Apple to iPhone developers: VoIP over Wi-Fi is OK

Thu Mar 6, 2008 4:10PM EST

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That means you may soon be able to make free voice calls over the Net, provided you're in range of a Wi-Fi connection. Chatters, start your engines!

Among the many details Apple announced as part of its iPhone developer's kit unveiling was the news that VoIP calls—such as those you can make over applications like Skype—will be allowed on the iPhone, provided that they're made over Wi-Fi and not AT&T's EDGE network.

That's pretty surprising news, frankly. I would have guessed that AT&T, which (naturally enough) is looking to sell as many voice minutes as possible to subscribers, would have leaned on Apple to bar VoIP programs on the iPhone—even if the apps in question are only using the iPhone's Wi-Fi connection.

Anyway, it looks like Apple won the argument—and that means we can look forward to mobile versions of Skype and other VoIP apps on the iPhone come June. Of course, developers would always be able to charge for their VoIP apps, but I have a feeling plenty of free VoIP programs will be available when the time comes. I love it.

Related:
Live Blogging (via iPhone) of Apple iPhone SDK Event [TechCrunch]

Comments on Apple to iPhone developers: VoIP over Wi-Fi is OK

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  • 1 Posted by matt_archbold2002 on Thu Mar 6, 2008 4:53PM EST Report Abuse

    Do you know if that will be allowed on the iPod Touch? If it is, i can use my iPod touch as my home phone. That would be AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

  • 5 Posted by matt_archbold2002 on Fri Mar 7, 2008 9:45AM EST Report Abuse

    Thank you sciencetrll. I should of added that to my comment. I wouldnt be surprised if someone came up with some type of adapter that allowed VoIP on the touch. Just a thought.

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