VoIP calling over 3G, from a Truphone perspective

The recent release of our new Android application, which offers VoIP calling over Wi-Fi, has generated a lot of discussion about offering VoIP calling over the 3G network.

To add to this discussion, I would like to share our thoughts on this topic.

Whenever we create a new Truphone application, or upgrade an existing one, we listen to your thoughts and suggestions, and add more of our own. Then we look at what is technically possible, and from there, we work out what the application should include. Then we build it.

During this process, there is one thing that we keep at the forefront of our mind – quality. And unless something we add is going to be top quality, and give our users the best possible experience, it will not be in our application.

This brings me to VoIP calling over 3G.

There are two main reasons stopping us from offering VoIP calling over 3G across our range of applications.

The first is that although a small number of networks, such as AT&T in the US, allow VoIP calling over 3G, this capability has not been approved by most operators, and has not been opened up across all handset manufacturers, such as the iPhone. As of today, iPhone applications that offer VoIP calling over 3G would not be approved by Apple for release into the App Store.

The second relates to quality. Although it is technically possible to offer VoIP calling over 3G on devices such as the Android, the relatively low bandwidth of 3G compared to Wi-Fi means that those calls are very often of a poor quality.

So unlike some of our competitors who have made VoIP calling available over 3G, we will not be doing so until we have developed a solution that will give our users a level of call quality that we are proud of, and will give our users the best possible Truphone experience.

We do have a solution today in all of our applications (apart from the iPod touch), to allow you to keep making high quality international Truphone calls from your home country, even when not connected to Wi-Fi, by using your local phone network to make a local call to a Truphone server in over 40 countries around the world (see the full list here). Find out more about calling out of Wi-Fi here.

Developing a solution is something that we are actively working on, as we realise that it is something that you want (we want it too!). Keep visiting this blog or the Truphone website for updates.

Happy chatting,

Karl Good (Truphone’s Director of Applications)

p.s. the exception to the rule is our Truphone for Nokia application, which currently offers great quality VoIP calling over 3G

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POST UPDATE (19.1.2010)

We will continue to test VoIP calling over 3G from a quality perspective and keep a watchful eye on the mobile network operators for a change in stance on allowing Vo3G on their networks. When we believe both of these points have been resolved then we will look at releasing applications that allow our customers to make these types of calls.

In the meantime, all our customers, except those on the iPod touch, can make calls when out of Wi-Fi using Truphone Anywhere.

Comments

[Yeah right]

So it works GREAT on Nokia but somehow it sucks on everything else? Less than 100% genuine? Uh yeah. I'd say so.

[Kenny Davies]

This article is a load of bollocks from Truphone and total hogwash.
Voip over 3G works well enough - when the 3G signal is good.
Bad voice quality over 3G has nothing to do with the date rate or throughput. To say "the relatively low bandwidth of 3G compared to Wi-Fi means that those calls are very often of a poor quality" is a bare faced lie, and disingenuous - to say the least.
Again, the other reason regarding Apple App store not allowing apps that enable Voip over 3G seem ridiculous - as Truphone customers do not use iPhones exclusively. Truphone offers the app for Nokia, Blackberry and other handsets manufacturers, which make this particular reason all the more bizarre.

On an ending note, Truphone works over 3G anyway, so i cant even see the need for this article. Ive used it numerous times, and it works fine, where the 3G signal is strong, and the app is not blocked by the local MNO.

[Bonzy]

This article is about all the other user of Truphone that don't have a Nokia handset.
I use to have an n95 but I change it with an HTC Magic.
On n95 I could use Voip over 3G on Truphone (I have a very good date plan). On HTC Magic I can't use Voip over 3G on Truphone. I can use only wi-fi or Truphone Anywhere.

[James]

This is a poor excuse, and total nonsense. It concerns me to read this, which in effect states that Truphone doesn't know what it's doing.

[TruLover]

In some countries it is actually very much possible to utilize VoIP over 3G. For example Greek mobile users have been reporting this style of calling as a regular one utilizing a hacked iPhone and skype. Clearly truphone would work in the same way. I have had the same on O2 working with my Nokia E71 and E70i, however the problem was more the battery when data was flowing via the 3G chipset rather than WiFi. Clearly in known environments like the home, the office at the airport (The Cloud being build into the Nokia services of truphone) WiFi is unbeatable in quality and battery life time.

[Apple = Telco Revenue Protector]

This article is really crap!
The only reason why VOIP over 3G is not allowed by Apple is to protect the revenue of telco operators with whom they made a deal to distribute their stuff. Just imagine all the international calling euros that they would lose with voip.
But that's the case for Apple ... so why limit the capabilities on any other handset ?????????
Is Truphone afraid of missing out on the iPhony euros?
BTW : Quality is voip-perfect !

[No Bullshit....]

TruePhone.....Please understand what group of people you are talking to......
VoIP over 3G not working that well what a load of crap, I have used Skype, SIP, and other softphone applications for years ( here in Sweden, Europe)

it is NOT your job to protect the Telcos,be straight and tell us how things really are not stupid lies.

[Goran Andersson]

I have been using Truphone over 3G with my Nokia n95, but can not do this with my iPhone 3GS.
I'm using both devices over wifi. I can not hear any difference in quality between wifi and 3g on the Nokia n95, so this sounds like political nonsense, please tell your costumers the truth

[Call Centers in the Philippines]

Nice post. When the iPhone was launched, Apple released an API allowing third parties to develop VoIP applications, and these applications for the iPhone mushroomed since then. There was (and still is) however one restriction - that VoIP be used only over Wi-Fi and not over mobile networks like 3G. So, applications that exist do not support VoIP over 3G on the iPhone. Now, thanks to a small application called VoIPover3G, iPhone users can jailbreak their phones to make VoIP calls over 3G. It works by fooling applications like Truphone and Fring into believing the network is a Wi-Fi network while it is not. This will add more mobility for iPhone users using VoIP, as Wi-Fi is restricted to some dozens of feet while 3G is a WAN. But this might trigger some reactions from AT&T the mobile carrier for the iPhone, which, according to me, is a reason for the restriction of 3G. - Jaime

[steve]

I have been using skype very well so my phone deals with VOiP over 3G obviously to the needed quality. Are you sure that you do not wish to pursue VOiP over 3G considering these points?

[Roger]

Have to agree with most of the posts here. Truphone worked perfectly on my Nokia N95 using 3G and I'm pretty sure I remember it working well over GPRS. I used it more often over WiFi due to my carrier's Ts&Cs but for emergencies it was great. Now I'm stuck as my HTC Truphone is WiFi only. Great shame.

[SIP Trunking]

SIP (or Session Initiation Protocol) will make this a reality. To date, the 3G Community has selected SIP as the session control method for the next generation cell networks. A very interesting technology to take note of!

[conferences software]

I find that 3g's coverage has increased and signal I know get is spot on. I went without internt from my home for a couple of months and was saved due to a 3g dongle. Super! It's amazing where technology has taken us with video conferencing and 3g's consistancy to push the mark. I love technology :-)

[Batteri HTC Legend]

In Norway we always struggle with the 3G signal. Here is too much fjords and mountains for anything to work well. I am not going to try this anytime soon-.

[bizmaildoc]

there are pros & cons in using voip service. currently using skype & love its crystal clear. voip is great if using over fixed line internet, not really stable if using wireless method.

[newton daily news]

VOIP belongs to the family of methodologies.These systems actually employ session control potocols.The prices of extensions on VoIP are lower than for PBXs and key systems. These switches run on commodity hardware.

[Billigere]

I tried Skype on 2 Megabits mobile broadband, and it worked like a charm. Used video too, and still got bandwidth left to surf. Me like Skype a lot:-)

[andy]

I use Truphone VOIP over 3g all the time on my Nokia E65 and it works great. Based on this I can't understand your logic of not offering it on Android. My Nokia is getting very long in the tooth. My next phone will be a Galaxy Nexus and if Truphone isn't offering VOIP over 3g by then I'll almost certainly be leaving them for a VOIP provider that does (and from what I'm reading there are now several that do). Listen up Truphone, I'm one of your first customers and love you guys but you need to give me what I need or I'm going to have to take my business elsewhere. Don't say that you haven't been warned.