mobileu.co.uk

Apple iPhone and iPad made into web phones with 3G VoIP move

While all eyes were on Steve Jobs and his iPad on Wednesday, Apple quietly updated the beta version 3.2 of the iPhone software development kit which, in effect, unlocks both the smartphone and the new tablet to be used as web phones.

Following the revelation that internet telephony apps will be able to work on the 3G network, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling firm iCall released an update to its app, adding the 3G support.

As Apple boss Jobs revealed this week, the iPad includes a microphone and will run iPhone apps, meaning the tablet gains internet telephony too.

In the past, Apple's policy prohibited VoIP functionality on 3G networks so that the only way to use VoIP iPhone apps over 3G was by hacking a device.

A spokesperson for iCall applauded Apple for allowing it to extend its functionality beyond Wi-Fi and onto the 3G networks, commenting: "This heralds a new era for VoIP applications on mobile platforms, especially for iCall and our free calling model. I hope that now more developers will begin using our VoIP as a platform to integrate VoIP into their applications."

Last October, AT&T announced it was extending VoIP to 3G networks for the iPhone.