Mobile VoIP



There are many pretenders to the VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) throne. Skype is way ahead of the competition and has many a phone company worried sick. With an estimated 70 million users globally, Skype certainly punches above its weight. Users around the world enjoy free computer-to-computer calls over the internet while fixed-line phone companies look on helplessly.

However Skype has failed to threaten the mobile telecommunications arena because of the non-standard (usually closed) operating systems embedded in mobile phones. In addition, Skype works best on broadband (high speed) internet connections such as Wi-Fi, a feature found only on the more expensive hand sets. The mobile phone market has largely been spared the onslaught from cheap VoIP calls.

Until Fring showed up. What is Fring? This is what it says on the Fring website:

Fring‘s mobile VoIP application enables you to make voice calls, chat and check out who’s online before dialing (real-time presence), no matter your location.

The Fring application sits on any GPRS/EDGE enabled phone running under a supported operating system. Wi-Fi capability on the host phone is optional. Call quality is acceptable given that the application transmits over a low speed channel (GPRS). Skype, Twitter, Google Talk and MSN Messenger are all supported.

Should Fring duplicate the success of Skype it will have mobile phone operators weeping in their corn flakes.

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