Fring, an Israeli startup that offers VOIP & Chat service for mobile phones has launched their much awaited iPhone App via the App Store that allows iPhone users to make Skype and other VOIP calls over Wi-Fi and also chat with others on a variety of networks including Skype, MSN, GoogleTalk, AIM, Yahoo, Twitter, ICQ.
Today's release of Fring should make it one of the hottest iPhone App to be released for the iPhone since its launch of the App Store.
We have seen quite a few alternatives to make VOIP calls for the jailbroken iPhone, such as IM+ for Skype for the iPhone, SoonR Talk, Truphone or workarounds like WebEx's PCNow which brought Skype to the iPhone via remote desktop.
Fring's iPhone app appears to be the real VOIP solution that we have all be waiting for. With Fring on your iPhone you will be able to call regular phones using either SkypeOut or SIP over Wi-Fi. So your cost of outgoing calls will be determined on which SIP provider you use and how much SkypeOut charges for a particular call.
In addition to VOIP, Fring also has built-in IM capabilities for variety of networks including Skype, Google, ICQ, MSN, Twitter, AIM, and Yahoo contacts.
Fring had released the beta version of their iPhone app for the jailbroken iPhone back in April to get feedback for iPhone users before releasing their full-featured version via the App Store.
However, iPhone users will be able to make VOIP calls using Fring only over Wi-Fi and not over the data connection just like Steve Jobs had indicated during the announcement of iPhone SDK.
You can download Fring for free using this App Store link and checkout Fring's user guide in case you need any more details.
Update (5th Oct, 2008):
I agree with MarkB and HyperGo. I tried using Fring yesterday and its quite buggy.
I had issues making a call using my SkyeOut account, it just kept ringing (the other person did not receive any call) and when I did get through, the person on the other side could not hear me. So yes, its promising iPhone App but still needs some work. The registration of the SkypeOut account was also not very smooth.
I used TruPhone (App Store link) and it worked very well, though its a much costlier option as compared to SkpeOut so lets hope Fring can fix these issues or it would prefect if Skype releases their own app for the iPhone.
Folks, please share your experience of making your first VOIP call using the iPhone in the comments below. We will try to bring a detailed review of Fring as soon as possible.
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Someone needs to hack this to allow VoIP over 3G.
why would i want to pay for my calls when o2 gives you 600 mins with contract anyway ponitless reallly paying monthly then pay as you go for voip calls aswell
The idea of this app is great, however they really should have continued their beta program until they could produce a solid build. This first official release is very buggy and unpredictable.
Truphone VOIP is very good for one way iPhone to cellular when abroad, but having Skype to Skype support on the iPhone would be even better – they are going to have to spend a lot more time on the app though.
IMHO they should drop all the other protocol support and concentrate solely on Skype, but then thats just my preferred service
Hey Joe, Your not the only one in the world with an O2 iphone contract buddy, try and be unbiased next time you comment on an app like this…
This is GREAT!!! I only have 4hours / month of talk time with my contract and using the SIP protocol implemented in FRING I was able to call using my iphone for FREE (My internet provider comes with an SIP account giving access to unlimited landline calls in more than 70 countries…)
Too bad this only works on wifi but the quality of the calls are good and it still hasent bugged or crashed yet… fingers crossed!
I have a question…Is a SIP account needed? Or can i just connect to a wifi connection and make a free call?
Pay As You go VOIP maybe retarded when you are calling within the States but if you are like me and have friends all over the world VOIP is amazing. I used the old FringBETA constantly. This is great!
Still very buggy… The application is restarting from time to time. I also ported my skypeout (unlimited US/Canada) on it but after 2 rings it automatically terminates.
I honestly only see one use for this .. being if you were traveling abroad or needed to call out of the country.
Then you could use the much cheaper Skype rates for those calls, because AT&T's rates for that are like highway robbery!
Which means you'd only want to use local wi-fi for it anyway since the data network is also expensive.
This could be a very good solution for somebody who's outside the states often on business though. : )
Man, I love skype on my PC but I wasn't even able to login to the Iphone version. I keep getting error: "user ID/Nickname/Password may contain only alpha characters A-Z and digits 0-9". That's weird because my username contains a "." in it. I opened a ticket to the skype team and i'll let you guys know the outcome. Let me know if there anyone else with the same issue.
On another note, if I use skype over wifi and since I have a skypeout account, the only cost if I call to lan a line in Canada and the US is the cost of my skypeout membership fee right? Phone talk time is not part of that cost right?
voip over wifi only is silly.
if i wanted a wireless skype phone,
i would've bought a wireless skype phone.
we need voip on the go! 3G please!
as is… fring is pretty clunky, with noticeable lag 'when' skype calls go through (emphasize on WHEN… as most calls never go through)
This doesn't fringK work. Downloaded it but it keeps asking me to enter a valid email address when trying to register a new account on the iphone.
The people at skype need to make a widget at for the iphone that works with existing skype account. This will solve the problem…
If i update to 2.1 on my iphone 3G will Fring work ? Help dudes..
yes it will work with 2.1
It was cool when it was a jailbroken iPhone app running on carrier's data connection and I was able to talk (voice chat from my fring to a desktop PC running windows live messenger) with my parents on the other side of the world for free while I was sitting inside the bus on the go.
Now it works only on Wifi, Thanks but NO DEAL.
people, get the patched version of fring for 3G, works like a charm
I can call but the voice quality is very poor for the person receiving the call. I sound fine to myself but I've tested it several times both over wifi and 3g and it isn't something I would use to save money. Anyone have any specs on how much data is being used for say 1min of talk time via skype?
I can call but the voice quality is very poor for the person receiving the call. I sound fine to myself but I've tested it several times both over wifi and 3g and it isn't something I would use to save money. Anyone have any specs on how much data is being used for say 1min of talk time via skype?
I can call but the voice quality is very poor for the person receiving the call. I sound fine to myself but I've tested it several times both over wifi and 3g and it isn't something I would use to save money. Anyone have any specs on how much data is being used for say 1min of talk time via skype?
dose uit works with 2.2
I have been using Fring for years, it's really good, and saved me a lot of money, glad to hear that.