUCH better. Just wish there was a Gizmo5 client. Also would like a true SIP client as well. Be nice to call into the Linux Link Tech Show from anywhere without eating up cell minutes.
Dan Cohen Says:
January 23rd, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Joel it isnt to prefer one over the other since they do totally different things. Eventually they maybe in the samespace but not now. But they are incompatible right now.
Joel McLaughlin Says:
January 23rd, 2010 at 6:14 pm
I missed a word there….Google Voice a much better app. Truvoice is different but if I had to choose, Truvoice would get the axe here too. That’s only speaking from my experience with Android. It maybe fine on the iPhone.