Apple to allow VoIP on iPhone
Posted Mar 8th 2008 3:00PM by Cory Bohon
Filed under: iPod Family, Internet, Apple, 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)?
Tags: Apple, iPhone, iPod touch, IpodTouch, SDK, VoIP
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-08-2008 @ 3:05PM
TheRealKerni said...
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.
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 3:12PM
matthew said...
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.
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 3:43PM
Anthony said...
I want to see Gizmo on the Touch. Along with some iPhone like earbuds w/mic. Please Please Please.
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 3:48PM
jasonrm said...
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...
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 4:01PM
crabs said...
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.
3-08-2008 @ 6:38PM
Big Ed said...
Then GTFO. I for one, do not want to see your bitching.
3-08-2008 @ 8:45PM
Luigi193 said...
Dude... Chill...
Not everything has to be 100% serious... it is a BLOG after all...
3-08-2008 @ 3:58PM
cristian said...
what about our ipod touchs?? D: we want a mic addon!!
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 4:07PM
jus10 said...
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.
3-08-2008 @ 5:13PM
blinkcowz182 said...
Not to be a smartass but exactly what carrier do you feel is better than AT&T? All telecom companies are evil.
3-08-2008 @ 4:06PM
Macfan said...
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.
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 4:11PM
FoundInTheFlood said...
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.
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 4:22PM
matthew said...
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/
3-08-2008 @ 4:11PM
FoundInTheFlood said...
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.
Reply
3-08-2008 @ 10:41PM
drwhitt said...
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.
Reply
3-09-2008 @ 5:20AM
mch said...
Apple "allows" VoIP? LOL! Check out www.touchmods.net. Don't tell me you guys haven't heard about it.
Reply
3-09-2008 @ 7:23AM
Jim said...
Hm... that app has very weak sound. Sort of useless in practical terms. Still waiting for the first really working native VoIP client.
3-09-2008 @ 12:29PM
Hentz said...
app already exist & working...
Take a look
http://sip.free.fr/
Reply
3-09-2008 @ 1:42PM
Jim said...
Same thingh as Touchmods (see above). Very low sound, pretty useless at the moment, perhaps promising for the future.
3-09-2008 @ 1:45PM
punkassjim said...
Cory: "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."
I don't see why AT&T would be happy about it at all. They make money on talk minutes, don't they?
Reply