VoIP is a technology that allows Internet to be used for voice applications, such as telephony, voice instant messaging, and teleconferencing. The greatest benefit of VoIP service is that it is extremely low cost. In the case of some countries such as Singapore, it costs as low as $10 per month to make unlimited calls. More to that is the convenience of location-independent, allowing calls to be made from anywhere with a stable and relatively fast internet connection.

 

Integrating VoIP With Mobile Phones

 

Most mobile phones are now equipped with WiFi internet support which allows VoIP calls to be made through wireless broadband. All that is needed is a piece of VoIP software to be installed into the mobile phone. This software is often known as SIP softphone as it supports the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for for internet telephony. Nokia is one of the reputable brands that offer a stable SIP softphone as standard software in its smart phones.

 

Integration of SIP softphone into mobile phone is effectively allowing a mobile to be carrying 2 mobile phone number: one is the “hard number” embedded in the GSM/3G SIM (Subscriber Identity Module). The other is the VoIP number as configured in the SIP softphone.

 

VoIP in Singapore

 

To encourage adoption of this VoIP technology, IDA (Infocomm Development Authority) in 2005 mandated the assignment of 8-digit ‘level 3’ domestic numbers for use with IP Telephony (IPT) Service in Singapore. However, domestic VoIP services are not yet an attractive revenue stream for telecom operators and the offerings were very limited. Most Telecoms operators are focusing more on offering overseas VoIP service. There is increasing trend in Singapore for businesses and consumers alike to switch from traditional land line international call services or pre-paid call card services to VoIP services.

 

In September 2007, Starhub Singapore launched a VoIP integrated service known as pFingo. The most innovative part of pFingo service is the pfingoTalk component which supports SIP softphone. User who sign up get a ‘level 3’ eight-digit which is Singapore localized number that begins with “3″. The level 3 number can be used to call the other Singapore “9″, “6″ and “8″ numbers free, with every feature, such as caller ID, re-direct, etc … on par with the other numbers. A level 3 user can make call from anywhere in the world, as long as he is connected to internet. This means that even when the user is in overseas, calling back to any Singapore number is free of charge.

 

My pFingo On Nokia

 

I have been using my Nokia running Singapore-based pFingo VoIP Service since February 2008. It costs me only SGD $8 (less than US $6) per month to make unlimited local calls. With Nokia phone, switching between my mobile SIM number and my SIP number is just a button press.

 

pFingo On Mobile Workshop

 

Complete the form below if you wish to attend My pFingo On Mobile Workshop: