TringMe introduces VoIP accessibility from low-end mass market mobile devices
Posted on March 11, 2008
Filed Under Announcement, Disclosure, Launch, SMS, click-to-call, milestone
VoIP has been a boon for long distance internet telephony for quite a while now even-though it’s mainly accessible from PCs. A key problem which hasn’t been well-attended so far is a way for a common man who doesn’t have a PC to use VoIP (popularly known as “internet telephony”) to make really cheap worldwide calls. Mobile-VoIP can be an answer to this problem since mobile penetration rate is increasing by many folds every year. In India alone, there are over 200 million mobile users compared to 5 million broadband users. However existing Mobile-VoIP solutions (including one previously introduced by TringMe) really cater to Smartphones and rely on GPRS or 2.5/3G (data network) connections, a combination that isn’t in the reach of a common man. Statistics show that :
- In developing countries like India, more than 80% mobile users do not have data connection on their mobile. And for the remaining ones who have it, data connection is poor to have any effective real time communication like VoIP. We strongly believe that to make Mobile-VoIP a common-place technology, it needs to cater to the lowest-end mobile devices, devices which can just make voice-calls and do SMS. (source: TRAI)
- Smartphones only constituted 10% of the total mobiles sold last year (source: Symbian market share data).
So almost 90% of mobile users (which translates to millions of users) – a fairly big share of market – are devoid of using Mobile-VoIP via their existing mobile devices. To address this market, TringMe, after successfully demonstrating Mobile VoIP from a Smartphone, is now launching a new patent pending service which allows a low-end mobile phone to make VoIP based calls without installing anything. All one needs to do is send an SMS to TringMe and it will connect you to any phone number worldwide. It’s very convenient – no PC’s, no smartphone, no 3G/data connectivity and no configuration - just send a SMS containing the phone number and you are connected. Couple this convenience with TringMe’s extremely competitive low-price worldwide calling rates for a win-win combination. Infact, with this the call can terminate not only on phone but on any of the devices that TringMe terminates on. For e.g if a user has configured his TringMe profile to terminate inbound calls on IM (e.g. Gtalk), then sending an SMS with user’s tringme address will establish the call from the caller to user GTalk client.
With this feature, scheduling calls is as easy is sending an SMS with relevant details in the body. TringMe’s infrastructure takes care of establishing the call at the scheduled time.
We are very excited to demonstrate this technology thereby creating a market opportunity to deliver TringMe’s key offerings on a common man’s low-end mobile device as well.
TringMe continues to be in the forefront of the web-based telephony space with its well-rounded portfolio. It currently provides click-to-call widgets, fully web-based SIP phone, enterprise and consumer centric web-based toll-free service, Mobile-VoIP, ability to make and receive web based calls on phones, IMs and Web. TringMe’s platform – TringSwitch – is an enterprise grade scalable platform developed from scratch to provide optimum performance for web-based telephony. We are also planning to collaborate with global players including providers, retailers etc to take this service to next level. Write to us if you like to join hands.
VoIP calls from low-end mobile devices
It’s very easy to use this service. The alpha pilot is currently only available in India. You can send an SMS to 91- 9980153695 to try out this service. Please follow the instructions below:
Register
1 - Register with TringMe if you haven’t already – http://tringme.com
2- Register the mobile with TringMe from which one wants to make the low cost worldwide call. User can register their mobile with their TringMe account by sending an SMS as follows:
tringme reg <tringme username> <tringme password>
For example, “tringme reg myname@myemail.com abcdef”
A confirmation message will be received about success of the registration.
Making Calls
Once registered, user can make worldwide calls, not only to the phones but to Gtalk, SIP URI etc by merely sending an SMS as follows:
tringme <phonenumber>
for example, to call a US number 1-(858)-555-1212, one only need to send a SMS “tringme 18585551212”
Users can also call millions of worldwide SIP users just by using SIP URI as follows:
tringme <SIP URI>
To make a call to a registered TringMe user, send an SMS as follows:
tringme <user’s email address>
This will establish a call from the originator’s mobile device to the calle’s currently configured termination device. For example, if user has chose to receive call on Gtalk, sending above SMS will connect your phone to his or her Gtalk.
Scheduling a Call
You can even schedule a call for later time, say for a business meeting or conference. TringMe understand time in plain english and you can specify absolute date and time or in relative terms. You can schedule it in one of several ways:
tringme 18585551212 next week 11:30AM
tringme 18585551212 March 17, 2008 11:30AM
tringme 18585551212 tomorrow 11:30AM
The time specified will be as per the timezone setting which you have configured in your TringMe profile.
To unscheduled a call, just send “tringme unsched <call id>” in the SMS body.
Other
One can unregister the mobile currently registered with TringMe by sending message “tringme unreg“.
To check the account balance, send message “tringme bal”. Also, “tringme help” message will get you help on existing commands.
As mentioned above, the alpha pilot is currently only available in India. We are presently working on adding more messaging gateways and enabling this service in other countries as well. During beta, you may rarely experience minor delay in SMS processing during peak hours and we will appreciate your patience.
We really look forward to hearing your comments and feedback.
Comments
40 Responses to “TringMe introduces VoIP accessibility from low-end mass market mobile devices”
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Wonderful feature. It will be very useful for anyone who is looking for cheap voip solution on their phones.
It will be great if one can call Skype users as well with this service!
What about Europe?
We have rest of the services which is accessible worldwide. You can use them in Europe.
hw abt making international calls mobile to mobile
Can u explain me what price are we charged for these calls,
like if i am a tringme user from india , and suppose
1)i am calling another tringme user on their mobile
2)i am calling their Gtalk ,
Am i charged for the calls to my end also , plz explain
This is really a great service considering the standards of 3G in india , this is a move which we highly admire ,
I have been using Tring Me and one feature i particularly admire is that its nt client or platform dependent ,
wonderful work guys,
Hats off Yousouf
How about calling Nigeria?
pueden publicar web page en español?
Gracias
another great service - when can i use it in NA (i mean send a text and get connected)? I also want to make calls using tringme using my smartphone - when will i be able to do that (use some kind of web interface on my smartphone to dial a number and get connected)? I think the above two features will be the key to your success and mass adoption (although many existing services will do the first - how is yours going to be different? less fees?)
thanks
With such low end penetration TringMe sure will have great success in future.
TringMe introduces VoIP accessibility from low-end mass market mobile devices : TringMe Blog
TringMe introduces VoIP accessibility from low-end mass market mobile phones. You no longer need PC or expensive smartphones to make cheap VoIP calls
So the key constraint at the bottom of the pyramid would be airtime charges, right? Is this an incoming call the way its setup, so that neither the caller nor the callee pays the mobile company?
what abt the prices by the service to landline,Gtalk??
great new service. will we be seeing anyway to call tringme users via a SIP URI? for some users it is more convenient to call that way than using the flash widget. i like the flexibility to change between having calls go to my regular phone, sip phone, and gtalk but would like more flexibility in how i am called(currently only by other tringme users or through the flash widget) it would be great if i could be called by SIP URI as well as be able to forward any SIP DID number to ring my current tringme registered phone.
cheers.
Heartiest Congratulations!
It will be great if you can also offer this service - VoIP calls from low-end mobile devices -in UK, U.S., Saudi and Gulf Countries.
Thanks for keeping us informed.
What about in Jakarta - Indonesia ?
same query as alok .. who pays for the last leg airtime ?
Awesome! this service is sure to be popular. When will you offer short code for SMS
[…] details on TringMe Blog tags: […]
This is really cool !
I like the way Tringme is innovating and lowering the barriers to access VOIP !
This is really good feature.
instead of initiating call through sms initaite call via a mobile application.
I hope we get it soon
Fantastic stuff guys. I think this will find a huge market abroad for those of us who call back often. Start off with Singapore
This is way cool,Tringme has always been ahead in innovating cost effective VOIP and this adds another feather to your cap.
I am sure Indian mobile users will embrace your products very well!
A lot of you have responded with encouraging words for us and that certainly boosts our confidence in this service. Thanks a lot !!
@Alok, Srikanth, TT,
The key constraint is indeed airtime charges. To be clear, TringMe initiates the call to both the parties (the one who has SMS’ed TringMe to initiate the call and the the destination party). Hence, the caller or the calle don’t have to incur any charge related to this call (unless the carriers charged for incoming calls).
@Srikanth, below are our response to your questions:
1)i am calling another tringme user on their mobile
You, as the initiator of the call, will be charged for the call. But bear in mind, you may end up paying less since our rates are very competitive. For example, at current rate, US may be as low as Rs.1.80/minute and UK, even less.
2)i am calling their Gtalk, SIP URI, Mobile VoIP etc.
In this case, you will only be charged for one call since the other leg is going over IM or other free TringMe services.
In general, as you can see, their are two call legs in this service and if the call leg is connecting to a phone, we charge for that leg. If the call leg terminates on anything else (including IM), it’s free and very unique about TringMe.
Please clearly tell us how much the Originator will be charged for connecting to Free Networks? Please tell in USD.
Also please provide more options for payment as Paypal is not available in all countries.
TringMe can literally throw MTNL’s VoIP service out of the market if they offer equal or better rates.
I suspect you are charging 0.0399 Cents for Originator + Rates to Destination.
Since whole India is dialing each other at just Re. 1 why dont you put Call Back service at only 1 Re. per minute, this way whole india would be able to Call any Gtalk and SIP User at only 1 Re. per minute. what a sales pitch ‘Dial worldwide at Re.1 Plan!’ wow!
Remember mtnl charges for SIP Units whereas TringMe Doesn’t
How about 1 Re. to Most of the Nations as offered by MTNL ?? Sky is the limit
Hi,
I am interested in learning more about your Flash SIP phone. I sent my contact info in an email to bizdev.
Thank you!
Hi,
I am unable to get the mobile registed for the mobile sms.
i have listed my mobile number in my profile -Connect my phone and voicemail widget to option.
Please help me register my mobile ..
user is 9526-82554911546
It is great i think and
i have tested tringme and find as an excellent way to call,but need to explore for some more clarity about call between tringme users, for example, if the caller initiates a call through SMS and the callee recieves it on gtalk will it not be totally free call, since both of them are tringme users?.
how can i register from UAE?
WHATS THE NUMBER TO SEND SMS
Hello TringMe,
I couldn’t understand the charges clearly. So I tired caling US phone. When I make a call from india by sending SMS, and i spoke for 5 mins. Then I was charged for 5 mins of call terminated in India phone number(i.e. 5 min * 4 cents) and 5 mins of call Terminated in US phone number(i.e. 5 * 1.3 cents), that adds upto 19.9 cents + 6.5 cents => 26.4 cents.
I’m hoping that if I call a Sip based phone/IM from India then only one end will be charged. E.g. If I call from India, for 5 mins, it should cost just 19.9 cents, is that right?
Can I call from my mobile in India to another mobile at Singapore?
Its a very useful method to contuct with my friends.
I had used my mobile phone to call numbers in USA and Japan. I found the clarity good. It is a great service indeed. Thank you. Wish you all success.
I must have added that I am in Chennai.
is it possible to use this service from Qatar(Doha).
Need to know how to use the SMS calling service from the UAE.
Hi!! As I am from the Philippines and would like to have a business tie up, can you please send me an invite for this service. Thanks in advance.
great! now when will this be available in the Philippines? and how can we collaborate? we are installing VoIP gateways all over the country for a large drug store chain using existing carriers’ vpns. can we become your dealer or reseller here in Philippines? thanks for your attention and consideration.
it is a great idea.congrats! I would like you know this feature available from UAE