Fring updates iPhone app with 3G VoIP support

Ronny Kerr · January 29, 2010 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/d77

VoIP app now works over 3G in addition to Wi-Fi, includes chat, voice, and video calls

FringFring, a mobile Internet communications service and community, is now one of the earliest companies to bring Voice-over-IP (VoIP) support over the 3G data network to its iPhone app.

Though the news may have been buried by iPad mania, Apple on Wednesday announced that, via the new iPhone SDK, VoIP calls over 3G in addition to those made over Wi-Fi are now allowed.

The very first app to announce support for the newly allowed was iCall, another VoIP software provider. iCall may have beat Fring and others to the punch, but Fring has an advantage in that it also provides video conferencing support in addition to the standard voice and chat features.

Naturally, video calls are one-way because the iPhone does not don a camera on its front-side, but nevertheless the feature still helps Fring stand out among other VoIP apps.

According to tests run by CNet, however, AT&T's 3G network isn't really the best way to go about running video calls, which saw some slowing and cutting out when the Wi-Fi was abandoned for 3G. Still, even desktop applications experience their fair share of glitchy video conferences, even while connected over seemingly solid ethernet connections.

To get started with the new update, Fring users need only restart the app (or in some cases the phone) to refresh the app, removing the previous 3G restriction.

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fring™ is a mobile internet service & community that enables you to access & interact with your social networks on-the-go, make free calls and live chat with all your fring, Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM®* friends using your handset’s internet connection rather than costly cellular airtime minutes.

Bringing PC-benefits to the mobile, fring will empower you with mobility and availability as never before, integrating all contacts in to one, searchable buddy list, allowing you to see who’s online before dialing with contact availability indicators, engage in multiple conversations simultaneously, send & receive files and more.

You can even make affordable local and international calls to landline and regular cellular numbers using your SkypeOut/SkypeIn account or almost any internet voice service (SIP) such as SIPNET, EuteliaVoIP, VoIPVoIP and VoIPTalk, even from non-SIP enabled handsets.

What’s more, fring will automatically log you in to WiFi hotspots that you’ve previously logged into, so you can save time and hassle without having to configure your WiFi access points each time you enter a WiFi hotspot whether it be your home, office, or favourite coffee shop, and save even more on calls & chats to your friends, as calls among fringsters and your online communities are 100% free when using your existing WiFi account.

As easy to download as a ringtone and simple to install and use, fring is PC-independent and does not require any dedicated hardware or airtime - all you need to use fring is a supported handset with internet connectivity and an internet data package or a WiFi account.

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