Andrew Jones asked:


Today, when we think of iPhone client applications (app) what comes to mind are iPhone client SIP applications. This is because the capability to access voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) is a relatively new development for the iPhone. SIP (session initiation protocol), a powerful multimedia protocol, is far from new and applications for other platforms have been widely used for a long time. In the iPhone client application world SIP has not be widely available until recently. This is due in large part to Apple’s reluctance to support third party development since widespread use holds the potential to erode AT&T’s traditional cellular talk time market share. Lucky for users, iPhone client applications that allow for telephony via wireless networks (wi-fi) are here now. Skype, for example, recently announced its very own iPhone client app. This tool is actually available for download from the Apple store. There are many other SIP iPhone clients available for download as well, some from the Apple store, others from third party sites.

The availability of iPhone client SIP over wi-fi is a compromise solution that allows AT&T to retain its traditional cellular talk time market but gives users access to VoIP. While it may not be a perfect solution, it is a welcome one since iPhone users have been demanding access to VoIP since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. SIP iPhone client apps seemed slow in coming but are now bursting on the scene and there are plenty of different VoIP iPhone clients to choose from.

If you are new to the world of Internet telephony you may not understand why having iPhone client apps for SIP is so important to users. The biggest appeal is the potential to save money. Since SIP/VoIP can help you avoid using traditional cellular minutes and make long distance calls to virtually anywhere in the world without paying toll charges, the potential for savings is huge. This technology is already widely used in the non-Apple arena so iPhone users were eager to get caught up.

We have only discussed iPhone client apps that have to do with talking over the telephone. There are many other types of iPhone client apps as well. When you use social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook you are using an iPhone client app. You are also using an iPhone client app when you instant message or use WordPress for iPhone. The list goes on an on and it continues to grow. If we remember how new the iPhone really is, it becomes apparent that we have just scratched the surface of what is possible. We should also remember that most iPhone client apps that have been developed are based on 3G technology. We can only imagine what may happen when 4G is put in place on a wide basis.

It is an exciting time to be an iPhone owner. New, imaginative, and useful iPhone client applications come onto the market every day and protocols such as SIP are just opening up. New applications will continue to add functionality and creativity to the device. So as you try out new applications, don’t get too comfortable. Something newer and cooler is sure to be on the market soon.

Roberto S asked:


Recently the iphone clones have become the talk of the town, but most of us are not quite sure what exactly an iphone clone is. In that case let us take a brief insight into the iphone clones that are definitely giving the real Apple products a run for their money!! Now that these devices have become a part of the industry standard, many of the mobile companies are desperately trying to flawlessly mimic the features and looks of the original product. This is a clever step on their part to boost the market value of their economical imitations so that they come in par with the other strong competitions in the market.

However, it is generally observed that people usually tag all phones with a huge touchscreen and multi-touch display as an iphone clone without even trying to understand that the phone can at times be even more innovative than the original product. Though it has been more than often seen that the popular iphone clones are generally from China and are typically of a poor quality. Interestingly, even some popular companies have also come up with some models that look exactly like the iphones and include some features that are even a shade better than the originals.

There are various ways in which we can decide upon the top 5 iphone clones. If we view it on a broader spectrum, the list will first include the Samsung Instinct. This iphone look-alike has GPS facility and the data transfer here is faster than its original counterpart. The second in the list is undoubtedly the Sony Xyperia. This iphone clone is definitely one of the most stylish and much awaited phones of the year. Just like the iphone it has a wide-screen display with touchscreen facility.

Next in the row is unquestionably the Deeda Pi, popularly called the ultimate iphone clone. It is one phone that claims more than 95% imitation of the original product. Another clone of the Apple product is the LG Voyager. This smartphone uses a similar menu organization and even has an analogous dock on the bottom screen. These features bring it quite close to the original iphone rating it fourth in the clone list. Finally, the discussion remains incomplete without mentioning the latest iphone clone CiPhone-i88i. This Chinese product is an exact replica of the iphone 3G, but only design wise. The phone lacks the 3G wireless network facility of the original product.

While talking of the iphone clones, it would be unfair if we do not discuss the popular Chinese products that are the true imitators of the Apple iphones. The products are named precisely as IPhon, ILeaf, Tphone, miniOne from Meizu, C-002, IPhone Nano, CECT P168, CECT T5 T32, Cool999, EPhone, LiPhone and so on. Of these, the IPhon looks very similar to the iphone 3G while the ILeaf is a very poor clone of the original device. The C-002 is almost a complete iphone clone with a good market value. The IPhone Nano is called so because it looks like an iphone but is of the size of the ipod Nano.

Most of these phones share the common features of an iphone like 5 separate keys for all basic operations, around dozen speakers that give surround sound facility, 1.3 mega pixel camera and dual SIM support to name just a few. However, since most of us like to go for branded products, it is advisable that we check the phones thoroughly before buying them. One major point of identification is the Apple logo that is found only on the original device. This will save us from all kinds of frauds and will also help us to get the product of our personal choice.