Filed under: iPhone
First Look: RF telephony for iPhone
Internet Telephony Provider rf.com is getting ready to launch its iPhone-specific PBX service. The service allows you to place calls both internationally and to online providers like Skype using your normal iPhone minutes. So if you have a friend who's on Skype but has no Skype In access, you can call them just as if they had their own number. RF operates its own PBX, which you connect to over a web client. Once there, it finishes routing the call using VoIP and connects it to your iPhone handset. You use your iPhone calling plan minutes whether you're talking to a guy down the block or your buddy in Beijing.
Because their client is web-based, it works with 1.1.4 and earlier iPhones as well as 2.0 iPhones and later. All the heavy lifting happens at the RF servers, connecting you through the VoIP networks. RF's service is free and still extremely beta -- so be prepared for growing pains as they stabilize their software and roll it out. RF Founder/President Marcelo Rodriguez says they're planning on keeping the basic service free for the forseeable future. They are monetizing by reselling the service to VoIP service providers such as PhoneGnome and will be offering premium features at a later date.
Gallery: RF telephony
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bender Bending Rodriguez said 9:44AM on 6-20-2008
I'm glad there will be options, but I'm going to wait for a real Skype client on the iPhone.
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Jash Sayani said 10:30AM on 6-20-2008
Me too. Had read on Skype's site that they would release the Skype client once Apple would release the SDK. Yet no news from such a long time...
Jash Sayani said 10:33AM on 6-20-2008
Wanted to try it out... But too bad. It dosent support my country...
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ryan.marsh said 10:56AM on 6-20-2008
How about decent IP telephony for the Mac. I'm stuck with X-Lite and iSoftPhone??? Neither of which have addressbook integration without some silly applescript hack called Dialectic. This is the platform of the future?
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Noogoot said 11:42AM on 6-20-2008
monetizing?
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Chris Hill said 1:00PM on 6-20-2008
erm...just a heads up, you spelled telephony wrong in the *title* of your blog entry.
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sleepyfox said 8:41AM on 7-04-2008
Waiting for Truphone on the iPhone...
http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/mobility-site-news/218841-truphone-apple-iphone.html
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