What kind of mobile phone do I need for VOIP?

[DonFromWallsend]

From what I have gathered I have to get Fring onto a mobile phone which is pretty straightforward. What kind of mobile phone is capable of this?

I want to use it for voice calls and sms.

Also with Exetel's VOIP service will it have the same coverage as a regular mobile phone or will I only be able to use it where there is unsecured Wi-fi.

Help regarding this matter would be much appreciated.

[Dazzled]

You need a 900/2100 MHz 3G phone. Some are shown here (it's not a complete list) http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-hs ... bility.php
The phone will have to run VoIP software, such as Fring but there are others. You might like to browse through the HSPA forum at http://forum.exetel.com.au/viewforum.php?f=308 for ideas, because there are many solutions users have found.

You will have coverage wherever there is an Optus mobile phone antenna transmitting 3G on 2100 (cities) or 900 (rural) - see http://www.exetel.com.au/files/hspa_maps.pdf, so it is very wide, though some country areas miss out. Newcastle's pretty good, if you aren't hiding behind a large hill off line-of-sight.

The same service can be obtained from a SIM card in a dongle modem fitted to a laptop computer. In that case you would also need software installed to use the phone via the laptop's sound hardware, although you can browse the web straightaway.

Check out http://www.exetel.com.au/business_hspa.php

[DonFromWallsend]

You need a 900/2100 MHz 3G phone. Some are shown here (it's not a complete list) http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-hs ... bility.php
The phone will have to run VoIP software, such as Fring but there are others. You might like to browse through the HSPA forum at http://forum.exetel.com.au/viewforum.php?f=308 for ideas, because there are many solutions users have found.

You will have coverage wherever there is an Optus mobile phone antenna transmitting 3G on 2100 (cities) or 900 (rural) - see http://www.exetel.com.au/files/hspa_maps.pdf, so it is very wide, though some country areas miss out. Newcastle's pretty good, if you aren't hiding behind a large hill off line-of-sight.

The same service can be obtained from a SIM card in a dongle modem fitted to a laptop computer. In that case you would also need software installed to use the phone via the laptop's sound hardware, although you can browse the web straightaway.

Check out http://www.exetel.com.au/business_hspa.php

I'll run down to the local dick smith tomorrow and find out what their cheapest mobile phone that works at that frequency is (hopefully <$200).

[Dazzled]

Don't buy anything until you confirm the model also runs a suitable VoIP application.
Here are a couple of online unlocked phone dealers I have used you can compare prices with:
http://www.nextmobile.com.au/shop/catalog/index.html
http://www.ryda.com.au/category_s/37.htm

[cubic]

I'll run down to the local dick smith tomorrow and find out what their cheapest mobile phone that works at that frequency is (hopefully <$200).

You also need to really understand the phone specs, because the shop assistants may not. You're looking for 900 and 2100 3G / UMTS (and ideally HSPA). Lots of phones will offer GSM frequencies of say 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 but GSM is only good for dial-up speeds.

Depending on where you're planning to go, you might be able to live without the 900MHz 3G, which would increase your choice a lot. Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney and most of the more populated coastal areas around here are all on 2100.

[Munka]

Some kind soul on these forum pointed me to http://www.gsmarena.com/ it has very cool search filtering for full spec's. Helped a lot in the search for a suitable phone.
Though you still need to read carefully regarding U.S. versions and European versions.

[DonFromWallsend]

I'll run down to the local dick smith tomorrow and find out what their cheapest mobile phone that works at that frequency is (hopefully <$200).

You also need to really understand the phone specs, because the shop assistants may not. You're looking for 900 and 2100 3G / UMTS (and ideally HSPA). Lots of phones will offer GSM frequencies of say 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 but GSM is only good for dial-up speeds.

Depending on where you're planning to go, you might be able to live without the 900MHz 3G, which would increase your choice a lot. Newcastle, Central Coast, Sydney and most of the more populated coastal areas around here are all on 2100.

All of these feature HSPA 2100, would any of these be suitable?

Sony Ericsson G502 $149
http://www.nextmobile.com.au/shop/cart. ... ory_id=159

Sony Ericsson C903 $209
http://www.nextmobile.com.au/shop/cart. ... ct_id=2838

Sony Ericsson T715a $219
http://www.nextmobile.com.au/shop/cart. ... ct_id=3185

[cubic]

Of those, the C903 looks best as it supports HSPA at both 2100 and 900, although again you may not care so much about 900, depending on where you're planning to use the phone. But as Dazzled said, look for whether VoIP software is available for these models too - Fring / Nimbuzz / Uniphone? IDK Sony Ericsson phones but I doubt you'll get a built-in VoIP client.

[DonFromWallsend]

Of those, the C903 looks best as it supports HSPA at both 2100 and 900, although again you may not care so much about 900, depending on where you're planning to use the phone. But as Dazzled said, look for whether VoIP software is available for these models too - Fring / Nimbuzz / Uniphone? IDK Sony Ericsson phones but I doubt you'll get a built-in VoIP client.

I am having trouble finding the list of compatible phones for any of the VOIP software but I found a thread made by someone mentioning Fring works with the C903.
http://cellphoneforums.net/sony-ericsso ... -c903.html

[jokiin]

I'd have a look at the user experience mentioned by owners of different model phones, Fring can suffer lag when used in Australia and isn't always the best solution, something that can support a proper SIP app would be a better choice I would think

[Dazzled]

Exetel MoIP (=VoIP for mobiles) software is available for this list of Nokia models when you sign up:

Code: Select all

			Nokia 5500
			Nokia E50
			Nokia E60
			Nokia E61
			Nokia E61i
			Nokia E62
			Nokia E65
			Nokia E70
			Nokia N71
			Nokia N73 
			Nokia N75 
			Nokia N77 
			Nokia N80 
			Nokia N91 
			Nokia N92 
			Nokia N93
			Nokia N93i 
			Nokia 5700 
			Nokia 6110 
			Nokia 6120 
			Nokia 6121 
			Nokia 6124 
			Nokia 6290 
			Nokia E51
			Nokia E63 
			Nokia E66 
			Nokia E71 
			Nokia E90 
			Nokia N76 
			Nokia N81 
			Nokia N82 
			Nokia N95 
			Nokia 5320
			Nokia 5630
			Nokia 5730
			Nokia 6210 
			Nokia 6220
			Nokia 6650 
			Nokia 6710 
			Nokia 6720 
			Nokia 6730 
			Nokia E52 
			Nokia E55 
			Nokia E71 
			Nokia E72 
			Nokia E75 
			Nokia N78 
			Nokia N79 
			Nokia N85 
			Nokia N86 
			Nokia N96 
 

Could anyone who uses a lower-priced Nokia model report for DonFromWallsend?

[cubic]

something that can support a proper SIP app would be a better choice I would think

Ideally yes, but in practice it's the connection quality that really seems to determine whether VoIP over HSPA works or not. I've had good results from Fring on some tests and native SIP client completely unusable on others, depending on network / location / time.

Could anyone who uses a lower-priced Nokia model report for DonFromWallsend?

As reported in the other thread, ExeMoip is not (yet) working on the 6120 / 6121.