It looks like voice-over-IP apps are finally beginning to make significant inroads onto the iPhone, routing around what seemed to be objections from both Apple and its U.S.-based carrier AT&T. Earlier this summer, Skype added 3G calling and then later multi-tasking support on the iPhone, a bit step forward. Now this week, app developer Pinger launched a VoIP app while rumors are flying that Google Voice will finally land in the iPhone app store next week.
Over-the-top mobile VoIP has yet to really take off on any device, in part due to the complexity of the technology for mainstream users and in part because fewer people are using their phones for voice calling anyway.
That’s what makes Pinger’s move so intriguing. The company is the developer behind Textfree, a popular iPhone texting application — particularly among younger users. The app lets users text on the phone without a carrier texting plan.Textfree has been downloaded 8 million times and users have sent more than 4 billion texts (Pinger has also distributed some 1.7 million unique phone numbers).
Pinger’s new voice service will target those same users, and do so less on the iPhone then on the iPod Touch, where texting and voice calling are unique add-ons, not copy-me services. Pinger voice users will get a certain number of minutes for free and will reportedly be able to add more minutes by downloading apps. The company will charge for minutes above that.
Will the teens that make up Textfree’s user base leap to VoIP? The app would make the popular iPod Touch more of an “iPhone light” than ever before, so it’s possible.
Why is this news? . Textnow already does this with more features and for cheaper…
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