iCall- An iPhone VOIP Program for The App Store
iCall is a good looking VOIP solution for the iPhone that is due to be coming to the App Store soon. It will allow you to:
Make and receive calls over WiFi
Transfer inbound calls from a regular cell call to WiFi instantly and seamlessly – save your expensive minutes
Access your same address book
Customize your voicemail options
The developers of iCall are part of the Apple iPhone developer program and emphasize the ‘legitimacy’ of the app on their web site – making clear that it is not for jailbroken iPhones and that "We are not using any undocumented API calls. We are following every rule that developers must follow."
Currently the app is available for Windows, and there are plans for a Mac version as well. I have not seen any detail yet on what iCall will cost or when it will be ready for the App Store.
You can get some more background, and check out a demo video, via the iCall site:
Via: TUAW
You know what I’m concerned about is whether the Wi-Fi connection would remain connected continously.
I don’t know about anyone else but when I’m using Wi-Fi that requires a login or acknowledgment I have trouble waking my iPhone up connected to Wi-Fi.
If this were the case — it would be tough to keep a Wi-Fi connection unless you never let the phone go to sleep.
This is also very similar to the UMA service that T-Mobile has offered for about the last year – only as I read this you have to already be in Wi-Fi range and there is no seamless hand off either entering or leaving the range of Wi-Fi.
mas90guru – good points – not a lot of detail on these yet on the iCall site I think …
I have problems all the time with my iPhone going “to sleep” while on public wi-fi and when I try to check email I have to again accept the terms (or worse – log back in). I’ll be interested to see if they’ve worked this out. I’m also on an unlimited AT&T plan so this is not as useful as it otherwise would be.
I think the idea is great.
However, you need to be careful on signing up to the pro account. Apart from in the support pages there is no mention of the monthly charges that occur in addition to the rates for making any calls. The advertising imo is set out to mislead you into thinking the only charges are for making the international calls.
I’ve cancelled my account and hopefull i’ll get my money back