UK: Tesco does Mobile VoIP with a little help from WiFi
By Ben Robinson on Sunday, September 7th, 2008 at 11:46 AM PST In UK Retail, VoIP
Tesco (UK Supermarket) has launched a new service called ‘Talkwifi‘, which allows customers to make cheap mobile calls, via VoIP, over WiFi. The offering makes use of a service developed by Australian company Freshtel, and requires an app download to get things going. Once that is done, and the user is in a ‘free’ WiFi area, then calls can be made, at a pretty cheap rate (for how cheap, you’ll need to check the website here).
The service is currently restricted to only a limited amount of handsets, all of which are Series 60, WiFi-toting, Nokias – the E51, E81, N95, and E65. However, more handset support is due soon.
I favour WiFi for certain scenarios of mobile connectivity when I am out and about, but that’s all about the data – whether VoIP can and will run consistently, and suitably, is another question. Any IntoMobile readers regularly using their Mobile devices for VoIP are welcomed to input….
The Tesco Talkwifi site can be reached by clicking here 
[Via: mobilenewscwp.co.uk]
I have used mobile VoIP on my Nokia phone for over two years and it weeks very well. Truphone is the best and easiest to setup but I also use Sipgate, which is nearly as good and has better rates to some of the countries I call in Europe. I have not used a landline is nearly 5 years.
Mark
I have tried Skype and Gizmo on my new Nokia E51, using various routers and operators. In all cases the voice quality and latency (delay) make it unusable.
Grozbat, I have never used Gizmo but I have used Skype through fring and had no problems with either quality or latency. The volume was a little low but I could hear fine. I have experimented extensively with mobile VoIP on Nokia phones and have found that you really need a good broadband connection. For example, if I’m downloading a large file off the Internet, the call quality will degrade. However, under normal conditions, the call quality is perfect and I have never experienced a latency issue over wifi.
Mark
Freshtel launched their Mobile Voip Wifi in Australia yesterday (9th Sep 08) and my wife set it up in 5 mins on a E51. We have tested it with our son in the USA and others on Freshtel in Aust – works a treat, great voice quality and no delays and cheap as chips call costs – this is the real deal.
‘Its good to be Green’
Would like to know how good it is in the UK????