Vopium has launched a free VoIP application for BlackBerrys through the  BlackBerry App World.

Features:

• Vopium is compatible with more than 500 handsets across Java, Symbian, BlackBerry RIM, and Windows Mobile, as well as offering a complete iPhone solution
• Vopium is free to download at www.vopium.com; BlackBerry users can download the application directly from the BlackBerry App World™
• Vopium re-routes international calls as a local call to a Vopium gateway and then via global traffic carriers as ordinary voice traffic in order to ensure voice quality
• All new users are given 30 minutes of talk time and 30 international SMS for free
• Calling internationally with Vopium can result in up to 90 percent savings versus traditional carrier rates; for an overview of current pricing, visit: http://vopium.com/tariff
• Calls made through Vopium are always routed using the cheapest method while preserving the highest quality
• Vopium Wi-Fi users can call each other around the world for free
• Vopium users keep their own mobile number and SIM card, and maintain their numeric identity when making calls
• When a user calls from their home country, a local rate may be applied by their operator
• When calling from abroad a roaming charge will be applied by the subscriber’s operator
• Wi-Fi calls made with Vopium will not incur additional charges from a subscriber’s operator

Vopium is available for pretty much every BlackBerry in the 8000 and 9000 series except the Pearl Flip 8200 series, which will have its own version soon.

Full press release after the jump.

CONTINUE READING »

It looks like mobile carriers aren’t pleased with Skype for the iPhone and the upcoming version for BlackBerry, which would allow free skype-to-skype calls.

By David Flynn:

iPhone users are taking up arms against some of the world’s largest telcos in an effort to use Skype over the 3G airwaves. With the support of Apple, mobile carriers in the US, Canada and Germany have blocked Skype from their networks so that the popular VoIP service can be run only over a local Wi-Fi connection.

Since its release last Tuesday, Skype has become the most popular download at Apple’s iPhone software store. But AT&T in the US, Canada’s Rogers and T-Mobile in Germany are all on the front line to defend what they see as their right to determine how their networks are used.

Read more @ apcmag.com

I realize the article concentrates on the Apple iPhone, but since it’s about “mobile carriers,” that means they aren’t happy with Skype altogether. This would most likely affect BlackBerry users just the same once Skype gets released for BlackBerrys.

I know plenty of people have been waiting for a Skype client for BlackBerry. Revolt anyone?

Remember: Without customers a network is nothing!

Skydeck let me know that their service is now out of beta and available for BlackBerry smartphones.

Some Skydeck highlights include:

• Skydeck moves all the functionality of your Blackberry device onto the web, and lets you track, archive and search VoIP and wireless calls, voicemail and text messages online.
• Skydeck keeps a complete record of your activity by capturing every incoming and outgoing call and lets you search them and attach call notes. It also captures full text of text messages and incoming voice mails.
• Skydeck organizes the address book on your Blackberry device based on who you interact with most, putting the people you talk and message with the most right at the top.
• If you lose your phone, or are traveling and want to avoid costly roaming charges, you can use your smart phone from Skydeck on the web.
• Skydeck lets you initiate VoIP calls and text messages that look like they are coming from your cell phone.

Some of the new features include:

• All of your calls – including missed calls and voicemails, which never showed up in the original version of Skydeck.
• All of your text messages – including the content of your text messages.
• All of your voicemails – including the audio of your voicemails, plus a transcribed version that gets sent to you by text and by email, all stored on Skydeck.com.
• All of your contacts – sync your cell phone directly to Skydeck.
• In real time – not one day late.
• Search – including the content of your texts and the content of your voicemails.
• Reply – take advantage of your broadband connection, your headset, and your keyboard to place calls and send texts from Skydeck that appear to be coming from your cell phone.

Price: Starting at $9.95 per month

Be sure to leave some comments if you decide to try this service out!

Check it out: http://skydeck.com/