The “Break it Down” Blog

Hot on the heels of the iPhone 2.0 firmware release that includes support for the new application SDK, Truphone has released their cheap, WiFi-based, VoIP international dialing software for the iPhone - it can be installed directly from the Apple Software Store.

Rates for Truphone look to be reasonable, with world-wide calling at around $0.06-$0.30/min for most calls covering the planet for landlines and other mobiles (calls to other mobiles seem to be more expensive).

There are no monthly subscription fees for signing up for Truphone, just keeping your account charged. You can find out more about how it works an example vide on Truphone’s site.

This seems to be like a hyper-integrated Skype service for the iPhone, certainly a welcome addition for anyone that travels a lot and would rather focus on calling and talking with family, friends or work instead of wondering “Am I in a roaming zone, about to rack up $0.75/min fees?”

It’s nice to see services come out like this, removing the retardation that is the phone system from your field of concerns and just letting you get in touch with folks.

This does seem to be a WiFi-only service right now, so no calls over GSM; no word if it will work over 3G on the new 3G iPhone or not.

Full announcement after the jump:

Low-priced international calling comes to the iPhone™, thanks to Truphone

July 11^th 2008, London, UK - Designed to provide low-priced international calls for Apple^® iPhone users, Truphone for the iPhone hit Apple’s new App Store today.

James Tagg, Truphone’s CEO, said: “What Truphone for the iPhone does is really simple but absolutely sensational: it gives people low-priced international calls, whether they want to phone someone abroad or avoid roaming charges when making calls from abroad.

“With just a few clicks to download and install Truphone, anyone can afford to take their iPhone on holiday this summer – or call their friends and family abroad,” he added.

Truphone enables an iPhone to make calls to any number over the internet instead of over GSM, at Truphone’s fabulous internet rates. The rates are especially competitive for international calls, including landlines in 40 countries at GBP0.03 [USD0.06] per minute and mobiles at just GBP0.15 [USD0.30] per minute. To Canada, the USA and China, even calls to mobiles are just GBP0.03 [USD0.06] per minute.

Making a call using Truphone is exactly like making any other call on the iPhone: a single touch to bring the dialler up on the touch screen, touch-dial the number or choose from the iPhone’s own address book, and a touch to start the call. [Visit www.truphone.com/iphone to see a preview video of Truphone on the iPhone.]

Truphone for the iPhone is available to download from Apple’s new App Store for free. There are no monthly subscriptions or other charges. Visit www.truphone.com/iphone for more information.

Truphone pricing
Wi-Fi calls to countries in the Tru Zone always cost the same amazing flat rate, from anywhere in the world. This means a Truphone call on your iPhone to Sydney or London or Moscow or Rio always costs just 3p/6c per minute to landlines and 15p/30c per minute to mobiles. The majority of the world’s mobile users are in the Tru Zone - it includes the UK, Brazil, Australia, Thailand, Japan, Russia, Hong Kong, almost all of Europe, and loads more countries besides. Calls to USA, Canada and China are even lower still: a flat 3p/min to call landlines and mobiles. Customers receive free credit worth GBP2.00 [USD4.00] when they first sign up for Truphone.

Press contact

Europe: Both Barrels Communications

Rose Ross - Tel. +44 7978 801636

Email: truphone@bbcomms.co.uk

North America: Comunicano

Sue Huss – Tel: (619) 379-4396

Email: sue.huss@comunicano.com

About Truphone
Truphone allows Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones to make and receive regular telephone calls, and to send and receive SMS text messages, using only a Wi-Fi connection and the internet. Although still in beta, it has already attracted tens of thousands of users in 149 countries. Truphone is the trading name of Software Cellular Network (SCN).

Apple, iPhone, and Apple Store are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries. Truphone is a trademark of Software Cellular Network Limited.

Important information

Truphone is not a replacement for an ordinary telephone service and emergency calls cannot be made using Truphone. However Truphone does not prevent emergency calls being made via a handset’s normal cellular service provider.

Truphone cannot advise on the legality of VoIP services in specific territories or jurisdictions. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm that use of the Truphone VoIP software and service is permitted in the location in which they use it.