iPhone users now have a way to save big on their monthly cell phone bill using VoIP calling, as Apple has enabled this capability over 3G connections.
An update to the iPhone SDK finally allows app developers to build this capability into their programs, after AT&T announced last October that they'd soon allow VoIP over 3G. Effectively, this allows iPhone users to ditch their unlimited voice plans and opt for a combination of data and voice for calls.
The first app to use this capability is iCall, available now in the iPhone's App Store. The free app lets you place free five-minute telephone calls to the United States and Canada. For $10 per month, users can get unlimited calling to those countries and pay-as-you-go international rates.
I've confirmed with iCall chief executive Arlo Gilbert that VoIP calls over 3G use no voice minutes, only data. When signing up for the monthly plan, users get a new phone number in the area code of their choice, but they can still show their existing number on caller ID.
One drawback: Because VoIP services aren't allowed to use the iPhone's dialer and calling system, incoming VoIP calls appear as push notifications (as if you got a text message), rather than a full-blown ring. But with Google Voice's new Web app, you could route incoming calls through your voice service, and still place calls using VoIP. With iCall, you can also switch incoming voice calls over to VoIP after you've answered the phone. These methods will certainly allow people to cut down on voice minutes in exchange for a cheap VoIP plan.
It won't be long before Skype, Truphone and other competitors release their own updates. No matter which you prefer, some big changes to voice and data use are coming.
