Hiya, does anyone know of any VOIP solutions that work from a BlackBerry? I know many for Nokia phones and Microsoft smart phones but not sure of any that would work on a BlackBerry. I just switched to BlackBerry and am looking for a way to cut international call costs.

Does anyone know of any?

Thanks.

None that I know of, at least right now. Did you do a search for VoIP?

since u know many nokia phones and ms smart phones has it...did you ever try to use it? how is the connection and voice quality? and what voip software were u using, skype etc.?

Well you can load up SJphone and point it at any sip based provider. The quality tends to depend on who you use. I have tried a couple, babble.net works really well. Also I have loaded Skype onto an IPAQ and it works great. I also have some friends who have used Truphone on their Nokia phones. This works really well. All of these solutions require WIFI and are not truly 'mobile' solutions but are handy around the house and at WIFI hotspots.

Unfortunately none of the above works on the BB, that I know of.

wait...all of them require WIFI? well aint that a b****. i though u could use that with a data plan? have u ever try to use it with their data network? if so...which one..edge or evdo? and how is the quality?

It would be absolutely atrocious - latency on packet data is through the roof

Yeah I have tried them and never had even remote success with the quality. It is WIFI only unfortunately. Still, they definately have their benefits if you make a lot of international calls and have access to the right infrastructure.

did u try it with edge or evdo? i would think evdo would be a decent enuff to work with skype.

Would this be something that may answer your question?

Link below:
EQO Communications keeps people connected.


....

I don't think they would ever let users do full VoIP through a data plan. That would technically be killing their voice service.

Similarly, do you think they would ever let you do (say bandwidth is enough) voice chat with your google talk on PPC or BB? I dont think so...

ah...u ever heard of hspda?

I have played with 2 "VOIP" solutions on my BB. Neither, however, offers true VOIP, and neither are ideal. They are both of the call-back type solution. The first is Mino wireless. The second is webmessenger for skype. Basically, you use a small app that you load onto your BB to initiate the call. The server then calls you back, so you are only being charged for an incoming call. The call is routed through Mino or Skype, appropriately. I do not like the skype solution, because it requires your computer to be on, and connected, and skype to be running. It also requires a skype out account, and the quality isn't that good. Mino, on the other hand, works fairly well. You deposit money with the company, and it deducts from your account during the call.

THe best solution I have found, however, is to use a calling card. I dial the 1-800 number, enter my code, and then just dial the number i am trying to reach. I call Europe all the time using this method, and it only costs me like $0.04/min on top of my local minute usage. When I travel, I just use a local sim, and I utilize skypein/skypeout by forwarding my US cell phone to my skypein number, then forwarding that call to my local sim, using skype's low international rates. Most incoming calls in Europe are free.

sjsilverman: explain more about the local sim card.

i got my ceo traveling to europe all the time...his monthly phone bills avg. about $1000. it is the $.99/min rate that is killing him.

he is with tmobile. so he can go to a london tmobile store..purchase a sim card from them? then what? does he have to be on a monthly plan. how much would it cost him if it is incoming call from usa to london and vice versa when he is using a london sim card? thx in advance.

I have been reading your conversation and just wanted to add my bit! I have also used calling cards in the past but they are not very slick. I am with O2 in the UK and I also make a lot of calls overseas.

The latest VoIP service I have found is called connectmeanywhere. I have been using it for a few weeks now and its a much simpler way make cheap calls. It was costing me around a 90p with O2 to call the states but I am now making calls for round 2p per minute. They also allow me to manage my contacts when in the states using a different SIM.

I hope this helps!

In the UK, he can go into any of the mobile phone stores (I like Carphone Warehouse) and buy a prepaid local sim. The deals are always changing, so it is best to ask the clerk which will fit your CEO's needs best. He will be assigned a local phone number. When he depletes the credit on his SIM, he can just add more via the web, or by phone. Depending on which carrier he chooses, he probably will not be charged for any incoming calls. however, calls back to the States will be pricey, though not $0.99/min.

thx...but i dont think this is gonna work. the point is so he can make and receive cheap call back to usa with his own number. since u said it is still gonna be not quite as high as making call to usa...but it is still high.

so unless cingular go to hspda and skype make an apps for bb...i dont think there are any cheap convenience alternative.

How about SKYPE from his/her laptop?

HSDPA still does not have sufficient latency for voip; especially Cingular's implementation - you will need to be on a WiFi network to use a VOIP service with anything approaching acceptable quality.

he does have it on his laptop...but he doesn't use it that often due to convenience again.

oh so u work inside for cingular and know how they are implementing hspda huh?

im using my dell axim pda with skype with wifi at home...and it is working perfectly fine with my 3 MB dsl speed. im using 802.11b btw, and that is 11 Mbps. and i have full signal strenght to my wireless network.

and with hspda...it has a download speed up to 10 MB...so im very POSITIVE it will work. U CAN TAKE THAT TO THE BANK!