Opening up 3G to VoIP? It sure may happen. And, when it does, AT&T's network will see even more usage. While today's network is being stretched, pulled and splintered in so many directions, tomorrow's network from AT&T, all ONE network for everything from voice, to video and to of course data will be far more robust. Well at least that's the plan I would bet.
The public revealing yesterday that AT&T has made Apple restrict VoIP from 3G on the iPhone may also cause the FCC and the FTC to have to start looking at every agreement between handset manufacturers and carriers as closely as the FCC tests devices.
Just yesterday while in Austria, with a T-Mobile Austrian SIM inserted into my Nokia E71 I was able to make VoIP calls over 3G. No blocks on the calls. Nothing special in my set up. Just boot up the app and dial away.
Unfortunately, as I've said to others, VoIP over 3G doesn't really work well. If I'm standing still it worked fine. But driving. No way. The signal wavers like a tree blowing in the wind. It wasn't the carrier. Nor was it the phone. It was the network. And it's not the networks fault. You see, 3G data networks are not geared for voice (or video) even when they're data packets. They are geared to move data as data. So, sure the voice apps work but for phone calls, in motion, I wouldn't count on it until LTE or WiMax happens.
So if AT&T agrees to let apps like Skype, Truphone and the likes of iSIP work over 3G, my feeling is they'll all be good if you're standing still. But if you're driving at 220 Km/h like I was yesterday, just try having a 3G call. I don't think so...even if it was hands free all the way.
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