VoIP and networks

El Gringo · 16 Jul 2007 at 20:55

This can probably be answered very quickly but until today I was under the impression that providers blocked the ability to use VoIP in the N95 by messing with the firmware, but this evening I've read elsewhere that the actual ports are blocked, so even if you're on the Voda 120mb thing you can't use Skype because they block the ports, you'd have to use a prog which changes the ports. Which is true? Can I use Skype on a Vodafone n95 with the 120mb tarriff?
Many thanks

Morba · 17 Jul 2007 at 00:08

answering that is probably just as bad as offering a way to chip consoles!

sean · 17 Jul 2007 at 01:30

It's my understanding that the Skype- or other VOIP- client has to use a set of ports designated by the server and if they're blocked by your provider's firewall there isn't much you can do unfortunately.

Oh and I've not read it but I'd guess VOIPing on vodafone's web tarrifs would be extremely against their AUP / Terms of use.

El Gringo · 17 Jul 2007 at 17:20

Truphone wins court injunction against T-Mobile blocking
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YLDWmf1uSbg

Reading up on it, it seems that Tmob wasn't routing calls to Truphone numbers, but they have now been obliged to.

Can I get this straight, if I get an N95 on Voda or Tmobile, I can't use Skype out of the box but could use it on Vodafone if I removed the Voda branding and updated the firmware? On the other hand, because Tmob blocks ports I won't be able to use Skype via 3G even if I do update the f/w but would be able to use it over wifi?

.SJ · 17 Jul 2007 at 19:41

IainB · 17 Jul 2007 at 19:42

.SJ said:
I thought T-Mobile allowed you to use VOIP if you subscribe to their top data package?

They do - the Truphone 'issue' was over something else

El Gringo · 17 Jul 2007 at 19:58

Sorry I didn't specify, yeah, Tmob allows you to use VoIP on their highest pckage- which costs a mere 17 quid per month on top of the monthly plan, an amount I'm not prepared to pay...

@Morba, I can't see why this would be like chipping consoles, it's got nothing to do with it. Networks cripple phones to suit themselves, why should it remotely be taboo?

Lessee...

3G
Standard f/w
Orange- Can't use VoIP
Vodafone- Can't use VoIP
Tmob- Can use VoIP on highest data plan
O2- Can use VoIP if you are prepared to pay out the nose for a stupidly small amount of data

Debrand & upgrade the f/w
Orange- Can (?)
Vodafone- Can (?)
Tmob- can't because they block the actual ports (?)
O2- Can

Wifi (this is what i'm confused about)
Standard f/w
Orange- Can't use
Vodafone- Can't use
Tmob- can or can't?
O2- Can

Debrand and upgrade the f/w
Orange- Can
Vodafone- Can
Tmobile- Can
O2- Can

If anything looks wrong there i'd appreciate if it could be corrected, many thanks

I'd just like to use my N95 like it was designed to be used, and the British networks are making that a little bit complicated...

El Gringo · 19 Jul 2007 at 18:01

Can nobody help with the fantasticness of my table? What's annoying is that it shouldn't be this hard to just buy a mobile which works as it was designed.

Raptor · 19 Jul 2007 at 20:14

El Gringo said:
Lessee...

3G
Standard f/w
Orange- Can't use VoIP -MINE CAN

Wifi (this is what i'm confused about)
Standard f/w
Orange- Can't use - MINE CAN

QUOTE]

I don't know about the N95 but, I have an E65 on Orange, bought directly from them, though it does seem to be an unbranded phone. Hasn't got all the normal orange stuff on it.

Though I only use VOIP on WiFi anyway.

El Gringo · 20 Jul 2007 at 13:12

Interesting if it works being unbranded, but still, Orange and Voda were the ones who supposedly crippled their N95s, I heard nothing of the E65...

All I want to know is whether or not on both Tmob and Vodafone, if I debrand and update the f/w can I use VoIP on both wifi and 3G?

Kipper67 · 21 Jul 2007 at 03:05

would have thought you could use voip over w-lan on any network as the data doesn't go through your operator it goes through your ISP, doesn't it ?

Can certainly use truphone over w-lan on my E65 with O2 - not sure if the phone's branded or not apart from the o2 logo at startup , it doesn't seem to be crippled in anyway.

Another bit for your puzzle

scoopex · 21 Jul 2007 at 07:24

El Gringo said:
Interesting if it works being unbranded, but still, Orange and Voda were the ones who supposedly crippled their N95s, I heard nothing of the E65...

All I want to know is whether or not on both Tmob and Vodafone, if I debrand and update the f/w can I use VoIP on both wifi and 3G?

My debranded N95 from orange can make VOIP phone calls over my wifi network.

Was one of the very first things i did when i got the phone.