First Free Mobile-to-Mobile Cross-Platform Calls

bombduck writes "Barablu demonstrates free calling from Nokia Series 60 based phones to Windows Mobile phones and PDAs using a Wi-Fi connection. Both Nokia E Series and N Series Wi-Fi enabled phones tested, showing not only Voice but IM, video and conference calling. "

Not the first

[Simon80]

Some other comments have alluded to this, but to make it explicitly clear, these guys aren't strictly the first to do this. The beauty of SIP (which is the protocol in question) is that it is interoperable with any of these platforms already, as long as the user has a SIP client, they can make voice and video calls to other platforms. I'm not sure about each mobile phone, but PDAs definitely already have this capability using SJPhone. Still, anything to make people aware of SIP is a good thing, cause it is confusing at first, but once you look into it it becomes clear that SIP, or something similarly open, is the future of both fixed and likely mobile communication.

Re:Disabled

[DJProtoss]

Depends on how the access works.
If going over edge / gprs / 3g then I am aware of at least one provider in the uk (which one slips my mind at the moment) that explicitly bans it in their T&C's.
On the other hand, if its going via wifi, well there isn't too much the provider can do (since its not going via them), at least in the UK (In the US, where the telcos seem to have more power to demand specific changes to phones to put in limits/restrict which phones get released, and where it is apparantly harder to get phones direct, they can fight it a bit more).

Good news, everyone!

[Godji]

Wonderful! If this stuff becomes popular on a large scale, how long will it be before we have really cheap mobile phone calls/transfers as opposed to the current situation, in which mobile telcos control all networks and extort their customers with ridiculous voice and data fees?

Oh, to be free...

[dotdevin]

I like this line from TFA: "You pay only EUR2/month to start receiving calls for free."

Some related companies

[johnBurkey]

Seems like there is alot of action in this space. Anyone get this stuff working? I was thinking of grabbing a Nokia if so. Although the rumored iPhone ( http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=791 [appleinsider.com]) is supposed to have wifi too.

http://www.truphone.com/ [truphone.com]

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/wireless/0, 39020348,39283143,00.htm [zdnet.co.uk]

John