11 Great Tools for Making VoIP Calls on the iPhone

from Mashable! by Sean P. Aune

No one likes using up their cell phone minutes, and that is where VoIP services come in handy. VoIP offers up an inexpensive alternative to traditional phone calls, making VoIP for the iPhone a great deal.

While the iPhone has not officially supported VoIP service, Apple isn’t saying it’s not allowed either. With all of that in mind, there are two camps of VoIP services popping up for the popular Apple device: official applications and Web based solutions. Each style has their pros and cons, but there is sure to be something in these eleven options to help you meet your needs.

Which service is your favorite?

Applications

Fring - Fring gives you the ability to instant message your contacts on AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, MSN Messenger, Skype, Twitter and Yahoo via EDGE, GSM, 3G and Wi-Fi on both the iPhone and iPod Touch. If you are on an iPhone, you can also use it to connect with Skype, Skype Out and other SIP services. You can read more about it in our review of Fring.

iCall - This app will allow you to switch an already in progress call over to Wi-Fi, or you can answer the call initially in that manner if you are near a connection. iCall has not been officially released yet as an iPhone application, but it certainly looks promising.

Papaya - Papaya is a little bit of everything rolled into one handy application. It’s part social network with chat rooms and games, an instant messenger, backs up your contacts and can act as a VoIP system.

PennyTel - PennyTel allows you to call other users of the service over Wi-Fi for free, or you can add credits to your account and you can call any number you want.

Truphone - Voted the best VoIP application by The Times, the New York Times, and Stuff magazine, Truphone is a free application that gives you £1 or $1 credit to get started with. Works via Wi-Fi wherever you happen to be and supports calls to numerous countries.

WalkieTalkie VoIP - WalkieTalkie VoIP allows people to talk between PCs, Macs and iPhones without using a centralized server. The reviews for this one range from “Great!” to “Horrific!”, so proceed with caution.

Web Based

Jajah - Log into Jajah, dial the person you are calling, and the phone number of a phone you can use, and Jajah will connect both those phones via VoIP.

PhoneGnome - PhoneGnome will allow you to call any of your contacts who also use their service, people using messengers like GTalk and MSN, or other SIP-based services.

Raketu - Raketu allows you to instant message, text and make low cost VoIP calls all from their Web interface.

RingFree - RingFree can work anywhere you get a cell signal and will allow you to make VoIP calls with all of your contacts from Skype, GTalk, Yahoo, AIM, MSN and also integrate with your company’s PBX phone system.

Talkety - Another Web app service that will allow you to enter the number you are calling, the one you can be reached at, and it will connect the two numbers together.