Free Calling from Car

IntellaWorks · 08-25-2006, 09:30 AM

Here's an idea we should all think about. VOIP in the car. Why should we have to integrate our cell phones to work with our front ends when our front ends can utilize VOIP technology? The idea is easier to impliment than you think so read on.

For those that have highspeed wireless internet in thier cars and are constantly connected or even those that can access many hotspots how awesome would it be? Instead of making sure you have the right phone that works with the mobile phone plugins for each front end you could just make sure you have a network connection, no extra hardware needed. The fact that highspeed wireless networks are gaining serious ground might make this idea flurish, especailly months from now. It will also one-up those store baught in-dash units since recently thier functionality is catching up with our PC's.

There's a few ways you can do this: You can use a front end to automate applications like Live Messenger, AOLIM, GoogleTalk or Skype and use thier IP to IP calling features to call other networked users from a phone book, similiar to what we do now from the phone plug-ins.

Another way is to utilize a service like VONAGE, by using thier softphone . It would be awesome to automate thier softphone from a front end and use it to make and or recieve normal phone calls in the car. By using the network connection you eliminate the need for a cell phone and many more users would be access phone like features from thier car without buying many extra peices of hardware.

The guys at Streetdeck and Centrafuse should certianly open thier eyes up to this concept as this might be a feature that makes them different from free front ends such as Frodoplayer,Medicar, Roadrunner...

I simply don't have the time for any projects but I could easily consult anyone who does have the time. Think about it, no cell phone, no bluetooth connection, no more USB ports everything's software driven. For those that don't have vonage, we could like nextel, contact other carpc members from our cars using IP-IP calling....

DigitalDub · 08-25-2006, 10:23 AM

As you say, that's great if you're in a location where you have constant wifi access, but I think we are way off the kind of coverage required to make it useful. Don't get me wrong, I totally think the idea is great, but think it will be to a restricted number of users for a long while. If you only travel around the location where you have constant access, great. Simiarly, it would be cool to stream audio from your home MP3 collection, view TV over the net sourced from a location whereby the receiver is fixed or play movies from your HDTV.

I suppose an extension to your idea would be that when you wish to make a call, the front end searches for a wifi connection and makes a VOIP call if one exists. If none exists, it then makes the call via the mobile phone. So the cheapest option is automatically sought transparently.

IntellaWorks · 08-25-2006, 10:50 AM

You really think we're way off? I was guessing development could take 2-3 months of the application. From what I heard at E3 wireless network wasn't too far off, they said huge gains would come in late 06'. GPRS which is already out there can handle 256K which is more than enough to run voice and its in most areas.

I guess you could say we're kinda waiting on more highspeed wireless access.... There are so many killer aps just waiting to be created!

Sonicxtacy02 · 08-25-2006, 11:00 AM

i have vonage at home with a 6Mbit cable connection. sometimes i still get distortion thrut he phone line. I doubt any "always on" wireless connections in the car would work.

morris_the_cat · 08-25-2006, 11:51 AM

I plan on implementing Skype on my carputer when I get it going. I don't see why it wouldn't work. I have used it on my pocketpc before when out & about, it seems to work fine & rather clear. You would probably have to stop the car, but that should be done any way.

Wiredwrx · 08-25-2006, 02:29 PM

I am confused, are you using 802.11 WIFI or a GPRS/EDGE/EVDO connection thruogh a phone or wireless device? And also, what is the advatnage to using VOIP in the car?

Michael

liquid_smoke · 08-25-2006, 09:07 PM

the advantage to using voip in the car is the same as using it anywhere.
For right now, if you use skype its 100% free for all calls in NorthAmerica.
There is a new app that just released calle Hallo that is also free calls for now.
Soon it will be a very good option to have.

I for one have been trying for a while to get any of the various voip apps to intergrate into a frontend, but the very nature of most of the voip apps is that the ui follows the same layout as instant messenger apps so you almost have to have an app that is open enough to where someone can build there own ui for it.
I think skyp allows for remote control through its api, not sure about that 100% cuz im not a coder, but i wish someone who is would look into it.
If the umpc market gains more speed we may even see a voip app thats made for the 7in screens.

Personally almost everywhere i drive my car i see free open wifi connections or hotspots. I dont think ive parked my car anywhere that wasnt at least a block away from free internet. But this is in chicago also, your milage may vary if your out in kansas or something.

dontpntpool · 08-25-2006, 10:03 PM

doubt it nobody will pay 60 for net service thru their cell phone and then voip on top of it...skype wont be free forever and why would you pay for the same service you already have.

Also skype is only free till the end of the year so why would someone dev an ap for a couple month use. Seems like a waste of time.

Typically voip apps are customized for the provider in someway and there is always compatibility issues...

my 3 cents

GizmoQ · 08-25-2006, 10:37 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

I am confused, are you using 802.11 WIFI or a GPRS/EDGE/EVDO connection thruogh a phone or wireless device? And also, what is the advatnage to using VOIP in the car?

Michael

I felt the same way when I first got my internet phone working with my carPC. Given all the trouble I've had getting a Sprint phone to work with PhoneControl, I longed for another solution.

However, I now use EVDO/1xrtt thru Sprint and the advantage of voip is I don't have to disconnect my internet connection to make a call. Lately, between GPS tracking , Weather tracking, GPSGas, and Internet radio - disconnecting my web access to make a call is a pain in the ***. Sure my system automatically searches for wifi and uses that where available but on a road trip like Little Rock last weekend - fat chance getting wifi at 80MPH, but Spint only had one 5 minute outage for the whole trip and reconnected without manual input.

DJiK · 08-25-2006, 10:45 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dontpntpool

doubt it nobody will pay 60 for net service thru their cell phone and then voip on top of it...skype wont be free forever and why would you pay for the same service you already have.

Because there are many other advantages to using Internet in the car. I.e. Traffic, Local Gas Prices, Weather, Email, News, etc.

Quote: Originally Posted by dontpntpool

Also skype is only free till the end of the year so why would someone dev an ap for a couple month use. Seems like a waste of time.

Skype isn't the only VoIP solution out there. If others see what great success Skype is having by letting us call for free in North America, they might make the feature unlimited (or at worst limited for free, like X number of calls/minutes per day).

Quote: Originally Posted by dontpntpool

Typically voip apps are customized for the provider in someway and there is always compatibility issues...

Right, but how different is IE from Firefox for instance? Not by much really... For example, either one could be integrate with a frontend nowadays.
If you have the programming backend to support one VoIP solution, it wouldn't be too difficult to switch to the next best thing.

liquid_smoke · 08-25-2006, 11:40 PM

well personally, im not paying 60bucks for internet on the phone. Im talking about wifi. Im also not talking about it being the primary voice solution while im in the car either, but its allways nice to have options. There are plenty of times when im out and about and need to make a call and oops! my phone is dead and i dont have my charger (for example).

plus there are plenty of things that are done just for the hell of it, ya know, like putting a computer in your car

Wiredwrx · 08-25-2006, 11:55 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by dontpntpool

doubt it nobody will pay 60 for net service thru their cell phone and then voip on top of it...skype wont be free forever and why would you pay for the same service you already have.

Also skype is only free till the end of the year so why would someone dev an ap for a couple month use. Seems like a waste of time.

Typically voip apps are customized for the provider in someway and there is always compatibility issues...

my 3 cents

Also, then you will have another phone number for people to contact you at. Ya, not horrible, but just seems annoying.

Michael

DigitalDub · 08-30-2006, 05:25 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Wiredwrx

Also, then you will have another phone number for people to contact you at. Ya, not horrible, but just seems annoying.

Michael

Ah I'm sure there are options for that such as:

http://www.yac.com/yacHomePage.jsp

I've used this for a while, but purely as a contact number. You get a virtual number that you can direct to any phone be it mobile or landline. I think you can also have voicemails and faxes sent to it delivered by email etc. I think you can also have a "hunt", so that it tries one number, then the next etc. Take a look at the Personal User area.

Yes, all manual, but wondering if they provide an API to allow an app to set which "phone" to send calls to. i.e. Give out the YAC number to people instead.

I think this is only a UK service, but no doubt there's something similar across the pond.

D.

jay_tu · 08-30-2006, 05:35 PM

I have used skype... from the car and love it.

lalakers · 08-30-2006, 11:40 PM

same here i use it with my sprint evdo phone (6700)