The VOIP Provider Guide

With the Apple iPhone unleashing on the market this week to bouts of acclaim and a few derisive voices pointing out its data streaming flaws, other companies are quickly jumping forward to announce their own super-multimedia platforms. What does that mean for the world of Mobile VoIP? A whole heck of a lot we hope.

The one thing that rampant competition tends to do for new technology is force it to evolve very quickly. The home PC race was bolstered immediately when Jobs and Gates went at each other and now the world of mobile VoIP might get a similar boost as companies are scrambling to create phones that could possible compete with the super sleek, universal appeal of the iPhone. 

The iRiver
First up, is South Korean company iRiver. Right out of the gate, this company has always tried to compete with Apple and their handheld multimedia devices. Their range of MP3 players were comparable even if they didn’t get nearly the sales or word of mouth delivery that the iPod did. They’re at it again though with their new iRiver W10.  

The W10 though is a bit more impressive because it directly integrates a VoIP phone with an internet browser, FM radio, MP3 Player, and e-book reader, among a few other interesting tool choices. The internet connection feature hopes to offer more than simple browsing by doing a pinpoint, GPS style mapping display for any user also using the phone.  

Similar to the iPhone, the iRiver offers a huge three inch, touch screen display and a 4-8 GB hard drive for music files. The price is still up in the air, but the possibilities are very interesting as the product would likely be cheaper than the overpriced Apple offering and not attached to the confines of an AT&T contract, meaning WiFi and VoIP access would be almost immediately possible.    

Nokia Jumps in As Well
A company that has always offered interesting and well designed phones has been Nokia. Unfortunately, their phones have always been directly attached at the hip to the mobile phone companies, meaning you had to sign up for a plan to get your phone unlocked. However, with their new E-series phones they have decided to unlock them and let users decide how they will function, a direct push it would seem at users interested in VoIP service.

The move is partially the result of AT&T bumping the E62 phone from its list, a move partially prompted by incredible iPhone hype. Their phones though are still number one in Europe. They produce quality phones, even if Americans have yet to catch on.  So, with the release of the E61i, E65, and E90 (mini-laptop), Nokia will be allowing third parties to start selling them such as Dell and Gateway. They’ve done this before with N series phones, but the E series are much more exciting as the phones offer full Wi-Fi support and a bevy of VoIP options. 

It looks like Nokia will soon be going head to head against HP and their iPAQ VoIP solutions. Either way, it’s good for consumers as more and more phones are hitting the market with unlocked interfaces and immediate VoIP capability.

With the entire world on the edge of its collective seat waiting for the release of Apple’s iPhone next week, the question for VoIP addicts out there is whether or not the sleek new portable will have quite the muscle it needs to run VoIP applications and services. Mobile VoIP is the next wave, or so we’re told, so it’s not surprising that so many people are clamoring for more information.

For the most part, the technology of the iPhone’s WiFi capacity, Address book integration, 32-bit Operating System is all the basis needed to start bringing mobile VoIP to the mainstream. The particular SIP protocol that works with mobile phones is especially situated for this technology.

The market is currently burgeoning with a few new and developing SIP providers. However, with their infrastructure and the already developed .Mac framework, Apple could easily kick out their own SIP offering for use with the iPhone. It’s a question that is yet to be answered, especially with the stalwarts at AT&T keeping their doors and vaults guarded against such a use of the product. Ultimately, the question is whether or not it is more profitable for Apple to exclusively sell its product with AT&T or to offer the cutting edge options that so many of us wish they would independently.

So, with Apple making substantial sums of money either way with astronomical hardware sales and content downloads, what does that leave for AT&T? Lots and lots of service fees. And unfortunately, that’s what it’s looking like for the iPhone’s VOIP future.

AT&T has unfortunately already announced that they will charge a completely separate lineup of fees for the iPhone, essentially offering a separate billing contract for the device. This is most likely in response to the heavy data load the iPhone demands with its integrated internet features.

So, with more than $600 plus tax for the phone, a two year contract, and a data plan that no one is quite sure how much will cost yet, the iPhone is a pricey option for VoIP. The WiFi capabilities are still substantial, but they’re only useful when you’re in the right area and have the access to WiFi you need to use it.

For those that do get the iPhone though, give it a shot every now and then. We all know VoIP will work beautifully with this baby and if you’ve already spent that kind of money, get the most you can out of it. Just remember when the bill comes that those calls are still being paid for, regardless of how free the VoIP is.