Mobile VoIP changes the game

Apple's announcement that it will allow WiFi VoIP on its iPhone is one of those big tech moments. With the imminent arrival of Google's Android platform and even industry conservatives like Verizon Wireless opening its platform for third party apps, no one wants to be left as the only platform/device not offering mobile VoIP. Just mix Skype's massive user base and tens of millions of open smart phones together and you quickly see the future.

And while the limitations of the 3G platform means VoIP will only be a WiFi game for the time being, the arrival of 4G is going to change that once and for all. In any case various bridging widgets such as those offered by Packet8 and Truphone will give users a viable and much cheaper "VoIP like" service. T-Mobile's new @home WiFi service and Vodafone's not dissimilar German play, suggests the carriers know the game is up for pure cellular and are already accepting that if you can't beat them, it's better to join them. Tom