Filed under: iPod Family, Internet, Apple, iPhone
Apple to allow VoIP on iPhone
A recent eWeek article states that Apple will not limit VoIP on the iPhone while the phone is connected to a Wi-Fi access point. During a a Q&A session after the SDK announcement on Thursday Steve Jobs said, "We'll limit [VOIP applications] over the cellular network." He went on to say that Apple would not be opposed to VOIP apps that work on a Wi-Fi connection, which is welcome news to AT&T we are sure.According to the article, SightSpeed is at least one VoIP provider that is lined up to make a VoIP solution for the iPhone. Of course, the big question is: will we see Skype on our iPhones come June (the smart money is on yes)?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TheRealKerni said 3:05PM on 3-08-2008
Well, if these apps may not run in background you will not get notified is someone wants to contact you if the app is not running. Bummer.
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matthew said 3:12PM on 3-08-2008
Supposedly the SDK exposes the entire API Apple is using for native apps, so third-party apps should have the same notification abilities, i.e. popping up notifications over other apps and ringing.
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Hentz said 12:29PM on 3-09-2008
app already exist & working...
Take a look
http://sip.free.fr/
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Jim said 1:42PM on 3-09-2008
Same thingh as Touchmods (see above). Very low sound, pretty useless at the moment, perhaps promising for the future.
Anthony said 3:43PM on 3-08-2008
I want to see Gizmo on the Touch. Along with some iPhone like earbuds w/mic. Please Please Please.
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jasonrm said 3:48PM on 3-08-2008
TUAW... I choose to read your blog because I value the information and news that you provide, but...
If your bloggers continue to post "articles" with such stupid netspeak phrases you will lose me as a reader. Yeah, it's only in the image, but this is becoming more common here in both images and text.
Sorry guys, but I can find much more professional news elsewhere if this keeps up. I know you won't miss me, I'm just one person, but just wanted to let you know my thoughts.
Raise the bar TUAW, not lower it...
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crabs said 4:01PM on 3-08-2008
uh, chill out dude. did you stop and think that maybe, it's sarcastic when they put things like that in images? maybe? just maybe? geeze, quit letting your bunched up panties rule your life.
Big Ed said 6:38PM on 3-08-2008
Then GTFO. I for one, do not want to see your bitching.
Luigi193 said 8:45PM on 3-08-2008
Dude... Chill...
Not everything has to be 100% serious... it is a BLOG after all...
cristian said 3:58PM on 3-08-2008
what about our ipod touchs?? D: we want a mic addon!!
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jus10 said 4:07PM on 3-08-2008
Well, I don't think we're in luck there. We'd need access to the dock connector to do that and I don't think Apple is going to give up the goods to let audio in become a reality.
If I'm wishing for ponies, I'm going to go all the way and wish for unlocked iPhones from Apple. The link to the devil ... I mean AT&T is why I have a Touch over a Phone.
blinkcowz182 said 5:13PM on 3-08-2008
Not to be a smartass but exactly what carrier do you feel is better than AT&T? All telecom companies are evil.
Macfan said 4:06PM on 3-08-2008
And what about VoIP on the iPod Touch? All you need is a Mic. attachment, and the appropriate software, and you'd have a phone.
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FoundInTheFlood said 4:11PM on 3-08-2008
matthew, i think what TheRealKerni wanted to point out is something i also read somewhere:
I don't remember where, but i read that apple will NOT allow 3rd party apps to run in the background, or that only ONE can run at a time.
This would make it impossible to have more then 1 app open like with jailbreaks at the moment, where taskbarnotifier shows you that you have new icq unread messages, emails etc.
So multi-using differnt apps would be limited to apples apps itself and maybe 1 3rd party app at a time :/
that would suck big time.
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FoundInTheFlood said 4:11PM on 3-08-2008
matthew, i think what TheRealKerni wanted to point out is something i also read somewhere:
I don't remember where, but i read that apple will NOT allow 3rd party apps to run in the background, or that only ONE can run at a time.
This would make it impossible to have more then 1 app open like with jailbreaks at the moment, where taskbarnotifier shows you that you have new icq unread messages, emails etc.
So multi-using differnt apps would be limited to apples apps itself and maybe 1 3rd party app at a time :/
that would suck big time.
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matthew said 4:22PM on 3-08-2008
MacRumors has a posting about this from a few minutes ago that indicates it's possible for apps to run in the background, just that it's discouraged (and theoretically in violation of the terms of distribution in the Apps Store...but I doubt they'll hold rigidly to that, considering an AIM client was one of the first proofs of concept they invited outside developers to work on):
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/03/08/iphone-sdk-limitations-multitasking-java-emulators/
drwhitt said 10:41PM on 3-08-2008
Um... no. Or, at least, not exactly.
The iPhone SDK Agreement (http://developer.apple.com/iphone/download.action?path=/iphone/iphone_sdk/iphone_sdk_agt_3308_ea0425a_copy.pdf, requires ADC login) specifically states in section 3.3.15 "Cellular Network:"
If an Application requires or will have access to the cellular network, then additionally such Application:
- Must comply with Apple's best practices and other guidelines on how Applications should
access and use the cellular network;
- Must not in Apple's reasonable judgment excessively use or unduly burden network
capacity or bandwidth;
- May not have Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functionality.
At least as far as it would apply to non-WiFi connections, doesn't this pretty-much say, "No way will an app run VoIP over the [only approved AT&T Edge] cellular network" ?" I don't know about you but most of the time when I'm using my iPhone I'm not connected to WiFi and I suspect this is more the norm than the exception.
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Ichiro said 10:49PM on 3-09-2008
Skype on the iPhone would be great!
I travel outside of the United States and skype on the iPhone would be amazing.
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airmanchairman said 10:59AM on 3-09-2008
Skype/VoIP over WiFi would be the perfect solution for avoiding roaming charges outside a carriers coverage area.
I don't consider it fair to use a carrier's own network and avoid carrier charges at the same time, that only makes sense from a self-centred point of view.
mch said 5:20AM on 3-09-2008
Apple "allows" VoIP? LOL! Check out www.touchmods.net. Don't tell me you guys haven't heard about it.
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