May 28th, 2008
Truphone releases v4.0 with capability to place low cost VoIP calls without the need for WiFi
I first started using the Truphone VoIP solution over a year ago on my S60 devices. I had the opportunity to chat with James Body, Truphone Director of Research, today to discuss the lastest version of their software for S60 devices, Truphone v4.0. The major change in Truphone v4.0 is the addition of the Truphone Anywhere feature that allows you to make low cost internet calls even when you are not connected to the internet.
The new Truphone Anywhere functionality works through the use of Call Through and Call Back operations. What happens is that a local GSM call is made that automatically goes to a local Truphone server that then connects via the internet to place the call through to the recipient. The bonus with the Truphone v4.0 software on your device is that you do not have to know or have the local access number in your phone at all since Truphone figures out what the local access number is and dials it for you.
These two examples were given in the press release that show the cost savings Truphone users may experience when placing international calls:
UK example: to make a 10-minute call from the UK to an Australian landline:
- price with Orange Pay Monthly: £0.50/min x 10 = £5.00
- price with Truphone Anywhere: £0.03/min x 10 = £0.30
- how: an in-bundle call to Truphone’s UK server, plus a £0.03/min Truphone call to an Australian landline.
US example: to make a 10-minute call from the US to a Chinese landline:
- price with AT&T International Dial Standard rates: $3.49/min x 10 = $34.90
- price with AT&T World Connect (additional $3.99 per month): $0.15/min x 10 = $1.50
- price with Truphone Anywhere: $0.06/min x 10 = $0.60
- how: an in-bundle call to Truphone’s US server, plus a $0.06/min Truphone call to a Chinese landline.
In just about every scenario you can come up with Truphone saves you money on your international calling. This new Truphone Anywhere service will use up your “free” or low-cost bundled voice minutes, but you could also add your local Truphone access number to your MyFaves or similar plan and then not even have to pay extra for those outgoing calls.
The Call Back feature is disabled by default in Truphone v4.0 and is really designed for the more advanced users. It is useful when traveling abroad or if you have a high cost pay-as-you go plan. This may also be quite useful for those special plans where incoming calls are free.
I understand this latest update to Truphone also includes improvements in WiFi battery management so using Truphone won’t stress out your battery as much and you should see the capability to talk longer with Truphone on your device. I just updated my Nokia N95-3 and plan to try out this latest version of Truphone very soon.
Do you know you can also talk with your friends on Google Talk for free with Truphone? Truphone to Truphone calls all over the world are also free so let’s get everyone signed up so we can all talk to each other for free.
Matthew Miller is an avid mobile device enthusiast who works during the day as a professional naval architect in Seattle. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Subscribe to The Mobile Gadgeteer via Email alerts or RSS.
| 05/28/08
