Truphone‘s press release, “Truphone Gives iPad Owners a Voice,” describe the launch of the first VoIP app on the iPad.
“Will this new app work over the iPad’s 3G network?” asks 9To5Mac and Gadget Venue. Whether the VoIP app works over 3G brings up a whole series of question, but first let’s take a look at the press release to understand how the Truphone app works:
The company’s award-winning VoIP application turns the tablet sized device into a mobile phone that offers free or low-cost international calls, as well as advanced Instant Messaging features which integrate a user’s contacts from across multiple IM networks…
The Truphone iPad application offers customers free calling to other Truphone and Google Talk users when connected over Wi-Fi, and international calling to mobile phones and landlines for as low as 3 pence a minute. Truphone also offers an unlimited calling plan and free voicemail.
The application also provides a combined Truphone and IM contacts list showing on-line status and presence, together with an innovative, multi-chat IM interface for AIM, Google Talk, and MSN users – allowing customers to easily stay on top of their contacts list without opening multiple windows.
Let’s return now to the 3G issue.
Gadget Venue assumes that 3G will work:
It has not yet been verified but it is common assumption that you will probably be able to use Truphone to make calls over 3G networks. We believe that you will be able to unless the 3G network provider (AT&T) puts restrictions on the app. The press release does indicate that this will be possible although it’s still not crystal clear just yet…
9to5Mac’s Seth Weintraub makes the question even more interesting. He comments on the press release’s vagueness regarding the matter, and then continues with the following food for thought:
…and I’ve followed up with Truphone PR who say they can’t get an answer until after the weekend. If so, this would be a very interesting proposition. Not just for the iPad. What if Apple releases an iPod Touch 3G in September? Why buy an iPhone at that point?
Here’s the real juice, in simple non-techie terms. The questions of whether Truphone works over 3G, and whether the Septmber iTouch release includes 3G connectivity, raise the same implication. The ability to place VoIP calls over 3G means that users are no longer limited to using the app in places with WiFi. Once the VoIP app works seamlessly on your iTouch or iPad through 3G connectivity you no longer really need an iPhone. Why not just place all of your phone calls through your VoIP apps on your iTouch or iPad?
Any thoughts? How will Apple sustain the need for all three devices? If not, will the iPad cannibalize too much on another device?
Related posts:
- Apple Approves First VoIP App Over 3G: iCall
- How to Advertise on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch: Whistle’s iPhone App
- 3 Tips When Using Audio for iPad Web Conferencing
- Is the iPad for Business Execs? 4 Sources to Get You Thinking
- Cisco’s Web Conferencing App for iPad
