Mickey Papillon

Truphone Review

Whether you are traveling abroad, or just trying to make international calls from home, the cost of worldwide communication on your cell phone is not cheap.  Fortunately, with the advent of VoIP technology there are a wide range of voice services out there now that can make communication quick, reliable and cost effective.  But until recently, most of these services have been relegated to the desktop, making on the go communication difficult.  Truphone solves this problem with a service that allows you to use your existing handset and service provider to make cheap calls worldwide, using either Wi-Fi or your phones 3G data connection.  For this review, I will be using the iPhone 3G and the new 3.0 software, but Truphone can be used with many devices and Operating Systems including Symbian, Blackberry and Android.  More information at http://www.truphone.com

What is Truphone
Truphone is a free piece of software that you download to your handset.  It saves you money on mobile calls by routing them over the Internet using its VoIP application which offers huge savings on international calls to mobiles and landlines.  Plus, if you know other Truphone users, they never charge you for calls over the Truphone network, no matter where you are.  Truphone works alongside your existing phone deal, so you keep your number, SIM card and current setup.  Simply download the application, top up your credit online and use it when you want to make low-cost Internet calls.  Think of it as a pay-as-you-go plan that you maintain along side your current plan.

How it works
The service works best when in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot, but you can use it anywhere.  When connected to a hotspot, 100% of the call is routed over the Internet until it reaches the other users handset, allowing the company to offer some of the lowest rates on the Internet.  When not connected to Wi-Fi but still in your home country Truphone Anywhere routes as much of the call as it can over the Internet, and completes the call via your handsets phone connection.

Currently supported devices
Here are the currently supported devices to use the Truphone application

Features of the application
The first Tab shows the various Friends you have using Truphone

A keypad for numeric input

Truphone has integrated IM clients such as Skype, MSN, Yahoo and AIM into their software, allowing you to use Truphone as an all in one messaging application with version 3.0 of the software.  They have also included the support to make a receive calls over the Skype network to other Skype users standard in this new version.

There are a few option screens as well that allow for integration with Twitter, or viewing data such as your account info or recent calls.

Use and Results
Calls placed over Wi-Fi or over the phone network came through nice and clear.  There was however noticeably more bass in the calls over Wi-Fi, but this wasn’t an issue with the use of the service.  Also, when using the Truphone over Wi-Fi, you do not have the ability to use any other audio sources other than the phone’s builtin speaker.  However, when using the phone with Truphone anywhere, since you are actually using the phone, you are able to use other sources such as Bluetooth headsets or the speakerphone.

Setting up a call is as simple as choosing someone from your contacts or dialing a phone number and hitting call.  International calls had minimal delay, and users on the other end said we sounded fine.

Placing a call over Wi-Fi

Placing a call over Truphone Anywhere

Various options when using Truphone Anywhere

Pricing
There are 3 different plans that you can choose from for the service, depending on how much calling you plan to make.  For $17 per month on the TruUnlimited plan, unlimited calls can be made for no additional charges.  If you don’t want to pay a charge each month, the TruStandard plan gives you rates around $.05 per minute.  Finally, if you plan on making a fair number of calls, but don’t need unlimited access, the TruSaver plan is $4 per month, and cuts rates on the TruStandard plan by about 60%.

Overall
If you are looking for an option to help you save money on making international calls, Truphone may have a plan for you.  By using VoIP technology, they create multiple ways to make calls cheaply to anywhere, from anywhere.

About Truphone
Founded in 2006, Truphone is a global mobile communications provider in the business of innovating how people converse in our globally connected world.  As the industry’s first mobile Internet operator, the company makes it easy and affordable for users all over the world to keep in touch with friends, family and business contacts overseas or whilst roaming.  Truphone is the trading name of Software Cellular Network (SCN). SCN is privately owned, funded by both venture capital investment and angel investors.