Mobile VoIP: Free And Cheap Calls With Your Smartphone

VoIP is ready to substitute your home phone and then to lead all the mobile phone system to a crisis. I had been testing Truphone for a month: it gives you the chance of using access points for internet free calls  or cheap calls worldwide.

In this case, we need a more expensive and technologically advanced version of mobile phone, but I think that’s worthwhile. This situation is different from the one comparing internet and traditional TV.

Free VoIP: what we need

• TruPhone: as I had already told you, is a mobile VoIP program for internet calls via wifi
  
• A new generation Nokia smartphone equipped with a E-series or N-series
  
• Wifi connectivity
• An ADSL connection (not necessarily the fastest one)
• A wireless access point or modem/router.
  

Truphone installation on your mobile phone

To install Truphone (on my Nokia N95):

1. Send to the number +44 7624 000 000 an sms with the word “tru”
2. Open the reply sms
3. Click on its link
4. Now you can install Truphone

Your username will be composed by your phone number. Here you are a video that shows us how to run the installation.

Truphone and VoIP sets up our mobile phone

Once installed Truphone it starts an automatic set up connecting to the first available wi-fi connection: this operation requires a huge amount of energy as it can use up Nokia N95 batteries in few hours. Then, I suggest you to disconnect the automatic start.

How to do internet calls

1. Dial the phone number
2. Click on options instead of pressing the button for sending the call, and then choose for internet call.
   

Now, if Truphone is disconnected, you’ll be asked to choose among one of any available Wifi connections, and then the call will start. Here you have a demonstration:

Costs of calls and free calls

The main question is: are calls free for real? And what about all other costs?

Internet calls quality

When having a call voice arrives with some delay, and that’s its weak point. It is almost unperceivable when calling on a fixed line phone, but when calling on Italian mobiles or on fixed phone numbers abroad this echo is quite remarkable. Therefore, the quality is not the same one as for fixed line phones, but the heavy drop in roaming costs is a reason enough to forgive this default. Look at what I paid when I made a roaming call with my mobile phone, so that you can understand what I mean.