VoIP engine coming to iPhone, but maybe it's not what you think

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 12 August 2008 13:27

Business IT - Technology

There’s excitement over an iPhone version of the VoiceEngine Mobile VoIP software from Global IP Solutions, and it has people... er... talking!

Many iPhone users are keen to see a VoIP application for the handset so they can minimise the amount they spend on voice calls. After all, who doesn’t want to save money?

But much of the commentary I've seen about Global IP Systems (GIPS) VoiceEngine Mobile suggests people are getting excited for the wrong reasons.

Why? We're not talking about the possibility of a Skype-like iPhone app that will let you burn up that unlimited data allowance that AT&T so generously offers US iPhone owners, at the same time as using as few voice minutes as possible.

No-sir-ee.

This is all about GIPS making it easy for developers to build VoIP capabilities into iPhone applications such as games, IM and social networking - and only over Wi-Fi.

Why? Apple's iPhone SDK prohibits the creation of VoIP applications that run over 2G or 3G data networks, presumably to protect the voice revenues of its carrier partners.

What GIPS CEO Emerick Woods actually said was "With GIPS VoiceEngine Mobile, we are providing the capabilities that turn voice into IP packets so they can be transmitted via Wi-Fi, making it easier for applications developers to come to market quickly with integrated VoIP applications."

So why is this a big deal anyway? More on page two.