Observing Britons’ inclination to access VoIP services via mobile phones, three companies Rok Entertainment, AQL and Mobiboo have launched their VoIP-based mobile phones to hit the UK market.
Rok Viper
Rok Entertainment, which is offering 2.5 G mobile TV offering, will provide completely free VoIP calls using Rok Viper technology, the technology brings VoIP services to the mobile phones.
The users can also make free Skype calls when both the sender and receiver use Viper software. However, calls to existing PSTN landlines could be slightly expensive.
As of now, Nokia’s N70 will include the Viper technology. The unique feature of the Viper software is that it links phones to broadband connection using Bluetooth technology instead of depending upon Wi-Fi connection.
Rok plans to add around 100 models to the list of compatible mobile phone including Java-powered handsets and Windows devices in the next three months.
At present, the software is available on the Rok Viper web site.
AQL for Nokia E series
After axing Totaltalk, AQL is now planning to offer its VoIP services through Nokia E series. The UK customers just require to send a text message ‘nokia’ to the short code 64446. The phone will receive a message which automatically connects AQL’s system via Wi-Fi. Then, they can access free VoIP services.
Company’s managing director, Dr. Adam Beaumont explains,
We are keen for all E series Nokia users to text-in so that they can experience for themselves the quality of our mobile VoIP service, without the necessity of switching from their existing GSM provider.
Mobiboo
The leading VoIP WiFi network operator Mobiboo has also announced the launch of its mobile VoIP service. The customers will make VoIP calls using any of the two devices UTStarcom’s F3000 and the Mobiboo Dashboard PC phone.
Meanwhile, the company has joined resources with the hotspot provider The Cloud to provide good hotspot coverage in the UK.
Despite expert reports that phones loaded with VoIP are not safe and open for spamming, the UK customers are inclined to access the mobile VoIP.
Comments
I’m based in Cheyenne, Wyoming in the US and we have been stuck with the kinda crap that Vonage and Lightyear and other cowboys offer as well as the crzy-ass prices that AT&T (now Cingular) charge to call anywhere outside of North America and Puerto Rico! I have used Skype for 2 years now and have been happy with it in most. Call quality has worsened over time and a call I made to Europe last week was so bad I had to try 5 times and in the end the guy called me back on my Cingular cell phone .. actually that was kinda crappy too. Anyway I started looking around and tried a few services and then saw Mobiboo and read a bit about them and decided to give em a whirl. I’m mightly glad I did - 1 British penny (1.5 US cents) per min here in the US and 2p-3p (3-4 US cents) per min to call Europe and England.
I dont have wire free access at home so I downloaded their Mobiboo Dashboard thing which works just like Skype but has clal quality as well. Go try it, it’s free just like Skype and you can call anyone else on your buddy list worldwide free too.
Anyway off to do some Mobibooing....
Ciao
Just wanted to comment not only on Dashboard but also the Mobiboo (tovo t450g). I got one of these whilst waiting for those morons at truphone to actually get their shitty software to work on my Nokia N80 but even today it doesn’t work!
I called Mobiboo up and they have given me a beta version of their new client and it works! Simple!
Even though I shall obviously be using my N80 on Mobiboo now my wife wnats the t450g as she loves it.
Great one Mobiboo and good luck with the launch of your new Nokia client.
The Mobiboo ’Nokia client’ works on my N73 and my works N80. I read your post earlier and I called Mobiboo customer service and they emailed it to me, just like that and it took me less than 5 mins to install it and it was working. I just set-up a new mobiboo account and it worked instantly. My N73 is a T-Mobile phone, hence it’s a pile of crap and wouldn’t let me use Mobiboo via 3G, butu the N80 with an O2 SIM worked like a dream and I made several calls, using my N80, on O2 3G (not WiFi) from my inclusive 3G data package and paid just £39.95 to Mobiboo for the whole year of unlimited calls - is that beatable?