3G and background calling now available with Truphone v4.0

Unless you have been living in a cave over the past few months, you would have heard about iPhone 4, Apple's latest and greatest phone, which went on sale overnight.

To celebrate, we are all very excited to announce that we have just upgraded our iPhone and iPod touch applications to take advantage of some of the great new features with this launch.

So what’s new with these updates?

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3G Calling

You can now place and receive calls over 3G networks! This means that you have the option to make calls as part of your data package even when out of Wi-Fi range.

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Background calling

This has been one of most requested new features from users of our iPhone app, so one we are very excited about. Thanks to Apple iOS 4’s multi-tasking feature, you can now be on a call and running another application at the same time. You also won't miss incoming calls when running another application and you can place a call while surfing the Internet or checking email.

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Truphone Instant Messenger

We have now added a new feature called Truphone Instant Messenger. For the first time, you will be able to chat via IM with other Truphone users as well as contacts on several of the most popular social networking sites, including Facebook, Skype, AIM, GoogleTalk and MSN – all in one place, without having to open up multiple IM applications.

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Both are now available to download for free from the App Store, or via iTunes.

To download Truphone for iPhone v4.0, click here

To download Truphone for iPod touch v4.0, click here

If you already have either application, you can upgrade now via the App Store to get all of these new features (you will need to have upgraded to iOS 4 first).

Next two Truphone Local Anywhere countries announced

There has been lots of requests coming in for what the next Truphone Local Anywhere country should be.

And we are happy to announce today that the next two countries, after Australia (which will be launching soon), are...

The Netherlands 

 

and Spain

 

We have formed relationships with Vodafone in the Netherlands, and with Orange in Spain, and will be launching in both countries towards the end of the year. Read the full press release here

 

This means that you can add a Spanish number, or a Dutch number (or both, if you want) to your Truphone Local Anywhere SIM, and when you are in either country, you can pay local rates, instead of roaming rates for calls, texts and data.

That brings the total number of Truphone countries to 5 - and this is just the start. Stay tuned, and don't forget to vote for the country you want as a Truphone country.

Worry about your team, not your phone bill in South Africa.

The preparation is almost complete, the hard months of training are nearly over and the big event is just one day away… Now you just need your team to win!

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa is going to be an incredible event and with many fans travelling thousands of miles to watch their team, what better way to stay in touch with loved ones back home than with Truphone.

With a free Truphone application, you can make low cost calls over Wi-Fi to any local or international number. You can even make free calls to other Truphone, Skype or Google Talk users over Wi-Fi. Check out our rates to the 32 World Cup countries.

So when you arrive, check if your hotel has Wi-Fi and use Truphone to avoid expensive roaming rates. We’ve also got a list of Wi-Fi hotspots which can be found by visiting our special Truphone World Cup page.

Enjoy the World Cup and good luck!

Happy chatting,

The Truphone Team

Mobile VoIP - what does the future hold?

For a few years now, we have been producing mobile VoIP applications. 

At the same time, we have been keeping a close eye on the growing interest people around the world have for what we think is a pretty clever (and cost-effective) way to make calls.

In the past few days, a couple of articles came out writing about the future of mobile VoIP.

This one about a study that showed that over 100 million people will be using mobile VoIP by 2012.

And this one discussing whether mobile VoIP is about to become mainstream.

Well worth a read if you get the chance.

Of course, we are very positive about the future for mobile VoIP (naturally!), but what do you think? Do you think it is going to be a mainstream way for people to communicate? Or remain a little edgy and different?