VOIP on a mobile

AnotherKerryman

Is it possible to get VOIP via a mobile broadband connection?

I want a second number that I can use (for work purposes) on a mobile phone, but I want to keep my old (private number) and be able to switch off the work number at weekends, on holidays, etc.

The options I can see so far are to carry two phones (too cumbersome), to buy a second SIM and forward all the calls it receives to my other number (too expensive), or buy a handset that can take two SIM cards (difficult to find, and any I have are expensive & not a brand I've heard of).

The option I'm looking at now is to get a smartphone (Nokia E65 from Three?) and load up a softphone. If I sign up for VOIP, then I think I can use the E65 as a conventional mobile with my existing number and use the 076 number I get as my work contact number.

My question relates to my internet connection. If I sign up for mobile broadband from Three as well, then I can connect directly from the phone, but do I have to have to stay connected in order to receive any calls to the 076 number, and if so will that run down the battery on the handset in a few hours?

Anybody got any ideas (or any other possible solution)?

towel401

on the nokia e61, e70 and a few other E series phones they already have a SIP client built in. there are lots of providers for SIP but you might have problems connecting via 3g because they go out of their way to try and block it.

AnotherKerryman

Three will have E65 in stock in a week or so, and the user guide for that on nokia.ie says that it has a VOIP phone built in for use via a wireless LAN.

When you say "they" go out of their way to try and block it, do you mean the SIP providers or the 3G network providers?

emul

Read this article:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/06/28/omtp_rules_on_voip/

I am sure that Irish Operators are doing the same.

damnyanks

Not sure they will enforce that. I'm with Orange and use Skype on my phone all the time. Granted I do it through the wireless on my phone.

Overall it seems a bit flakey at times.

brianc123

Have a look at http://www.fring.com/
looks like it will do what you are looking for

Cabaal

damnyanks wrote:

Not sure they will enforce that. I'm with Orange and use Skype on my phone all the time. Granted I do it through the wireless on my phone.

If your using wifi to use voip then its nothing to do with Orange as your not using their network,

http://www.fring.com/ seems very interested, even if all your looking to do is use IM clients on your phone

cregser

Have you considered something like this? It's a bit of a hack, but there are phones out there that are designed to support dual sim cards (not the hack way). Didn't find any that supported both simultaneously though.

As for networks blocking VoIP. The article emul pointed to suggests that you would be fully aware if your operator is blocking VoIP. Also, I'd doubt if they'd be able to block every VoIP app on common OSes (like symbian or windows). Another more subtle way for them would be effect VoIP traffic with low priority QoS on their 3G network - causing broken up phone calls and discouraging VoIP.

I would think you would need 3G turned on always to recieve Voip calls - not sure about battery usage though. Also, with a WiFi solution you'd be out of coverage for the majority of the time - pointless for a mobile.

P.S. I found an article that talks about your plight.
Personally, I just carried around two phones. :rolleyes: