Mobile phones and VOIP

[Jake]

Hi, I am looking into buying a new mobile phone (or cell as you call it over here) and would like some advise for anyone that has anything to say that can help me.

What I would like to do is not only use the phone as it was intended, but also hook it up to my VOIP exchange and possibly FPL etc. I like the idea of being able to make VOIP calls where I can pick up a Wi-Fi connection. 6 years ago when I was back in the UK I always had the latest phone and knew what was what. When I moved to Canada 6 years ago I purposely went off grid, now I am completely lost. Things have changed in my life and I need to get back on the horse so to speak.

I read now and again that certain companies will not allow VOIP calls to go through, and the speed is not there. Is this true? or have I got it wrong?

Doing a little research I came up with the idea of using an iPhone4 and GroundWire. Is there something better? VOIP calls will not be the main roll for the phone, just a little something I would also like to do. The main reason is to keep in touch with people and my work when I have to be elsewhere. The camera to record my 1 year old girl as she grows up appealed also.

Basically, HELP! I see all sorts of options, phones, and plans and I have no idea what will work.

Thanks in advance.

[jtronforce]

Nokia E71 has SIP.
A little costly for a SIP only phone though, and you may need service to use SIP.
Keep us posted on your testing!

[canam101]

I recently bought a nokia e63, which is a wifi + cell phone. I know nothing about these things, but had no problem transferring the 'sim' card from my old cell phone to the nokia, which made it into a working cell phone. It does not come with a sim card, so you have to have an old cell phone or buy a sim card by itself (which I think can be done, though I have never looked into it).

I followed instructions in the manual and was able to set up two voip providers. When I am at an open wifi hotspot I have been able to connect out through one or the other of my voip connections.

I also downloaded a skype 'app' and can call out using that. It allows for web browsing via the wifi, including a connection to my isp's webmail account, which allows me to send and receive email. There are loads of other potential ways to connect out - social networking and so on, but they don't interest me.

The device has worked well for me. It costs about $130 at newegg. shipping was free, took about 2 days to get here from the US.

With all the hype about new 'smart' phones, it looks like these older nokias are great bargains if all you need, as I do, is the cell + wifi capability.

[laurent]

FYI, in a GSM network (Rogers, Rido and now Bell is uprading), the account informations is placed in a SIM card (subscriber identity module). Unlike old phones who were locked to an account, GSM phones get the account details from the sim card, which can be exchanged at will. You can open a new account at a GSM provider and just get a new sim card for that account, no phones required.

Last time I went in Mexico for vacation, I bought a Telmex prepay account for a few dollars with a sim card, and then just used the Treo I brought along.

[canam101]

You can open a new account at a GSM provider and just get a new sim card for that account, no phones required.

Thank you, that is good to know.

[vTroll]

Having new mobile needs a wider horizon to understand its features and functions. However, I guess it is appropriate to have the best provider using the voip. Using good provider will make phones’ applications usable.

[sneek]

I am hoping that FPL will work well on TELUS because I was planning on adding it to my Galaxy S to supplement my calling plan. Although being a student I am extremely reluctant to spend the $50 on another line. Although I must say that FPL has been fantastic for me for the last 5 months for the line I have with them.