December 4th, 2008
iPod touch gets VoIP, steals some iPhone thunder
The ‘funnest’ iPod ever has kicked it up a notch.
Bam!
Thanks to a microphone adapter and some free software called Truphone, the second-generation iPod touch is now capable of courting consumers as a VoIP mobile phone, in the most literal of senses (just don’t try to use it for emergency calls, mkay?).
The software uses the iPod touch’s Wi-Fi connection to carry calls over the Internet to its destination. There is no monthly line rental, no subscription or other hidden charges. The Truphone application provides you with a virtual keypad that enables you to make the call.
Of course, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Yes, this will allow calls to be made worldwide from an iPhone touch, but only to other iPod touch users with Truphone, customers of Truphone’s Internet telephony service and to users of the Google Talk instant messaging service.
Right. As in no calls to real phones. Yet.
According to the company, the following features are coming soon:
- Making and receiving calls to and from landlines (PSTN) at low cost with a Truphone account
- Instant messaging to Skype and MSN (free)
- Calling to Skype users (free)
- Calling to MSN users (free)
- Check and set facilities for Twitter (free)
- Check and set facilities for Facebook (free)
Truphone for iPod touch is available from Apple’s App Store here.
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
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