Many Palm users have been praying for a good VoIP program, and your prayers may soon be answered. MobiVoIP is a new program currently in beta. I happen to be one of the lucky beta testers, and I’ll be happy to pass my findings onto you now.
MobiVoIP requires your Palm to be able to connect to the internet through Bluetooth, Wifi, or EVDO. When you place a call, it sends your call through the internet and connects you to whoever you’re calling…FREE*! (See comments)
I use PocketPCTech’s microphone/adapter for the Tungsten C and highly recommend their products for those of you who do not have microphones on their devices. A full review was done on this product by TamsPalm and can be found by searching our site.
Using this adapter, I have found that I have very good voice quality using the program. There is some static in the background, but the program is still very practical. There is a slight delay from when I speak to when the other party hears my voice, but this can be expected when using any VoIP program.
This is an excellent program and works very well. It also has the ability to dial numbers out of your contacts database. My only gripe against the program is that it doesn’t allow connection through a proxy. One of the programmers explained to me that this would be very difficult to accomplish for a VoIP program.
Please email the programmers and encourage them to keep working hard on this program. This is definitely a one of a kind program and deserves to be noticed by the Palm community.
-Brock
Related posts:
[...] MobiVoIP Beta brings VOIP to PalmOS! When Skype came to Pocket PC, allowing wifi-enabled PPCs to make phone calls for free over the internet, there was much hope for a PalmOS version. But then news broke that they really weren’t working on it, because of difficulties in bringing it to the PalmOS platform. Now Tam’s Palm has the scoop that PalmOS is getting a VOIP solution of it’s own — MobiVoIP. Here’s how MobiVoip describes it: "VOIP, or Voice Over IP (pronounced ‘voyp’), is a new technology that lets you make phone calls over the Internet. mobiVoip™ is MantraGroup’s™ propertiary technology which brings VoIP to mobile phones. When you make a VoIP phone call, you use a normal touch-tone telephone and dial the normal phone number just as you would any other time. The people on the other end can’t tell that whether you are calling from a traditional telephone or a VoIP phone. The main difference is that the phone call travels over the Internet rather than through the local phone company’s wires. mobiVoip™ takes it to next step allowing you to use your PDA and make VoIP calls." Via Palm Addicts [...]
What no link? Here it is:
http://www.mobivoip.net/
Also, a correction to your post.
“When you place a call, it sends your call through the internet and connects you to whoever you’re calling…FREE!”
Actually you can only connect to other users that use MobiVoip for free. Calling POTS (ie someones phone) will require a purchased plan (just like other voip companies).
Oop..my bad..you did have a link.
Will it work on Treo 650 that doesn’t have Wi-Fi?
Ahh, I see…thanks for the correctino StuBee!
Why shouldn’t it work with the Treo? I think it only requires an internet connection and it doesn’t matter which one.
Alex
Thanks for the review. We would like to clear up the confusion.
For mobiVoIP to work, we need a stable internet connection with good QoS (Quality of Service). Wifi, Bluetooth and EvDO (Rev A) provide that quality. The minimum requirement is 60kbs (30 up + 30 down) and a little less when noise suppression is used. Using with EDGE will not give good results as it has an OK download speed but not the required upload speed and will not quarantee the delivery of the packets at the required time.
mobiVoIP is free for internal users of mobiVoIP however the PSTN is not. We are making every effort to keep the rates of our monthly service down and affordable.
Please feel free to send us your comments directly to mobivoip [at] mantragroup.com
VoIP for Palm Powered Handhelds
Mobivoip.net is offering a VoIP program for Palm handhelds.
Hi,
I am already looking forward to see how the app will handle the slow BT interfaces of Tungsten handhelds..
If that really works, that is great news. From now on, I can talk on the network, at school, everywhere with my handheld for free;).
BTW; will calls to other VoIP networks cost sth? I could imagine a MobiVOIP to Skype bridge for example..
Best regards
Tam Hanna
Would it run on a TH55, or is it PalmOne specific?
[...] There was arguably a VoIP solution from Gphone for the Palm OS. In my experience, it didn’t work. Now there’s apparently another. A company called mobivoip.net is providing a service that allows free VoIP between its users, from a Palm OS handheld to another. Some details are available on tamspalm.tamoggemon.com, including more specifics about the service. [...]
Hi,
I believe that it will work on the TH55.
Best regards
Tam Hanna
I was just thinking, that maybe sony used some strange recorder APIs which are not supported by standard apps. Well, I just hope the 123Mhz will be enough for a decent conversation:-).
Actually a bridge to skype would be great. Then I actually could call someone. None of my friends has a PDA:-((((
Hi,
to be honest, AFAIK, the API is compatible(Sony stopped using their proprietary junk with the NX73).
But as said, I am no Clie nut and thus am the wrong one to ask;). Better go for 1src.com imho!
About the Skype bridge..that would be too freaking great. But nobody will do it imho!
Best regards
Tam Hanna
Is this a SIP-compatible VoIP service? If so, will peering with other SIP networks be tested/supported?
From mobiVoIP Team comment above:
“Using with EDGE will not give good results as it has an OK download speed but not the required upload speed and will not quarantee the delivery of the packets at the required time.”
Note that EDGE is a higher-speed evolution of GPRS.
From http://www.mobivoip.net/howitworks.php
“…you can now use Bluetooth, Wifi, EVDO on your PDAs or Smartphones to call your friends. mobiVoIPâ„¢ also is been tested for low bandwidth connections like GPRS and IrDA.”
“tested”? Umm, what were the results of those tests? If those test results suggest that GPRS and IrDA are inadequate, as I think we can infer from the mobiVoIP Team comment above, why isn’t the FAQ mobivoip.net forthcoming about that. The impression left is that mobivoip knows it won’t work on GPRS and IrDA, but is willing to let hopeful readers draw the false conclusion that it does.
I’d be wary about doing business with an organization that engages such deception.
[...] It’s about time. Palm handheld users will soon have an option for VoIP on their devices. MobiVoIP is currently being beta tested and promises a VoIP solution for owners of Palm devices. The TamsPalm blog is participating in the beta and reports acceptable voice quality. Using this adapter, I have found that I have very good voice quality using the program. There is some static in the background, but the program is still very practical. There is a slight delay from when I speak to when the other party hears my voice, but this can be expected when using any VoIP program. [...]
Hi,
I darkly recall that GPRS has a different style of bandwith distribution than EVDO. So, in total, GPRS may be better suited than EVDO for this application,…
But dont take my word on that!
Best regards
Tam Hanna
John: EDGE does not always guarantee the performance required. True if you have very good access and no one near requesting for EDGE upload, you might get good performance. The results were 2 fold on EDGE and GPRS. Technically, the app requires only 60kbs and if you can guarantee the required upload and download speed -30kbs each, the app would work very well.
I’d be wary about doing business with an organization that engages such deception.
>> Given the fact that we were too busy supporting the beta users to gain them POTS access with no charges presently for using the app, we will update it when we get time which should be in a day or two. Ciao’
please test drive it, it is free for now
PocketPCTech’s microphone/adapter wouldn’t work on the Palm TX. Right? Would need to mod TX with mic.
Hi Tom,
AFAIK not!
Best regards
Tam Hanna
I dont think that would work on TX, need to install internal mic or external using connector. I’m working on making an external mic.
TelefonÃa IP para Palm ¿por fin?
Aparentemente descartado que llegue a existir una versión de Skype para sus equipos, los usuarios de Palm podrán sacudirse en parte la envidia de sus colegas con Pocket PC gracias a mobiVoIP, un nuevo servicio de telefonÃa a través de Internet que …
[...] I recall having to make an urgent call to Holland on behalf of a Dutch patient who was being referred to a teaching hospital there. It was a cinch making the call via Pocket Skype on my Dell Axim x50v over a broadband Wifi connection. And it cost me only pennies. Now I have always been disappointed that Skype does not support PalmOS even given the fact that there are a number of Wifi capable Palms out there eg the Lifedrive. However, Tamspalm has good news: VOIP is coming to PalmOS! Good job MantraGroup! [...]
Any word on how the service works for people living outside North America?
The MobiVoiP plans seem to cover only national calling within North AMerica, and International calling from within North America.
I’m in New Zealand, and would be using the service to call both nationally and internationally.
Advice?
tamer…
Interesting post. I came across this blog by accident, but it was a good accident. I have now bookmarked your blog for future use. Best wishes. Tamer Hosny….
well, When you make a VoIP phone call, you use a normal touch-tone telephone and dial the normal phone number just as you would any other time. The people on the other end can’t tell that whether you are calling from a traditional telephone or a VoIP phone. The main difference is that the phone call travels over the Internet rather than through the local phone company’s wires. mobiVoip™ takes it to next step allowing you to use your PDA and make VoIP calls.”