Palm OS VoIP Service Released

The MantraGroup has released mobiVoIP, the first VoIP solution targeted for Palm OS handhelds and smartphones. VoIP, or Voice over IP (pronounced 'voyp'), is a technology that enables making phone calls over the Internet from a wirelessly connected device.

When you make a VoIP phone call, you use a normal touch-tone telephone and dial the normal phone number just as you would any other time. The people on the other end (usually) can't tell that whether you are calling from a traditional telephone or a VoIP phone. The main difference is that the phone call travels over the Internet rather than through the local phone company's wires. mobiVoip takes it to next step allowing you to use your PDA and make VoIP calls.

mobiVoIP requires the Palm device to be able to connect to the Internet through Bluetooth, WiFi (802.11), or EVDO. It allows the user to place telephone calls directly from the PDA thus expanding PDA’s capabilities to be used as a converged device. You can dial any regular phone number or make direct calls to other mobiVoIP users.

“We are the first company to release a VoIP solution for Palm OS. We are confident that mobiVoIP will truly change the way we use our Palm devices.” says Manohar Chapalamadugu, CEO of MantraGroup.

mobiVoIP is offered as a monthly service with various calling plans designed for North America and other countries.

The service requires mobiVoIP account, a Palm OS device with an Internet connection and a microphone or headset. The company says the Tungsten T3, Zire 72, Treo 650 and the Palm LifeDrive have been tested to work with the service.