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Fring brings VoIP to iPhone

by Cory Bohon Oct 3rd 2008 at 6:00PM

We have all been waiting on an iPhone VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solution, since we heard that Apple would allow VoIP application access while connected to WiFi. Fring has finally made our dream a reality -- and it's a reality that's available today!

Fring is a new, free iPhone application that integrates with Fring's network and allows access to the following IM/presence services:
  • Fring
  • Skype
  • AIM
  • Yahoo
  • Twitter
  • ICQ
  • MSN
In addition to simply chatting with buddies from the above services, you can place VoIP calls to other fring users, or using Skype/SkypeOut or another SIP provider (Gizmo, Vonage, etc.). We'll take a more in-depth look/review this weekend -- so be sure to stay tuned to TUAW. In a quick test, I was able to call Skype users from my iPhone and carry on a (slightly echo-y, but perfectly audible) conversation.

You can download this application today by visiting the iTunes App Store. The application weighs in at 3.0 MB. You can also get more information about this service and the application on the Fring website.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

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We have all been waiting on an iPhone VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solution, since we heard that Apple would allow VoIP application...
 

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Ben

I am tring to use my new Iphone in an area that has very limited cellular coverage from anyone. I have satellite internet and wireless, and I have downloaded Fring. The limitation with Fring seems to be that it works for only the entries in your contact list. Is there something out there that will receive calls VOIP without being on the contact list?

October 21 2008 at 11:47 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Karl

I just found out Fring routes everything via their servers, so if you've got a personal or corporate Asterisk server for your SIP, you can wave goodbye to privacy - this may also happen with the third party sip services listed, but i verified this with my own SIP Server. iPhone & sip server on same network, phone signed in as a device more than 21 hops away (somewhere in Italy i think) - no wonder the voice quality is "debatable"...

October 06 2008 at 6:10 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
usapierre

tryin Fring - but icall looks like a home if it happens

October 05 2008 at 1:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ross

whatever happened to iCall for iPhone? anyone know when that's hitting the app store?

October 05 2008 at 9:27 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ross's comment
Ryan Goins

iCall has a facebook page you can follow them at and they are quite active on the page. Also you can sign up to beta test there. www.icall.com/iphone has a link to them on facebook. I hope they release it soon because this version of fring is down right terrible.

October 05 2008 at 2:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
travis wu

downloaded it. upon logging in. it says "request timed out"

October 04 2008 at 11:14 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Scott Porter

My 2g iPod Touch has full mic capability with the headset that came with my blackberry pearl 2. It also pause/resumes playback when I hit the mute button once and skips to the next item when I quickly press three times. The OEM headsets can be had on eBay for about $8.

October 04 2008 at 7:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Nils

It ticks me off that we aren't "allowed" to do voip calls over the 3G network.

I say "we" when I really mean "you" because fring works fine over 3G on my Nokia. :)

Anyway, this is exactly the reason why providers shouldn't be allowed to control what users do with their phones. Unlocked phones ftw.

October 04 2008 at 6:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
David

VoIP on iPod Touch!! I just made my first successful call. I downloaded fring, signed up for Skype, and plugged in my wife's iPhone earphones/mic. I couldn't get it to work until I saw Dennis's tip that I needed to dial 001 first - thanks Dennis! The sound quality wasn't great, but it worked fine.

October 04 2008 at 3:13 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to David's comment
10.Deep

what iPod Touch did you manage to do it with? 2G?

October 05 2008 at 12:01 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sabi

i had fring like last year and siphone as well....
these are relatively old.
On the iphone i got both of these apps to work, siphone had a sister app for ipod touch where you can mod a microphone for ipods and use that, or buy the mic from the developers.

October 04 2008 at 2:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
alansky

Fring is easily found using iTunes to search for "fring" at the App Store. No workaround required.

October 04 2008 at 1:52 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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