Maybe I haven't lost all hope for AT&T ... come on, please let it be true!
natefanaro
· 2 months ago
Either I'm missing the point or this article is not quite right but Google Voice is not VoIP at all. If a company decides to allow Skype on their network that means squat when it comes to Google Voice.
mattdawson
· 2 months ago
Nope, you're exactly right. What confuses me is how many TECH PUBLICATIONS can't get this really simple fact right.
Name
· 2 months ago
Seems.
Elliott
· 2 months ago
If AT&T is making the announcement alone, they would only be then putting 100% pressure on Apple - who is actually denying the apps.
This would put Apple in a position to either support voice apps, or deny all of them - which they aren't doing now.
Bradley
· 2 months ago
Which would play with what I had always suspected...
at&t had their own policy and Apple was just following it.
Mike Lapidakis
· 2 months ago
Next question, can AT&T's network handle VOIP over 3G? My guess, no!
Justin Luey
· 2 months ago
Rogers and Fido in Canada don't have a policy against VOIP but none of the Apps currently work on 3G, if AT&T allows it than Skype will remove the restriction on the App and you will be able to use VOIP over 3G in Canada on Rogers or Fido.
Ricardo Figueiredo
· 2 months ago
iPhones already have Skype Apps that work just fine.. Am I missing something?
Justin
· 2 months ago
The Skype App currently only works over a WiFi connection, not 3G. If the 3G connection gets approval, then people could use their unlimited data connection for unlimited phone minutes for little ($2.99/month with Skype) or no (Gizmo/Google Voice combo) cost.
chrisrunoff
· 2 months ago
I believe currently Skype only works when connected to wifi, it doesn't work over the 3G network. This announcement opens that possibility.
StandardPixel is...
· 2 months ago
I hate to be negative but something tells me there will be a at&t will add a price over what we already pay for "unlimited" data service to use VOIP. I refuse to use it if that is the case.
Arron Hirst
· 2 months ago
If true, one word: Finally.
Flowsion Shekar
· 2 months ago
If you have a jailbroken iPhone, this isn't anything different, 3GoverVoip app is awesome.
shapiro333
· 2 months ago
Ok...i'm a geezer that doesn't understand all of this. How will this benefit me? I have a 900 min plan with AT&T. I also have a VOIP phone at home. Will I be able to get rid of the home phone and have it transfered to the iPhone? What is the benefit?
chrisrunoff
· 2 months ago
The benefit would be any calls made using a voip application would be treated as data rather than voice airtime. Calls would not be counted against your 900 minutes.
You would have to use a voip enabled app.
shapiro333
· 2 months ago
And thus....that's where this big announcement is coming from...correct?
Justin
· 2 months ago
The benefit is cost. Using a combination of Google Voice and Gizmo5 you could get unlimited calls across the US for free (excluding the cost of the iPhone's unlimited data plan). Or if you wanted a slightly simpler solution, you would be able to use Skype for only $2.99 a month. You wouldn't need to buy a lot of minutes (900), nor would you ever need to worry about going over. And if you so desired, you could replace your home VOIP phone with just your cell phone. If this all turns out to be true, then your entire phone bill could be $70 plus tax for one month of unlimited nationwide minutes on an iPhone.
shapiro333
· 2 months ago
Thanks for the reply...I must research this Gizmo5 thing.
Justin
· 2 months ago
I cannot wait until the announcement tomorrow...
DH
· 2 months ago
This is cool and all but how about AT&T fix their network so I can get a god-dammed signal in my neighborhood!
chrisrunoff
· 2 months ago
This is big news, but I don't see a direct correlation to Google Voice. This opens the doors for apps like Skype to start using the 3G network or companies such as Vonage to develop an iPhone app for their product.
Google Voice is not a true VoIP service; AT&T deciding to support VoIP over their 3G network doesn't directly strengthen the case for allowing their app.
Like others have pointed out, this announcement puts the spotlight directly on Apple when VoIP applications are accepted or rejected.
It's the MMS argument in reverse. Apple could support MMS long before AT&T was willing to support it on their network. Now AT&T is standing up to say they can support VoIP and it's all on Apple if the app you want to see will make it to the store.
mjesales
· 2 months ago
Well thats exactly my question - -how is google voice a voip app -- interesting this comes at the same day as google and verizon announce a partnership to get some android phones going.
All Comments
This would put Apple in a position to either support voice apps, or deny all of them - which they aren't doing now.
at&t had their own policy and Apple was just following it.
Apps currently work on 3G, if AT&T allows it than Skype will remove the restriction on the App and you will be able to use VOIP over 3G in Canada on Rogers or Fido.
You would have to use a voip enabled app.
If this all turns out to be true, then your entire phone bill could be $70 plus tax for one month of unlimited nationwide minutes on an iPhone.
Google Voice is not a true VoIP service; AT&T deciding to support VoIP over their 3G network doesn't directly strengthen the case for allowing their app.
Like others have pointed out, this announcement puts the spotlight directly on Apple when VoIP applications are accepted or rejected.
It's the MMS argument in reverse. Apple could support MMS long before AT&T was willing to support it on their network. Now AT&T is standing up to say they can support VoIP and it's all on Apple if the app you want to see will make it to the store.