Latest Podcast



Featured Articles

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Vopium puts a friendly face on mobile VoIP

Mark Bridge writes:

Voice over IP – the ability to make phone calls over the internet - is a topic we covered in our first-ever podcast five years ago. At times it promised to change the way we used mobile phones... so what’s been happening?

I’ve been talking to Tanveer Sharif, CEO and co-founder of international call service Vopium, to learn more.

I started by asking Tanveer why Voice over IP and mobile VoIP hadn’t disrupted our usage of fixed line and mobile networks.

“Well, honestly speaking, I’m not sure if it has not happened. What you’re seeing is a migration from fixed-line phones to mobile, that’s the first thing happening. Second thing you’re seeing is that a lot of communication is now happening on mobiles and mobile apps, in the sense that people are chatting or they’re on Twitter or IM. So I’m seeing that a lot of the migration has taken place.”

“I think what people have had problems with is to figure out ‘what is mobile VoIP?’ and - at the end of the day - Voice over IP is just a technology. And that is underneath, that is changing. A lot of the technology used today, even with major mobile carriers, is actually IP-based telephony.”

Even today’s increasingly tech-savvy consumers aren’t really bothered about VoIP, Tanveer said. “I think Voice over IP companies have spent too much time trying to explain the technology to consumers but, at the end of the day, the consumer doesn’t care as long as his call is getting through, he’s getting the right price and the quality is fine.”

Our conversation went on to cover the services offered by Vopium - “we want to give more features to people than just the voice or the call” - along with the company’s growth and its user numbers. Currently, around 15,000 new users register with Vopium every day. Tanveer also talked about the challenge of converting ‘free’ users into paying customers, the recent Microsoft takeover of Skype, call charges and the challenges of meeting international legislation.

You can listen to the full interview with Tanveer Sharif from Vopium on our website audio player, via iTunes or by downloading the MP3 file.
Print
Author: The Fonecast
1 Comments
Rate this article:
No rating

Categories: Networks and operators, Applications, OpinionNumber of views: 6892

Tags: voip vopium

1 comments on article "Vopium puts a friendly face on mobile VoIP"

1
0
Avatar image

Cindy Valenciano

8/19/2011 7:02 AM

“I think Voice over IP companies have spent too much time trying to explain the technology to consumers but, at the end of the day, the consumer doesn’t care as long as his call is getting through, he’s getting the right price and the quality is fine.”

I totally agree. I don't care HOW it works, just that it works. Since my family is spread out all over the world (we're Filipino so we are everywhere LOL!) it's important to have a cheap or free way to call. We did a lot of shopping for VOIP services and settled on a company based in the Philippines called MOBIP. It works on all our phones (different kinds and different carriers) and I can use it on WiFi when I'm out of the country and can't access a partner network. The thing I love is that we just paid for the application for each phone (like $20 each) and we call each other for free with no monthly fees or anything. Sometimes when I'm traveling I have to call back to my office and it's really cheap. I'm based in the UK now and it's 4 cents per minute to call back but only 2 cents to call my friend in Canada (she hasn't gotten the mobip yet).

I think you should review this one. THanks for the article here though, it helps for my college paper, needed some good quotes.

Oh, BTW you can find mobip at www.mymobip.net

pretty awesome.

Leave a comment

This form collects your name, email, IP address and content so that we can keep track of the comments placed on the website. For more info check our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use where you will get more info on where, how and why we store your data.
Add comment

Opinion Articles

A Sure Signal from Vodafone

Mark Bridge writes:

Today I've been using my mobile phone at home. For many people that’s not an unusual thing to do – but it is for me because, around here, coverage indoors isn’t particularly good. Downstairs it’s previously been non-existent. But this morning everything changed.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Physician uses cell phones to bring health care to the poor

Natalia Ardanza of voanews.com writes:

In Africa there is another use for mobile phones. Public Health workers in Kenya are now using mobile phones to gather health information from patients in remote areas and upload it to the internet for instant analysis at distant centers. And it is all happening thanks to Dr Joel Selanikio.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Making dumb touchscreen phones was a smart move

Mark Bridge writes:

I remember a report from last year that said ‘non-smart’ touchscreen handsets – generally those without a popular operating system – would be bad news for mobile operators.

Conventional touchscreen smartphones tended to result in higher-than-average ARPU thanks to their early-adopting tech-loving users, their web-friendly browsers, their email programs, their app-friendly operating systems and their fast 3G connectivity. However, dumber touchscreen devices – those with a manufacturer’s own proprietary OS and perhaps a clumsier browser – could generate 23% less ARPU than smarter phones. So, if touchscreen dumbphones weren’t good for networks… and weren’t really good for consumers either… manufacturers wouldn’t really bother with them. Right?

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

"Hello Nexus One" I say...

James Rosewell writes:

Mark’s been encouraging me to write an opinion piece on the Nexus One for the last few days and I’m finally putting fingers to keyboard to share my experiences. It’s taken so long because this phone has so many features. On a positive note I could go into details about the gorgeous screen, the Android Marketplace that will out-sell Apple’s over the next 18 months, the built-in satellite navigation service and the speedy processor that makes everything run smoothly in real time. Or on a less positive note, the touch screen keyboard that sucks (think carefully about this if you’re a heavy texter or emailer, it’s even worse than the original iPhone), the lack of ActiveSync for Calendars and Tasks, no support for WMA music files or the clunky zoom functions on the web browser.

However I’m going to focus on voice dictation. Nexus One is the first phone I’ve used with this feature.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

The Amazon Kindle prepares to fight the Apple iPhone and Tablet

Mark Bridge writes:

Here’s a curious thing. Firstly, Amazon creates the Kindle. It starts selling the Kindle in the USA with a mobile deal that lets users download electronic books and newspapers wherever they are. Then it starts selling the Kindle to us in the UK, although – hang on a moment – it’s not talking about a UK mobile deal. Instead it still seems to be ‘roaming’ from the AT&T network. Next comes the larger-screen Kindle DX – also roaming away when it reaches our shores. And now Amazon is talking about third-party downloadable applications for the Kindle. Yes, a mobile device with downloadable apps. Hold that thought; I’ll be returning to it.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
First101102103104106108109110Last

Recent Podcasts

Reviewing our 2015 mobile industry predictions... and looking forward to 2016

Podcast - 15th January 2016

Iain Graham, James Rosewell and Mark Bridge return to review their mobile industry predictions from last year. Which mergers, partnerships and developments did they forecast correctly... and which didn’t work out as planned?

Later in the programme, the team anticipates some of the topics that will be hitting the headlines during 2016.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Podcast from Mobile World Congress 2015

Podcast - 6th March 2015

Mark Bridge learns about the mobile technology trends at Mobile World Congress 2015 by chatting to James Rosewell of 51Degrees, Dr Kevin Curran from the IEEE and Chris Millington of Doro.

They talk about wearable devices, wireless charging, mobile operating systems and much more... including some of their favourite products from the exhibition.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Looking back at February: from security scares to multiple MVNOs

Podcast - 27th February 2015

We're taking a look back at the biggest mobile industry news stories from February 2015, including allegations that the UK's security service tried to breach SIM card security by hacking into one of the world's biggest SIM producers.

We also talk about the planned BT and EE merger, the creation of two new UK virtual networks, some acquisitions in the mobile payment arena and a new Ubuntu smartphone.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

Interview with Chris Millington of Doro about mobile retailing, wearables and technology for older consumers

Podcast - 24th February 2015

In today's programme Mark Bridge talks to Chris Millington, who's Managing Director for Doro UK and Ireland.

They discuss the state of mobile retailing in the UK, the future of wearable devices and - as you might expect - smartphones for seniors.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating

A month of mobile: O2 counts on 3, Microsoft counts to 10 and Apple counts its profits

Podcast - 30th January 2015

We're back with a month of mobile industry news, including takeover talks and takeover rumours. O2 and Three are said to be discussing a merger... but is there any truth in the suggestions that BlackBerry could be up for grabs?

We also discuss Apple's record-breaking quarterly figures, the highlights of CES and the launch of Microsoft Windows 10, as well as saying farewell to the current version of Google Glass.

Author: The Fonecast
0 Comments
Article rating: No rating
RSS
12345678910Last

Follow thefonecast.com

Twitter @TheFonecast RSS podcast feed
Find us on Facebook Subscribe free via iTunes

Archive Calendar

«June 2024»
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
272829303112
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
1234567

Archive

Terms Of Use | Privacy Statement