Fring - my quick review of VoIP via cellphone handsets
OK, so I have been reading about Fring for a while. Every time I search for "Skype Symbian" to find out if there is any new information about when and if Skypebay will release a Symbian Series 60v3 version to allow me to take advantage of my unlimited data plan (in the Czech Republic) and wifi hotspots (when roaming), I get stories about Fring. So finally, I took the plunge, schlepped over to their website, signed up, downloaded and installed the fring-ware from the SMS link they sent me, put in my Skype settings, and voila! Now I'm using Skype from my mobile phone (Nokie E70) over free 3G connection. The default setting seems to be "keep data connection open all the time" which I imagine would drain a battery pretty fast, but you can turn off the "always on" feature.
Like Skype, Fring has their own echocall test feature so you can test that the call is working. My first test call was a toughie: Fring-3G-Skype-dialup_user_in_Armenia_with_thinkpad_speakerphone ... the end to end voice quality was pretty lousy as you might expect, however it did work; the conversation was halting and garbled, but possible. Next up, Skype across town to a broadband user with a headset- call quality was very good. I could hear perfectly, though the recipient of the call on the other end said that my voice sounded "metalic," i.e. tinny. Overall, a very satisfactory test experience via my free 3G connection.
Next I switched to my home WiFi network, setup the WEP key (thank goodness for the thumb keyboard on the E70), and tried a test call to the echocall number-- call quality was significantly lower than via 3G, but nonetheless understandable. Until Skype comes out with a native Symbian client, this is the way to go for free calls from your Symbian phone. Please let me know what you think.
Like Skype, Fring has their own echocall test feature so you can test that the call is working. My first test call was a toughie: Fring-3G-Skype-dialup_user_in_Armenia_with_thinkpad_speakerphone ... the end to end voice quality was pretty lousy as you might expect, however it did work; the conversation was halting and garbled, but possible. Next up, Skype across town to a broadband user with a headset- call quality was very good. I could hear perfectly, though the recipient of the call on the other end said that my voice sounded "metalic," i.e. tinny. Overall, a very satisfactory test experience via my free 3G connection.
Next I switched to my home WiFi network, setup the WEP key (thank goodness for the thumb keyboard on the E70), and tried a test call to the echocall number-- call quality was significantly lower than via 3G, but nonetheless understandable. Until Skype comes out with a native Symbian client, this is the way to go for free calls from your Symbian phone. Please let me know what you think.
posted by Thomas at
7:20 AM
2 Comments:
I was a huge rebtel fan, operative word being WAS there. Here is my story, I will try to be factual and leave the emotion out as hard as that may be.
My in laws are from Russia, my wife like talking to her family. It is very important to me that she be able to communicate with them on a regular basis since it helps with her overall sence of well being.
Many months ago I saw CNN do a story on the top 10 next big companies and one was rebtel, they even show you how to make free international calls. So I looked into. I went to their website and looked at the posted rates, which were 1.9 for Russia. I thought wow this is great. So I signed up and told my wife the great news, she could call even more often now because these rates are awesome. Fast forward approximately 4 months. First thing I notice is that all my contacts went from being labled Russia to Kazahkstan, now my inlaws do not live in Kazahkstan they live in Russia, on of the older cities in Russia. At first I thought well computers are not perfect so maybe it was just a glitch, until my wife made a call and we were charged quadruple (a new rate of 7.9 cents a minute) what we had been on previous calls. Apparently Rebtel now designated my Russian inlaws as living in Kazahkstan even though they live in Russia, neat trick. So I did what any one would do I contacted them and asked what happen and why were my in laws being listed as Kazahkstan when they live in Russia. I didn't get an answer to my Kazahkstan question but the politely told me that they are constantly buying time from different vendors and sometimes the rates change, when this happens it is just too monumental to try and notify every user. The customer service rep also pointed out that the TOS state that rates can change with no advanced warning.
Now I thought ok I dont like it but yes they can change any time without advance notice and their TOS state this. So I look into this a bit further and find that the advertised rate for Kazahkstan is 4.8 cents a minute and Russia is still listed as 1.9 cents a minute yet my inlaws who are listed as kazahkstan have a rate of 7.8 cents a minute. WOW is this what you call a bait and switch, where I come from this gets your business license pulled and everyone filiing law suits.
By
RebYell, at 9:11 AM
Frind is getting better day by day. But still has major issues:
Free International VOIP Calls WorldWide
By
nahid5692001, at 1:47 PM
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