iPhone App Enables GSM To WiFi/VoIP Switching 153
alias420 writes "You can save on long distance and air time with the new 3G iPhone. iPhone Hacks has the scoop on an upcoming iPhone 2.0 App named 'iCall', that will let you switch between VoIP and normal GSM calls anywhere in North America. You can check out their recently released video proof of call switching in action . This software requires no hacks and will be completely official. Here is a little quote from the developer: 'We are part of the Apple iPhone developer program. This is not an application for you naughty jail breakers ;-)'"
I am confused... (Score:5, Insightful)
... couldn't you do this anywhere in the world with a phone running Skype for Mobile [skype.com] or practically any VoIP provider of your choice using a PocketPC? Either that summary is way too summarized or there really isn't anything exciting here other than saying this is now possible on an iPhone too...
Re:american woes (Score:2, Insightful)
It would be great when roaming.... Imagine sitting in your hotel room, receiving phone calls on your mobile phone and not paying the cell phone company a dime in international roaming charges.
Re:fring... (Score:4, Insightful)
Not really, Fring is pretty cool I admit but it's not fully there yet.
Which is better than this App - which is not there at all.
"Naughty" jailbreakers? (Score:4, Insightful)
What exactly is "naughty" about using hardware you paid for in the way you want?
Value judgements on behavior that harms no one. Delightful.
I'm sure someone who has some amount of respect for freedom will come up with an app that delivers similar functionality soon.
Re:I am confused... (Score:3, Insightful)
or there really isn't anything exciting here other than saying this is now possible on an iPhone too...
That's what's "exciting" about it. Every feature or rumour about the Iphone gets its own story, whilst every other phone manufacturer is ignored. Of course I predict that there will be replies saying that this feature is somehow different on the Iphone, because it "Just Works" or something.
See, next we'll have an article about the next Iphone supporting 3G...
Call quality (Score:3, Insightful)
Wow. Given how atrocious GSM (and CDMA) phone quality is relative to good old POTS (or even analog cell technology), 3G VoiP must be really unconscionably awful.
I am frankly stunned at how many people are switching to mobiles as their only phone. When I'm talking to someone who's on a mobile phone - particularly if I'm on one as well - I am constantly having to ask them to repeat themselves because I can't understand what they're saying. Between the filtering out of the high frequencies (which saves on bandwidth at the cost of intelligibility - consonants are all distinguished in the high frequencies) and occasional little quarter-second-long dropouts, digital mobile technology still seems just barely this side of unusable to me.
Making it worse via VOIP doesn't seem like the greatest idea to me.
Re:Call quality (Score:3, Insightful)
As someone who has a mobile as my only phone, I just don't use the phone that often. It's not important that I have crystal clarity as long as I can get what business done that I need to, and have a nice chat with my parents.
I've found that it really depends more on your device than the call itself. I can hear everyone perfectly well, and they understand me, as long as no one's using an el-cheapo phone.