I have been trying out all the functions on my shiney new N95 so thought I would let people know a bit about what I have tested. to use this you either need access to WiFi or an unlimited data plan (Tmobile officially wont allow it but I have had no problems so far
)
Fring - This really is the daddy of Skype to Skype and MSN chat. You can connect to your Skype account (your PC is not required to be on) and use Skype as usual eg lower cost Skype calls and free skype to skype calls/chats. It also has an inbuilt MSN + googletalk accounts, and lastly SIP, meaning you can make VOIP calls as well (eg Truphone VOIPcheap etc) even if Voda/Orange have crippled your N95.
Pros - Excellent Skype Interoperability
- Easy to setup and use.
Cons - None as yet!
----
Truphone - Works the same as the other two, better than Gizmo as it is offering free calls to landlines in the UK and landlines/mobiles in the US (as well as other countries) until the end of June.
Pros - Totally free international calls until the end of June.
- Easy to setup and use.
Cons - No Skype Interconnectivity.
--
BaraBlu - Very easy to use, downloads to your phone and allows free calls and chats to contacts. And it costs 0.01p to mobiles/landlines to pretty much anywhere in the world. The best feature about Barablu is that you can import all Skype contacts and call them/chat for free and it even shows you as online using Barablu. (Although I havent been able to call Skype contacts yet..) - this is really great if you have a lot of existing Skype contacts.
Pros - Relatively good Skype Interoperability.
- Easy to setup.
Cons - Not working 100% (Doesnt allow you to call Skype contacts on the N95 yes (maybe a bug?)
- You need to pay to call landlines/mobiles
- Seems a little temperamental after a while of testing (unfortunately)
--
Gizmo - so so easy to work and just works as easily (and clearly) as making a usual call, all you need to do is select 'internet call' instead of standard call. - Its incredibly cheap 0.0019p to landlines/mobiles in the US and free Gizmo to Gizmo. One issue I have found is accepting calls via Gizmo just doesnt work - it freezes the phone.
Pros - Easy to setup.
Cons - You need to pay to call landlines/mobiles.
- No Skype Interconnectivity
- Doesnt work 100%
--
Voipbuster - Works on the same principle as Gizmo (Uses SIP). You have to manually setup this as there is no easy download like Gizmo (I can help if anyone needs the settings). This also is very easy to use (once setup) and I can accept and make calls with no issues whatsoever (apart from the slightly crackly line)
Pros - Works fine.
Cons - A little harder to setup as has to be done manually.
- No Skype Interconnectivity
- You need to pay to call landlines/mobiles
--
Voipcheap Just found another one (its never ending!) It uses SIP as above so harder to setup as is manual. It offers free calls to many countries via landline (Including mobile in the US), this will probably be time limited to get more customers.
Pros - Totally free international calls.
- Works Well.
Cons - A little harder to setup as has to be done manually.
- No Skype Interconnectivity
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Skype - What has happened to them? They have lost track and so behind its not true. No Symbian VOIP functionality (Apart from on 3 - why!?).
However since most (in fact all) of my friends use Skype I may need this - Skype functionality:
IM+ for Skype Software - allows you to use the skype on your PC, on your mobile, including all other functionality. Basically it conference calls your phone to PC and your PC to whoever you are calling. This works very well, however can be pricey as if the number you are dialling isnt a skype contact you are paying for 2 calls.
Soonr - This allows you to share your PC files anywhere with access to the web, however it also includes Skype functionalty to your mobile. Essentially it works the same way as the above, but is free (apart from the Skype call charges). I have had problems using this and I havent been able to use it yet to make a call - but I think its a windows software problem not the phone itself so may be able to fix it. Also its worth noting that this works on ANY mobile with a browser as it doesnt require you to install any software on the mobile itself.
Iskoot - Another version of the above which I havent tried as it pretty much does the same as the other 2.
It seems that the best solution to VOIP with Symbian (N95) is Fring for its ease of use, Skype, MSN, Googletalk and SIP connectivity. Truphone is the cheapest SIP client (free landline/int calls). So if you combine Truphone and Fring you will have a very cheap and easy to use Mobile. This really makes the N95 a worthwhile phone.
If anyone has any other info or knows any other software let me know as I would love to get a solution that actually works, is cheap and links to the N95!
PS I didnt ever intend this to be so long!
)Fring - This really is the daddy of Skype to Skype and MSN chat. You can connect to your Skype account (your PC is not required to be on) and use Skype as usual eg lower cost Skype calls and free skype to skype calls/chats. It also has an inbuilt MSN + googletalk accounts, and lastly SIP, meaning you can make VOIP calls as well (eg Truphone VOIPcheap etc) even if Voda/Orange have crippled your N95.
Pros - Excellent Skype Interoperability
- Easy to setup and use.
Cons - None as yet!
----
Truphone - Works the same as the other two, better than Gizmo as it is offering free calls to landlines in the UK and landlines/mobiles in the US (as well as other countries) until the end of June.
Pros - Totally free international calls until the end of June.
- Easy to setup and use.
Cons - No Skype Interconnectivity.
--
BaraBlu - Very easy to use, downloads to your phone and allows free calls and chats to contacts. And it costs 0.01p to mobiles/landlines to pretty much anywhere in the world. The best feature about Barablu is that you can import all Skype contacts and call them/chat for free and it even shows you as online using Barablu. (Although I havent been able to call Skype contacts yet..) - this is really great if you have a lot of existing Skype contacts.
Pros - Relatively good Skype Interoperability.
- Easy to setup.
Cons - Not working 100% (Doesnt allow you to call Skype contacts on the N95 yes (maybe a bug?)
- You need to pay to call landlines/mobiles
- Seems a little temperamental after a while of testing (unfortunately)
--
Gizmo - so so easy to work and just works as easily (and clearly) as making a usual call, all you need to do is select 'internet call' instead of standard call. - Its incredibly cheap 0.0019p to landlines/mobiles in the US and free Gizmo to Gizmo. One issue I have found is accepting calls via Gizmo just doesnt work - it freezes the phone.
Pros - Easy to setup.
Cons - You need to pay to call landlines/mobiles.
- No Skype Interconnectivity
- Doesnt work 100%
--
Voipbuster - Works on the same principle as Gizmo (Uses SIP). You have to manually setup this as there is no easy download like Gizmo (I can help if anyone needs the settings). This also is very easy to use (once setup) and I can accept and make calls with no issues whatsoever (apart from the slightly crackly line)
Pros - Works fine.
Cons - A little harder to setup as has to be done manually.
- No Skype Interconnectivity
- You need to pay to call landlines/mobiles
--
Voipcheap Just found another one (its never ending!) It uses SIP as above so harder to setup as is manual. It offers free calls to many countries via landline (Including mobile in the US), this will probably be time limited to get more customers.
Pros - Totally free international calls.
- Works Well.
Cons - A little harder to setup as has to be done manually.
- No Skype Interconnectivity
---------
Skype - What has happened to them? They have lost track and so behind its not true. No Symbian VOIP functionality (Apart from on 3 - why!?).
However since most (in fact all) of my friends use Skype I may need this - Skype functionality:
IM+ for Skype Software - allows you to use the skype on your PC, on your mobile, including all other functionality. Basically it conference calls your phone to PC and your PC to whoever you are calling. This works very well, however can be pricey as if the number you are dialling isnt a skype contact you are paying for 2 calls.
Soonr - This allows you to share your PC files anywhere with access to the web, however it also includes Skype functionalty to your mobile. Essentially it works the same way as the above, but is free (apart from the Skype call charges). I have had problems using this and I havent been able to use it yet to make a call - but I think its a windows software problem not the phone itself so may be able to fix it.
Also its worth noting that this works on ANY mobile with a browser as it doesnt require you to install any software on the mobile itself.Iskoot - Another version of the above which I havent tried as it pretty much does the same as the other 2.
It seems that the best solution to VOIP with Symbian (N95) is Fring for its ease of use, Skype, MSN, Googletalk and SIP connectivity. Truphone is the cheapest SIP client (free landline/int calls). So if you combine Truphone and Fring you will have a very cheap and easy to use Mobile. This really makes the N95 a worthwhile phone.
If anyone has any other info or knows any other software let me know as I would love to get a solution that actually works, is cheap and links to the N95!
PS I didnt ever intend this to be so long!
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. I tried it with the fring user id but that doesnt work either...dunno what they mean by user id....which user id are they talking about??.