VoIP over 3G given the green light in the iPhone SDK

Posted on 28 January 2010, at 5:45 pm, by Jessica Fritsche

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

Google Voice and Skype fans rejoice–the newest iPhone SDK has revealed that Apple has lifted the ban on using VoIP over the 3G network!

Hopefully this means that apps like GV Mobile can stop being jailbreak-only and return to the App Store where they belong, and that current wifi-only VoIP apps like Skype will be quick about updating. The first updated application is iCall, with others soon to follow I’m sure. (Again, I entreat GV Mobile to head back to the App Store!) But the real question is–what does this mean for the new iPad?

Ostensibly, the iPad runs apps just the same as the iPhone does, so it looks like the 3G-enabled iPads will give you the ability to let you leave your phone at home and use it to field phone calls, texts, and voicemails sans a mobile voice plan.

I know a few people who are already tempted to dump their iPhone or other mobile device and use nothing but the iPad, Google Voice, and a bluetooth headset. I don’t think that’s for me, but it’s a pretty interesting idea, especially with the iPad boasting 3G pay-as-you-go options. Theoretically you could save a lot of money using nothing but the iPad for your mobile needs.

It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out…did Apple just shoot AT&T’s voice plan offerings in the foot?

How you would like to subscribe to Gear Diary? We offer:

Full Post Feed |

Summary Feed |

Comments Feed

Tags | Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, Apple iPhone and Touch Applications, VoIP

3 Comments For This Post

tamaracks Says:
January 28th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
Google Voice and GV Mobile are not VOIP. That’s not why Apple pulled Google Voice related apps from the store.
Jessica Fritsche Says:
January 28th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
@Tamaracks: While it is true that Google Voice is not actual VoIP, the Google Voice apps were banned by AT&T and Apple based on an agreement they had to not allow VoIP over 3G in order to prevent loss of profits to AT&T. That came to light this last summer when the FCC was investigating the Google Voice app being rejected from the App Store.

Since AT&T decided to allow VOiP over 3G on the iPhone because of the FCC deciding to extend internet openness to mobile networks/carriers, I am hoping that grace extends to Google Voice since the 3G/VoIP rule was the reason it was rejected and not allowed on the iPhone (legitimately at least) in the first place.
tamaracks Says:
January 29th, 2010 at 5:32 am
Hmm, don’t remember that part. I thought they stopped with the “duplicating core functionality” excuse.