Freeware Wi-Fi app turns iPod into a Phone | The Curious Cat Science and Engineering blog explores: innovation, technology, research, education, economics, gadgets, health care and scientific inquiry.

image of iPod Touch

A freeware application for the iPod Touch can turn the music player into a virtual mobile phone. Truphone uses wi-fi technology in an iPod Touch to allow users to make calls to other iPod Touch owners and Google Talk’s messaging service users.

The software is a spin-off from technology Truphone developed for smartphones and iPhones. The developers plan to have the ability to make calls to and from landlines in place very soon.

Geraldine Wilson – Truphone’s CEO – said the firm had ambitions to become a global internet player. “There are a slew of new features we’re rolling out for the iPod Touch that will let users call landlines, Skype users or send instant messages. We’re talking weeks, not months, before these go live.” Although Truphone technology can, in theory, work on any mobile device, the firm is concentrating on devices that have an application store.
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The company said Google’s Android operating system would be the next platform for which it will develop the Truphone applications.

From the Truphone site:

Nokia and iPhone users can make Truphone calls from any Wi-Fi zone, anywhere in the world. We’ll use your Wi-Fi connection to route the call over the internet at our amazing flat worldwide rates (see rate checker), saving you loads of money on international calls from your home country and saving you even more on calls when you’re abroad.

Wi-Fi calls to other connected Truphone users are completely free of charge. From wherever, to wherever.

Very cool. See our gadgets and gifts store.

12 thoughts on “Freeware Wi-Fi app turns iPod into a Phone”

Oliver December 18, 2008 at 12:01 pm

I’ve seen this before I think, but with other programs that you can use instead of the one that you’ve mentioned, it’s pretty cool to be honest! But can only use it in Wi-Fi zones 🙁

Chris December 27, 2008 at 7:47 am

Yet another possibility for me to take my business truly mobile – its taking more planning than I envisaged this, but with a netbook, call routing and a few gadgets and peices of software like this, I think I’ll be travelling and earning long before Oktoberfest this year – whippeeee!

aroel January 8, 2009 at 3:56 am

cool man! eventhough it can be used in wifi area

Maria Gudelis January 15, 2009 at 6:44 am

Rruphone to Truphone is free? Sounds like Skype to me. But, if we have Wi-Fi connection, we might be able to use MSN or YM with camera. I’m not so sure as I don’t own any iPod. The new iPhone is getting hit in the market. I wish this firmware is compatible with the new iPhone.

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Anonymous October 15, 2009 at 3:15 pm

That’s awesome, who needs an iPhone now eh?

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Mike B March 31, 2011 at 10:29 am

I know it may have something to do with marketing, but it is quite astonishing that Apple haven’t done this already, and what is even stranger is that they’ve released the Ipad without phone capabilities – surely it can’t be that difficult for them to sort out.

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