Apple Lifts 3G VoIP Restrictions

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yuxek

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#56956 29-Jan-2010 17:35

Apple Lifts 3G VoIP Restrictions on iPhone:

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/01/28/why-carriers-didnt-want-to-allow-3g-voip-before-and-why-theyre-now-setting-it-free/

So does that mean vodafone will allow voip over 3g now too?

Just curious, what would put more load on vodafone's network, voip over 3g or just a normal non-voip 3g call? And would a voip over 3g call not drop like normal calls do because it's data?

freitasm

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#294425 29-Jan-2010 17:45

Vodafone never said you couldn't use VoIP over 3G. The problem is that latency makes VoIP a "try and see if works" kind of service over mobile networks - so they never "guaranteed" it would work.

The same for Telecom XT. The words in the booklet with the Telecom XT SIM card clearly say "NO" but in reality they don't enforce the rule.

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sbiddle

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#294428 29-Jan-2010 17:49

Vodafone have always allowed VoIP over 3G.

Infact with the exception of a handful of networks in Europe who took steps to block or traffic shape VoIP calling everybody has allowed VoIP traffic over 3G. I've been using VoIP over 3G on my Nokia's for ~3 years now.

The key difference here is that Apple are now allowing an approved VoIP app to use a 3G connection. I have no idea if this app allows background use or not - if it doesn't it's hardly the groundbreaking announcement it could be.

People also need to understand that VoIP over 3G is unable to deliver the same voice quality as a circuit switched voice call. There is typically no QoS on the air interface and jitter and UDP packet loss are both issues that exist in 3G handovers if you're attempting to make a call while mobile. It does work but it's a best effort service. For some people this may be good enough, for many it won't be.

The article also makes assumptions about the US market that also don't make sence. Carriers aren't going to necessarily make money by allowing VoIP because they can charge for data because voice calling is insanely cheap in the USA due to CPP anyway.

So it's news if you're an iPhone user - but hardly a big deal for the industry.

maverick

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#294445 29-Jan-2010 18:49

The advantage here for iphone users is that the VOIP apps will be able make use of wireless networks for VOIP calls and will probably preform better than the 3G connection we have now, as Steve said VOIP will work on 3G mobile networks but due to the actual performance of these networks with Latency and Jitter they are not that practical....

Now wireless connections on the other hand has a lot more possibilities ... can't wait for iphone 3g with wireless N & integrated webcam for both Mobile and web apps.... now where talking and I can do some things with that

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savag3

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#294468 29-Jan-2010 20:08

Vodafone's website says:
"Use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is prohibited."

However their terms and conditions say:
"You acknowledge that we do not support Voice over Internet Protocol
(“VoIP”) and that we can provide no assurance that currently available
access levels may be maintained"

Perhaps someone should fix their website.

Kyanar

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#294498 29-Jan-2010 21:03

maverick: The advantage here for iphone users is that the VOIP apps will be able make use of wireless networks for VOIP calls and will probably preform better than the 3G connection we have now, as Steve said VOIP will work on 3G mobile networks but due to the actual performance of these networks with Latency and Jitter they are not that practical....

Erm... it's always been A-OK to develop a VoIP app that used wireless. In fact there are already many of them in the app store.

yuxek

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#294524 29-Jan-2010 22:54

i think the next iphone will have 4g lte support because at&t will have an lte network in 2011:

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Mobil.../

so maybe this is why they are enabling 3g voip because 2011 is not far away. major things i like about 4g lte from wikipedia:

At least 200 active users in every 5 MHz cell. (Specifically, 200 active data clients).

Optimal cell size of 5 km, 30 km sizes with reasonable performance, and up to 100 km cell sizes supported with acceptable performance.

I wonder if 2degrees or vodafone or telecom are going to deploy lte. i guess if vodafone's iphone exclusivity ends, then if the new iphone has lte, then which nz network offers 4g will probably win all the iphone users.

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sbiddle

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#294557 30-Jan-2010 07:06

I'd pick the chances of the next iPhone supporting LTE at somewhere between 0% and 0.01% - it just isn't reastically going to happen.

You may or may not we aware but LTE currently has no voice standard and at present and the current trial LTE networks are data only. All voice will be VoIP based anyway if it stays on the LTE network but using existing GSM/UMTS networks for voice is always an option.

There are are currently battles going on to actually define a voice standard with both VoLGA, One Voice, and Nokia's Fast Track solution all pushing different solution into the marketplace.

Linuxluver

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#295709 3-Feb-2010 13:23

Charging for data by the MB effectively kills VoIP unless the cost of data becomes very low compared to current pricing.

They don't have to enforce the rule. Your wallet does it for them.

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sbiddle

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#295713 3-Feb-2010 13:29

Linuxluver: Charging for data by the MB effectively kills VoIP unless the cost of data becomes very low compared to current pricing.

They don't have to enforce the rule. Your wallet does it for them.

I'm not quite sure whether you're referring to NZ or elsewhere but there is nothing wrong with the data pricing now for VoIP use. It's a damn site cheaper than that you can get buying voice minutes!

Even a $10 100MB plan will give you roughly 4 hours of calling using G.729, that works out at roughly 4.1c per minute for a voice call. I think that's pretty reasonable!