Vonage just announced their app for the iPhone yesterday that allows discounted international calls. AT&T’s recent announcement doesn’t seem to have effected the status of the Google Voice application.

Ruth Milkman, Chief
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, SW
Washington DC 20554

Re: AT&T Response to Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Letter, DA 09-1737 (July 31, 2009); RM-11361; RM-11497

Dear Ms. Milkman:

On behalf of AT&T, I am writing to provide you with an update to AT&T’s August 21, 2009 response to the Bureau’s questions about the Apple iPhone. In our response, we explained that AT&T currently offers a variety of devices that enable VoIP applications to make use of our wireless network (including our 2G and 3G capabilities) and the devices’ Wi-Fi connectivity. We further explained that the iPhone currently supports VoIP applications that make use of the device’s Wi-Fi connectivity, but VoIP capabilities were not available on the iPhone for use on our wireless network. We also stated that we were taking a fresh look at the issue and would promptly notify the Commission of any such change in our policies. AT&T has completed its review of the matter and today we informed Apple that, effective immediately, AT&T consents to Apple enabling third-party VoIP applications for the iPhone that use our wireless network, including our 2G and 3G capabilities.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Robert W. Quinn, Jr.

Tonight, Skype was update to version 1.2. The new version adds quite a few new features (see change log below). When you update the app, it adds has a nice little pop-up when you open the application that says, “This version of Skype is only supported on unmodified iPhone OS 2.2 and 3.0.” The application will still work on a modified OS however, they will not support it if you are having issues. So, if you have a jailbroke iPhone or iPod touch, you can update and the app will still work but don’t run to them for tech support… they might turn you down.

Version 1.2 Change Log:
- Set up call forwarding from your iPhone – forward Skype calls to a phone number when you’re not signed in.
- Improved performance and better audio quality on Skype-to-Skype calls.
- Even easier to send text messages (SMS) – Send SMS from the Call tab.
- Calls are connected much faster.
- Status of your contacts is updated more often.
- You can now decide whether you want to stay online/offline when the iPhone is locked. We’ve added this into settings.
- Contact groups are now supported, making it easier to see who is online and separate your saved phone numbers.
- You can now edit the name of your saved phone numbers.
- Added support for skype: URL schemes in Safari.
- When creating a new account the country in your Skype profile is taken from the language used on your iPhone.
- Group chat profile pictures are now shown.
- You can now remove your profile picture.
- Added a ‘Help’ link to ‘Forgot your password’.
- Improved support for proxy configurations.

ScreenShots

Just like the original version created for the iPhone, this is the same special pre-release R&D version with some chat bugs fixed so now you can mobile internet chat & interact in fring-style on your iPod touch (I know I am stating the obvious… but as there is no Microphone the iPod touch…. it means no fring calls as well).

Doug and I also found that this version works a lot smoother for us. He was able to call Skype on my computer, I was able to call his iPhone from Skype on my computer and we were able to call from iPhone to iPhone using fring. Very, very cool! fring is vailable through the fring source.

Below is a video of the developer using fring on an iPod Touch.