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Yes. This article is correct. The days of cellular "voice + data" plans are on their way out. Eventually, everything will be entirely about data. For voice,

Yes. This article is correct. The days of cellular "voice + data" plans are on their way out. Eventually, everything will be entirely about data. For voice, you'll call i.p. addresses instead of phone numbers. And by being strictly data, users will have the added benefit of being able to do videoconferencing, swap files, and share screens.

technomancy 15y ago
It's already not very difficult to use a data-only connection for your main phone. I've been on a no-minutes data-only 3G plan for a year and a half with my Nexus One using Google Voice and bouncing between SipDroid, Skype, and the new built-in SIP client in Android 2.3. It's just a matter of time before either 0) the majority of calls end up being VoIP or 1) carriers start explicitly banning VoIP in their ToS. Right now it takes a little extra doing to set up a SIP account, but that won't last.
- mikelward 15y ago
  Which carriers offer this?
  - pointillistic 15y ago
    Yes, I would like to know as well. Who offers data service only? Or you just hoping from Wifi to Wifi?
  - mikelward 15y ago
    From what I can find so far, the best option is T-Mobile. Get a T-Mobile SIM Card[1], then select a Mobile Broadband data plan[2], e.g. 2 GB for $40/mo. [1]: <http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?cell-phone=T-Mobile-SIM-Card&#62 http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?c...; [2]: <http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/cell-phone-plans.aspx?catgroup=mobilebroadband&#62 http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/cell-phone-plans.aspx?cat...; T-Mobile can be used with data-only products such as Galaxy Tab, so this method should be allowed by T-Mobile. There seem to be a few ways using AT&T, e.g. an iPad SIM, or a GoPhone SIM, or signing up for Laptop Connect, and using that SIM, but none seem to be officially supported. I'm guessing there's no way to do this with a CDMA carrier. Are there other GSM resellers/virtual networks?
    - technomancy 15y ago
      Yes, I am doing this on T-Mobile as well. I was grandfathered into a plan for "unlimited" bandwidth for USD40/mo. I don't know what the practical limitations on the plan are; I've never gone over 5GB. With the AT&T acquisition I'm thinking of jumping ship to Sprint, but I don't know if they have a comparable plan. Anyone looked into it?
    - mikelward 15y ago
      Logically, I think on Sprint and Verizon you'd want a WiFi-enabled phone and a MiFi or other wireless portable hotspot. Verizon is $50/mo for 5 GB on a 2-year contract on the 4G data plan. Sprint is $45/mo for 3 GB, also on a 2-year plan.
- 18pfsmt 15y ago
  I tried to do this with my Mifi-only plan (grandfatherd 3G unlimited for $60) with VZW and an external battery (1800mAh w/ correct adapter), and it worked well on occasion, But, for the 80% of the time the ping-times (~150ms) made it untenable, esp. while moving in a car (often ~230ms). When I had <50ms it was fine. This was using Gizmo5/Gvoice/Sip client, in the Denver metro area, and spring/ summer '09, so perhaps this has changed.
  - technomancy 15y ago
    I'm curious how this works on CDMA networks. With GSM, you just take your SIM from the store and pop it in your phone. With CDMA I assume you need them to transfer the plan to the phone at the store? They don't balk at all at setting up a phone with a data-only plan? For the record I had trouble with Gizmo + SipDroid too; once I switched to sipgate.com I got much clearer calls. Apparently Gizmo prefered a proprietary codec that was only implemented in the Gizmo client and needed to fall back to a lower-quality codec with other clients. Sipgate on the other hand works great, though the integration with Google Voice isn't as tight.
    - 18pfsmt 15y ago
      A Mifi is a mobile router (EV-DO>>> wifi), I simply sold my usb modem, and then bought a brand new Mifi for full price. I never gave Gizmo5 a dime, but it was the same performance with my Flowroute[1] setup, and even my own Milkfish[2] setup. This gets a bit complicated (why nobody else bothers) rather quickly, but I'd be happy to share more info if you have interest. [1]http://flowroute.com/ http://flowroute.com/ [2]http://www2.milkfish.org.sipwerk.com/ http://www2.milkfish.org.sipwerk.com/
sjs 15y ago
Perhaps we'll have a system akin to DNS that resolves phone numbers to IPs. Dynamic DNS functionality could be built-in or layered on top by a provider like Google Voice, so that you don't give up one-number-that-follows-you. Whichever device you happen to be using notifies you of the call. Really though, the whole notion of calling someone and demanding their immediate attention is often rude in these modern days of async communication. I wouldn't be sad if we just used phones less, since we already have chat, im, and email that already just arrive to the device we're using (or all of them). And SMS on phones.
- yardie 15y ago
  This sounds exactly like Facetime. They resolve your call by phone number or email. I hope they release it to IETF (like Steve said they would do) or a competent competitor comes along that can do the same. I've been trying to like SIP but the headache you go through to place a true SIP call is incredible. * Your +SIPnumber@SIPdomain.com * Your +SIPhandle@SIPdomain.com Placing a SIP call isn't a problem. But all the cockups are in the receiving or finding people to call.
  - technomancy 15y ago
    Huh; I've been using SIP exclusively for phone calls since Android 2.3 came out and it has worked great for me.

technomancy 15y ago

It's already not very difficult to use a data-only connection for your main phone. I've been on a no-minutes data-only 3G plan for a year and a half with my Nexus One using Google Voice and bouncing between SipDroid, Skype, and the new built-in SIP client in Android 2.3. It's just a matter of time before either 0) the majority of calls end up being VoIP or 1) carriers start explicitly banning VoIP in their ToS. Right now it takes a little extra doing to set up a SIP account, but that won't last.

mikelward 15y ago
Which carriers offer this?
- pointillistic 15y ago
  Yes, I would like to know as well. Who offers data service only? Or you just hoping from Wifi to Wifi?
- mikelward 15y ago
  From what I can find so far, the best option is T-Mobile. Get a T-Mobile SIM Card[1], then select a Mobile Broadband data plan[2], e.g. 2 GB for $40/mo. [1]: <http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?cell-phone=T-Mobile-SIM-Card&#62 http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/phones/cell-phone-detail.aspx?c...; [2]: <http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/cell-phone-plans.aspx?catgroup=mobilebroadband&#62 http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/cell-phone-plans.aspx?cat...; T-Mobile can be used with data-only products such as Galaxy Tab, so this method should be allowed by T-Mobile. There seem to be a few ways using AT&T, e.g. an iPad SIM, or a GoPhone SIM, or signing up for Laptop Connect, and using that SIM, but none seem to be officially supported. I'm guessing there's no way to do this with a CDMA carrier. Are there other GSM resellers/virtual networks?
  - technomancy 15y ago
    Yes, I am doing this on T-Mobile as well. I was grandfathered into a plan for "unlimited" bandwidth for USD40/mo. I don't know what the practical limitations on the plan are; I've never gone over 5GB. With the AT&T acquisition I'm thinking of jumping ship to Sprint, but I don't know if they have a comparable plan. Anyone looked into it?
  - mikelward 15y ago
    Logically, I think on Sprint and Verizon you'd want a WiFi-enabled phone and a MiFi or other wireless portable hotspot. Verizon is $50/mo for 5 GB on a 2-year contract on the 4G data plan. Sprint is $45/mo for 3 GB, also on a 2-year plan.
18pfsmt 15y ago
I tried to do this with my Mifi-only plan (grandfatherd 3G unlimited for $60) with VZW and an external battery (1800mAh w/ correct adapter), and it worked well on occasion, But, for the 80% of the time the ping-times (~150ms) made it untenable, esp. while moving in a car (often ~230ms). When I had <50ms it was fine. This was using Gizmo5/Gvoice/Sip client, in the Denver metro area, and spring/ summer '09, so perhaps this has changed.
- technomancy 15y ago
  I'm curious how this works on CDMA networks. With GSM, you just take your SIM from the store and pop it in your phone. With CDMA I assume you need them to transfer the plan to the phone at the store? They don't balk at all at setting up a phone with a data-only plan? For the record I had trouble with Gizmo + SipDroid too; once I switched to sipgate.com I got much clearer calls. Apparently Gizmo prefered a proprietary codec that was only implemented in the Gizmo client and needed to fall back to a lower-quality codec with other clients. Sipgate on the other hand works great, though the integration with Google Voice isn't as tight.
  - 18pfsmt 15y ago
    A Mifi is a mobile router (EV-DO>>> wifi), I simply sold my usb modem, and then bought a brand new Mifi for full price. I never gave Gizmo5 a dime, but it was the same performance with my Flowroute[1] setup, and even my own Milkfish[2] setup. This gets a bit complicated (why nobody else bothers) rather quickly, but I'd be happy to share more info if you have interest. [1]http://flowroute.com/ http://flowroute.com/ [2]http://www2.milkfish.org.sipwerk.com/ http://www2.milkfish.org.sipwerk.com/

sjs 15y ago

Perhaps we'll have a system akin to DNS that resolves phone numbers to IPs. Dynamic DNS functionality could be built-in or layered on top by a provider like Google Voice, so that you don't give up one-number-that-follows-you. Whichever device you happen to be using notifies you of the call. Really though, the whole notion of calling someone and demanding their immediate attention is often rude in these modern days of async communication. I wouldn't be sad if we just used phones less, since we already have chat, im, and email that already just arrive to the device we're using (or all of them). And SMS on phones.

yardie 15y ago
This sounds exactly like Facetime. They resolve your call by phone number or email. I hope they release it to IETF (like Steve said they would do) or a competent competitor comes along that can do the same. I've been trying to like SIP but the headache you go through to place a true SIP call is incredible. * Your +SIPnumber@SIPdomain.com * Your +SIPhandle@SIPdomain.com Placing a SIP call isn't a problem. But all the cockups are in the receiving or finding people to call.
- technomancy 15y ago
  Huh; I've been using SIP exclusively for phone calls since Android 2.3 came out and it has worked great for me.