RIM Offering Free Voice Calling In Attempt to Remain Competitive

zacharye writes "In version 7, RIM has added a voice calling feature that will allow BBM users to speak to each other for free when connected to Wi-Fi networks. While similar third-party solutions like Viber exist and extend the free calling feature to cellular data connections, an integrated solution that will eventually be baked right into the BlackBerry OS offers clear advantages over third-party options. It also can be counted as an advantage for RIM’s platform over Android and iOS, at least until RIM’s rivals begin to roll out similar solutions."

So what?

[torkus]

It's hard to find a cell plan without unlimited minutes unless you're buying a minimal-use, no-frills line...in which case you won't get a BB anyway. Might as well give a corpse a gym membership to stay healthy.

I can see it being somewhat useful in corporate situations where you have many BB users - but you still need to have everyone on WiFi. Sorry RIM, find a better way to stay relevant.

The carriers probably won't care - much - given above but I can't image they will be thrilled about it either. Everyone will just bake the cost into the "blackberry data plan" anyway.

Until they roll out similar solutions?

[h4rr4r]

So facetime and gtalk are just figments of my imagination?

Re:Facetime?

[firex726]

Do they?

Many of the Android ones I have dealt with offer calling over WiFi, but it still counts towards your minutes, even if it's going to someone on the same network, also on WiFi.

*Unless you use a third party app.

Re:Facetime?

[Tr3vin]

I read it as something only available between two BBM users, so it is basically Factime or Google Talk. In that case, RIM's two main rivals have had very good solutions in place for quite a while.

Re:USA != world

[Anonymous Coward]

But Canada == a shit hole. At least when it comes to how carriers are allowed to advertise.

They all loudly announce that they have plans with UNLIMITED VOICE MINUTES and UNLIMITED DATA. Then, in teeny, tiny print, smaller than fly shit, they define unlimited as 100 minutes of voice and 1 GB of data. Telus is a Canadian carrier that is particularly good at lying about the terms of their contracts.

Re:What is the security model?

[Anonymous Coward]

I don't have a bb, but I used to support some. If you have your own BES, RIM doesn't have your encryption keys so they can't hand them over. Sure, if you're using the telco provided BES, they will hand stuff over, but that's a given. If you run your own bes, you have end to end encryption controlled by you.

Re:USA != world

[stefancaunter]

Canada is worse than that, the carriers are not forced to invest in decent infrastructure, so they can cherry pick markets and coverage, and invest their massive profits from price gouging into the sports teams they all own, bought so they can monopolize content on their TV plans.

Re:What is the security model?

[narcc]

Wow, you're just impervious to facts, aren't you?

If your a BES user, RIM can't hand over the keys because they don't have them.

As always, RIM is the ONLY option for the security conscious.

Go find some new talking points, preferably some with facts behind them.