IPhone Client Applications Make This a Great Time to be an iPhone Owner
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.
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.
iPhone SIP Allows You To Talk on Without Watching Your Minutes
Andrew Jones asked:
In the world of telephony one of the hottest stories of the day is the long awaited delivery of iPhone SIP client applications. While there have been iPhone SIP apps for some time, it has only been in recent months that they have become widely available and easy enough for most of us to use.
It seems strange that with a phone as advanced as the iPhone that something as important as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) would be slow in coming. But it has. The reason why is because of a strategic decision by Apple to prohibit the use of iPhone SIP over cellular networks. Instead, iPhone SIP was forced to use wireless networks (wi-fi) only. In fact, for some time, Apple even refused to support third party development of iPhone SIP applications. Luckily, Apple recently relaxed its lack of support and now iPhone users can even download iPhone SIP apps from the Apple iPhone store. Unfortunately, iPhone SIP still only works with wi-fi networks. Never the less, much to the joy of those who have long been waiting for iPhone SIP, there are now multiple options.
Why does anyone even care about iPhone SIP? Because SIP, or Session Initiation Protocol, enables users to make phone calls to any location in the world over the Internet and avoid using up expensive and valuable traditional cellular minutes. Of course, the very same reason users want iPhone SIP is the reason that Apple and AT&T have worked to prevent it. AT&T has feared that the ever increasing use of iPhone SIP will erode its profits from cell minutes. While the fear is probably justified, it is becoming less and less of an issue as Apple’s new willingness to support third party development of iPhone SIP applications has lead to the recent announcements by many SIP companies of big product launches. Skype, for example, recently launced services for iPHone. This is seen as an indication that more are on the way.
SIP technology is capable of much more than simply telephone calls. Many hope that application developers will take full advantage of the multi-media capabilities as well as simply iPhone SIP. Video calling, for example, is a real possibility in the future.
So what provider do you have to use in order to take advantage of iPhone SIP? The answer is, any provider that offers SIP. Fring is one popular choice as are Skype, SIPgate, and Nimbuzz. There are many others as well. You just need to do your homework and determine which plan is best for you.
No discussion of iPhone SIP would be complete without touching on the fact that with iPhone SIP you can now turn your iPod Touch into a telephone. Using SIP technology, you are able to access the same telephony services via wi-fi as you can on you iPhone. Now that is one big advantage.
While iPhone SIP may not be the perfect solution for VoIP, it is a darned good one. With more and more apps coming onto the market, it can only improve. Now you have yet another reason to be happy that you jumped on the iPhone bandwagon. So talk on. You aren’t even using your cell minutes!
In the world of telephony one of the hottest stories of the day is the long awaited delivery of iPhone SIP client applications. While there have been iPhone SIP apps for some time, it has only been in recent months that they have become widely available and easy enough for most of us to use.
It seems strange that with a phone as advanced as the iPhone that something as important as voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) would be slow in coming. But it has. The reason why is because of a strategic decision by Apple to prohibit the use of iPhone SIP over cellular networks. Instead, iPhone SIP was forced to use wireless networks (wi-fi) only. In fact, for some time, Apple even refused to support third party development of iPhone SIP applications. Luckily, Apple recently relaxed its lack of support and now iPhone users can even download iPhone SIP apps from the Apple iPhone store. Unfortunately, iPhone SIP still only works with wi-fi networks. Never the less, much to the joy of those who have long been waiting for iPhone SIP, there are now multiple options.
Why does anyone even care about iPhone SIP? Because SIP, or Session Initiation Protocol, enables users to make phone calls to any location in the world over the Internet and avoid using up expensive and valuable traditional cellular minutes. Of course, the very same reason users want iPhone SIP is the reason that Apple and AT&T have worked to prevent it. AT&T has feared that the ever increasing use of iPhone SIP will erode its profits from cell minutes. While the fear is probably justified, it is becoming less and less of an issue as Apple’s new willingness to support third party development of iPhone SIP applications has lead to the recent announcements by many SIP companies of big product launches. Skype, for example, recently launced services for iPHone. This is seen as an indication that more are on the way.
SIP technology is capable of much more than simply telephone calls. Many hope that application developers will take full advantage of the multi-media capabilities as well as simply iPhone SIP. Video calling, for example, is a real possibility in the future.
So what provider do you have to use in order to take advantage of iPhone SIP? The answer is, any provider that offers SIP. Fring is one popular choice as are Skype, SIPgate, and Nimbuzz. There are many others as well. You just need to do your homework and determine which plan is best for you.
No discussion of iPhone SIP would be complete without touching on the fact that with iPhone SIP you can now turn your iPod Touch into a telephone. Using SIP technology, you are able to access the same telephony services via wi-fi as you can on you iPhone. Now that is one big advantage.
While iPhone SIP may not be the perfect solution for VoIP, it is a darned good one. With more and more apps coming onto the market, it can only improve. Now you have yet another reason to be happy that you jumped on the iPhone bandwagon. So talk on. You aren’t even using your cell minutes!
