Truphone releases beta VoIP app for BlackBerry
It’s been a long time in the making but Truphone has finally come around and released a BlackBerry version of its popular mobile VoIP application. S60 users have enjoyed Truphone’s low rates and impressive integration for a while now and more recently, iPhone users have gotten a taste with a version of their own. Here in the US however, the most likely candidate for such a service, BlackBerry, has gone without a client. While the integration is nowhere near as clean as Symbian of course, BlackBerry users are no longer at the mercy of US carriers when it comes to international calling. The new Truphone Anywhere app for BlackBerry is currently in beta but it does the trick just fine. When dialing an international number, the app will automatically ask the user if the call should be completed using the carrier voice channel or via Truphone’s VoIP network. With rates as low as 6ยข per minute, its a safe bet that Truphone will be the smart choice every time. To sweeten the deal, customers new to Truphone will get a $1 credit upon signing up - and $1 will take you further than you think. An important note is if you currently use Truphone for S60 you’ll have to shoot a quick email to Truphone customer service to have them switch your account over. To simplify the process, the Truphone app will generate the email for you automatically during the setup. Hit the read link to get moving.
Isn’t this like the MyGlobalTalk app? I’ve been using that to make free calls to Canada with the free credit we got from you guys!
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This aint real VOIP. Real VOIP is free. This calls your phone to complete the call so it uses minutes. Call it a long distance solution. Don’t call it VOIP!
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now t-mobile bb users have been enjoying uma (voip) calling for over a year already. i used in bejing china, bankok thailand, seoul korea, and in scandinava. no international rates regular minutes usef an with the $10 hot spot feature it was unlimited and free (well $10 total)
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“This aint real VOIP. Real VOIP is free.”
That’s about the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. VoIP has nothing to do with cost, it has to do with how calls are terminated. If your VOICE is delivered over IP, then it’s VoIP. Moron.
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@Rajmahal
If it was true VOIP it wouldn’t use your MINUTES to complete the call. You should be able to make calls with wifi only (no voice plan from your provider). Get it smarty pants?
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The international rates (asia) are still expensive.
I am a TMO customer, is there a way to call cheap internationally through UMA?
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I would have to agree with Rajmahal. VoIP has nothing to do with cost. Otherwise, why would Vonage and TimeWarner charge you for their VoIP service?
Interestingly enough, T-Mobild’s UMA is better referred to as GoIP–GSM over IP. That’s why you can make calls for free internationally. And for the record, you don’t need the $10 HotSpot plan to make calls and texts over UMA. That’s what I do.
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i dont think VOIP works over CDMA…..
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I have used TruPhone for years on a Nokia E70 and it is great. I have been waiting for them to come out with a blackberry solution for years. Now I can get my bold on Monday.
I have used it from all over the world and called the US for next to nothing, from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, you name it.
TruPhone anywhere works brilliantly and has significantly reduced my costs to call Canada and Overseas from my Cell.
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This is incredibly stupid.
Truphone as a international calling solution is simply not competitive — their international calling rates are about the same as AT&T/Verizon. You might save 1-2 cents.
Truphone is a VOIP roaming solution - it can work nicely when you are overseas and have either a in-country 3G SIM or a wifi connection.
However, it looks as if this is not wifi VOIP on the blackberrry — which means when you are overseas it is using a GSM callback. Unless you have a local SIM card, you’re going to be hit with $1 a minute roaming charges from your home carrier (and then six cents a minute from truphone).
If you have a local SIM card, why are you using Truphone?
I simply don’t get it. Truphone for roaming on wifi networks overseas=OK. Truphone for international calling=pathetic.
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Well let me try to explain.
1. Long distance rates to Canada (I call there a lot from the US) from my cell provider is $0.30 or $0.35 per minute (Can’t remember), maybe yours is cheaper. Using Truphone I pay my regular minute rate (if using anywhere) which is about $0.08 per minute + $0.06 to truphone, so just less than half the long distance rate I pay to the cell company. If i am on Wifi, I only pay the $0.06.
I used to have a plan with ATT years ago that allowed me to call or roam in Canada unlimited for $10 a month, but that was discontinued in 2005 or 2006. If this still existed, the benefit, at least for me from TruPhone would be limited.
2. If I am calling another truphone number anywhere in the world via truphone, there is no cost to me. As a truphone user, if my truphone is not connected, I can have it forward to my actual number, so my friends/family to incur other charges, I pay the $0.06 on the incoming side.
3. If I am overseas, and I have wifi, I can call back to the US for $0.06 per minute.
4. On Nokia 3G phones, you can do VOIP over a 3G connection, so if you have one, or if they come out with the same thing for the blackberry, I can make overseas calls at the $0.06 truphone rate via VOIP from anywhere.
Lots of different ways to benefit, at least for me. Now I just have to hope that they are able to mimic the full functionality they have on the Symbian phones on the Black Berry.
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Stuart, not trying to start a pissing match but…
1. If you call Canada a lot, get an international plan with AT&T for 3.99 a month and then pay 7 cents a minute. It sounds as if you are not a plan, but going month to month, so you may not qualify for international discounted dialing.
2. Calling another truphone user for free is great.
3. That is the problem: the Blackberry truphone doesn’t use wifi. It uses GSM as a callback service. So that entire advantage of being overseas and using free wifi is gone. You end up paying $1 a minute roaming to your GSM provider.
4. Truphone over 3G is great. But if you are paying per minute, and not a contract, it is hard to get a 3G data contract. And overseas data roaming is even more expensive.
Conclusion:
Truphone still sucks for international dialing. You have a nokia? But a VOIPBUSTER pacakge. 3 months of free calling to canada for $10. After that, 1 cent per minute. They have a US access number as well, so you can call that on your GSM and have it route to Canada.
My point is truphone will never ben competitive with that pricing unless they move back to a all-you-can-talk model. they don’t want to — and want to focus on roaming customers. Roaming while using a blackberry truphone makes even less sense.
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TruPhone has worked well for me and hopefully will continue.
Don’t know where you see a 7 cent a minute long distance plan from ATT, just went to their site, and to Canada at least it is $0.19 per minute if you pay $3.99 per month for the long distance plan. Without the $3.99 per month it is $0.29
3. Like I said, hopefully they will get to the point where they are able to mimic the functionality that they have no Symbian on the BlackBerry
4. Very true, if you are paying for data by the KB and not an unlimited flat rate.
I’m sure there are lots of other providers out there, there are no real barriers to entry in VOIP, it costs very little to get in the game. TruPhone has worked for me for a long time, and hopefully will continue to on the BlackBerry.
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VoIP works perfectly fine over CDMA networks. While there may not be a “true” VoIP client for Blackberry phones, I have used Skype on my HTC-6800 and Motorola Q from Sprint and the calls were crystal clear 98% of the time. Both of the phones were using EVDO Rev.0 at the time. The 6800(Mogul) now has the EVDO Rev.A upgrade and the calls are just about flawless. No worse than dialing out on my headset.
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I’m on T-mobile,I own a 8320 curve,with a flex-pay plan,and T-mobile don’t charge me a dime for roaming when I’m in Mexico,and when I’m calling to Mexico from the US,I buy calling cards,I talk for hours and I don’t pay more than $2.00 dlls every time I call,my 8320 is a UMA ready and its great,makes my phone internet really fast,but I don’t really need it to make phone calls even if I’m outside the US,but I think that that depends on your carrier,T-mobile is great on pricing and service,I remember when I was a sprint customer,…. It really was a nightmare…..VOIP,what is that???
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I stand corrected on the price; I’m on old “blue” customer and I think the international pricing may be different. 19 cents it is; a ripoff.
Truphone is moving to a flat rate plan; I got an email about a 1000 minutes/month for $15 a while back for USA/Canada calls.
I’ve managed to cut my international phone bill from 180 a month to $3 a month, so I am a bit of a evangelist these days for other friends. $10 a month for unlimited calling to Europe would bring me back to Truphone.
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