Are you one of those Windows Mobile handset VoIP hackboys / hackgirls (wireless Skype, anyone)? How about that voice minute-less wireless VoIP on that Orange or Vodafone
Nokia N95 handset? Wait, let's go back a bit -- right back to that Nokia S60 flagship handset in Europe. It appears that
Vodafone and
Orange in the UK have removed an important feature from carrier-branded N95s there. In what can be considered one extreme example of handset crippling, the two carriers have apparently stripped the N95 on store shelves of is VoIP capability in an attempt to preserve voice revenue. The solution -- as always with GSM carriers -- is to buy the more expensive, unlocked N95 and install your Symbian VoIP client of choice. Did we say we can't stand carrier-branded madness like this?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Liam Gladdy @ Apr 20th 2007 6:05PM
T-Mobile in the UK don't cripple it, infact the only bit of branding they seem to do is rename the internet to 'Web n' Walk' - If you're looking for it cheap as part of a contract, go for T-Mobile!
Roger Smith @ Apr 20th 2007 6:40PM
Cingular does similar things in the US. Try to find a phone that does Wi-Fi that has a Cingular/AT&T brand. I have only seen one. That is why I do not have an E62, I have an E61. They want you to use their data plan, and charges, instead of 'free' internet.
Christopher @ Apr 20th 2007 6:59PM
... I had a rant about this on pocket link, but I bet there'll be a burgeoning market for shared ROMs which have been cooked to remove the Orange / Voda custom shell and reintroduce full VoIP functionality :D
It's inevitable... People want their gadgets to work how they expected them to, and a phone like this won't stay crippled for long. Either that or the networks'll backpedal after they get sufficient pressure, Vodafone's official "reason" for blocking VoIP functionality was as weak as a pint of White Lightning anyway :D
Jonesy @ Apr 21st 2007 6:37AM
I don't know why the operaters do this, the main culprits are Orange and Vodaphone and they do this with every handset (Voda even cripple you using your own mp3s as ringtones on some handsets with the poor excuse of drm).
It isn't a shock that they have blocked the voip functionality. The handset makers should just not allow the operaters to put their own software on the handsets they make.
Maybe then we'd be able to get handsets that aren't full of irritating coloured software and be able to use the handset the way it was intended!
J @ Apr 21st 2007 10:34AM
All this press shouting about the networks supposedly 'crippling' a certain handset is a load of bull in my eyes... The main reasons for the removal of VOIP on Vodafone is the following (i work for them and this is what they have announced!)...
'After testing the product with a variety of users the network gives them a list of features they use... These users are from all walks of life and include tech ppl, mothers, kids and elderly ppl so this gives the testing a wide scope of use!
The info they gain will let vodafone tailor the software package on the handset. another reason behind this removal is that Vodafone realise the majority of users on the network are not tech minded ppl and have bought the handset for all the other features. If this feature is on the handset it only causes more issues for its customers as they will want to know how to use this feature and clog the customer service telephone lines with calls regarding this feature...
It is also noted that NOwhere on Vodafones literature is it stated that the phone supports VOIP... this indeed gets them out of false selling...
How can a phone be crippled if it still does everything it is meant to do??? U can install FRING and that gives u VOIP functionality...
J.
Christopher @ Apr 22nd 2007 12:35AM
I disagree; people buying the N95 are very much buying it for its technological innovations - and therefore Vodafone should be changing the way carriers approach top-range handsets and either offer a minisite with full instructions for configuring VoIP software (thereby also enabling a higher percentage of first call resolution for CSRs, which is nice) and getting good press out of it at the same time.
End of the day, they'll make a shitload back from their extortionate data charges, so everyone's a winner.
teknogreek @ Apr 28th 2007 9:12AM
Bile...
Orange and Vodafone offer such non-competitive Data Rates or Bundles that VoIP would actually be more expensive!
So in fact what they do is hide this by saying they want to protect voice revenues when actually they don't want the furore of either a massive customer services call driver or huge refunds as customers realise the Data Rates are extortionate. PS:- This hides the fact they are so sucky!!!
Gavin Ayling @ May 18th 2007 7:46AM
From T-Mobile's website:
"We do not permit use of this service to provide modem access for a computer or for peer to peer file sharing, internet phone calls or instant messaging."
NetSlut @ May 18th 2007 7:14PM
J --
You can't have it both ways.
You say Vodafone tested it with loads of users, and they didn't use the feature.
Then you say that if they left the feature on the phone, everyone would want to use it such that they would clog the support phone lines.
So which is it? Would people not use it, or would they use it enough to clog support?
What actually happened, for those who know about these things, is that Vodafone took the VoIP functionality off *before* they tested the phone. They will not suffer that kind of competition over their connection, just like Orange.
NetSlut