October 5th, 2009
Vonage launches mobile apps; Focuses on international calls
Vonage on Monday launched applications for the iPhone, BlackBerry and iPod touch.
Vonage Mobile, an application designed to provide low international rates over Wi-Fi and cellular networks, is focused on international calls. The aim: Get mobile callers to sign up for Vonage for international calls. From there, Vonage is hoping you’ll be more receptive to home service from the company.
According to the company (Techmeme, statement), users of the mobile app won’t need a new number. In the fourth quarter Vonage said it will add its World plan available to its mobile app. Under that plan, you get unlimited international calls for a flat fee.
While the Vonage Mobile app is notable—some have pointed out that Vonage was approved while Apple takes its time to approve Google Voice—it has limited scope.
For instance, I’m a Vonage customer at home and Vonage Mobile would be more useful to me if I could get calls from my home office line and manage my account from my mobile device. International calls are a nice start, but Vonage Mobile could be more.
Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and Editorial Director of ZDNet sister site TechRepublic. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
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