Why would cellular carriers allow users to call over Wi-Fi? I wondered this the other day, and one commenter gave an answer in the comments. Basically, it takes stress off of their network. When you’re calling over Wi-Fi you’re using your own resources. True, that means you’re not using plan minutes, and therefore probably not incurring lucrative overage charges, but that’s less of an issue now than it was a few years ago. With large minute buckets that include unlimited nights and weekend, people aren’t going over their plans like they used to. That gives carriers an opportunity with Wi-Fi. In the past few days we’ve seen a few developments there.
Yesterday T-Mobile
announced that it would support Wi-Fi calling for select new Android handsets
. This is exactly what we heard the other day. The feature will be available on the upcoming myTouch and Motorola Defy, and from the screen caps we saw before the G2 could eventually be included. The service won’t cost anything above the normal service plan, so it’s clear that T-Mobile is encouraging this type of usage. What’s also interesting is that calling over Wi-Fi uses your plan minutes. The feature all the sudden seems less attractive. I’m not sure it’s all that useful unless you don’t get quality reception at home or at work.
We also saw a Skype app released in the Android Market. It doesn’t work over your normal 3G connection — that’s still Verizon’s providence — but it will allow you to make Sype-to-Skype calls over your Wi-Fi connection, plus cheap international calls. So it’s not quite as comprehensive as the T-Mobile UMA calling plan, but it does help a bit. You’ll have to run Android 2.1 or higher in order to get Skype. Honestly, if you’re a Skype user I see no reason not to get this. I often use the BlackBerry app to stay online in case any of my Skype IM friends need to contact me.
*It says you can call over 3G, but I haven’t seen that available. If I’m wrong, let me know.
One final alternative is Fring, which got an update this week. This is similar to Skype, in that you can voice chat, and even video chat, for free with other Fring users. That also advertises service using your 3G connection, but I’ve seen a few users complain that it’s not available on their specific handset. In any case, it’s at the very least a Wi-Fi calling alternative, and at worst a solution for your 3G connection that costs about a penny a minute. Fring is ready to go in the Market.
Yesterday T-Mobile
announced that it would support Wi-Fi calling for select new Android handsets. This is exactly what we heard the other day. The feature will be available on the upcoming myTouch and Motorola Defy, and from the screen caps we saw before the G2 could eventually be included. The service won’t cost anything above the normal service plan, so it’s clear that T-Mobile is encouraging this type of usage. What’s also interesting is that calling over Wi-Fi uses your plan minutes. The feature all the sudden seems less attractive. I’m not sure it’s all that useful unless you don’t get quality reception at home or at work.We also saw a Skype app released in the Android Market. It doesn’t work over your normal 3G connection — that’s still Verizon’s providence — but it will allow you to make Sype-to-Skype calls over your Wi-Fi connection, plus cheap international calls. So it’s not quite as comprehensive as the T-Mobile UMA calling plan, but it does help a bit. You’ll have to run Android 2.1 or higher in order to get Skype. Honestly, if you’re a Skype user I see no reason not to get this. I often use the BlackBerry app to stay online in case any of my Skype IM friends need to contact me.
*It says you can call over 3G, but I haven’t seen that available. If I’m wrong, let me know.
One final alternative is Fring, which got an update this week. This is similar to Skype, in that you can voice chat, and even video chat, for free with other Fring users. That also advertises service using your 3G connection, but I’ve seen a few users complain that it’s not available on their specific handset. In any case, it’s at the very least a Wi-Fi calling alternative, and at worst a solution for your 3G connection that costs about a penny a minute. Fring is ready to go in the Market.
Source : andgeeks
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