A buddy recently let me in on a little secret. You can use the Skype iPhone application over a 3G connection – and it works damn well! No wonder AT&T banned Skype from making calls using its 3G data network.
The release of the Skype iPhone application caused quite a stir as carriers around the world moved to block the application accessing its data networks. AT&T restricted Skype for iPhone to its WiFi HotSpots in the US, as did O2 in the UK. Meanwhile, T-Mobile Germany reportedly blocked Skype from its network entirely – no Skype for iPhone for Germany.
But, it doesn’t have to be like that.
A jailbreak application, called VoIPOver3G, allows jailbroken iPhones to use VoIP applications over 3G wireless networks. You can find it in Cydia, and the install takes all of one minute. VoIPOver3G installs invisibly, much like the yellowsn0w jailbreak utility – once installed, all iPhone VoIP clients simply work over 3G. VoIPOver3G tricks your iPhone into thinking it’s on a WiFi network, allowing VoIP apps like Skype to work on AT&T’s 3G network.
And the kicker – you can use any VoIP application over 3G, not just Skype for iPhone!
Here’s how:
- Jailbreak your iPhone or iPhone 3G (don’t know how? click!)
- Fire up Cydia
- Search for “voipover3g”
- Install VoIPOver3G
- Enjoy 3G VoIP!
Keep in mind, your VoIP over 3G experience is going to depend on a lot of factors – stuff that goes well over my head. Under good conditions, however, you should find 3G VoIP quality to be decent, sometimes great!