Nimbuzz is launching a brand new VoIP application for the iPhone / iPod Touch today, making it one of the most comprehensive communication tools for the platform available today. It took several weeks for the Dutch startup to get the app approved for the iTunes Store, but now that it’s finally there it’s well worth taking a look. (iTunes link)
You could already make free calls to your buddy list over WiFi, but as of today Nimbuzz also enables VoIP calls to landlines and mobiles via Skype-Out, and thanks to partnership agreements with global SIP providers like Gizmo5, Vyke and SIPgate you can now also call over WiFi using the iPod Touch device. And for those not on WiFi, Nimbuzz is introducing a so-called “Dial-Up VoIP” option that lets users make calls over 3G in over 50 countries, using a fresh interface with a full dial-pad (screenshots below). Update: to clarify, what Nimbuzz does is dial a local access number that connects to their VoIP servers when WiFi is unavailable.
Another new feature allows Twitter updates via the Personal Message option in the mobile social messenger app.
Solid stuff.
In other news, Nimbuzz has announced a deal with major Italian social networking portal Giovani.it, which will incorporate its communication services into the community website (which has over 2 million active users). This is very similar to an earlier agreement Nimbuzz reached with Germany’s largest social networking portal, StudiVZ.
Nimbuzz has raised over $25 million in three rounds, mostly from Luxembourg-based Mangrove Capital Partners. The company claims it is growing at 20,000 new users per day now, with a 25% active user base in over 200 countries.
I’m trying to piece it all together, but here is my situation, would Nimbuzz work for free.
I live in the US and own an iphone, my friend lives in the UK and owns a blackberry.
If we both download the mobile app, as long as one of us was on wifi we could call the other one through the Nimbuzz app as long as we are “buddies” and talk for free?
The title is really nice but so untrue!
I tell you, you should stop copy paste from press releases.
VOIP calls are not possible over a 3G connection. end of discussion.
what they do is called “call through” – you dial (over GSM!!) to a local number and then somewhere on the server side transfers to an ip call.
This is not voice over 3G. it’s a call through solution over your GSM minutes.
You’re right, what Nimbuzz does is dial a local access number that connects to their VoIP servers when WiFi is unavailable, but I didn’t say their offered VoIP over 3G anywhere, did I?
““Dial-Up VoIP” happens to be the name they chose.
It wasn’t clear until I read your reply here. The title itself is misleading: “Nimbuzz Pushes New iPhone VoIP App, Supports Calling Over 3G”
Seems reasonable to interpret that to mean “Nimbuzz’s new iPhone VoIP APP works over 3G”
You did say they offered voip over 3g, right here:
“And for those not on WiFi, Nimbuzz is introducing a so-called “Dial-Up VoIP” option that lets users make calls over 3G in over 50 countries”
I took this as they could use 3g data to pass voip packets to make the calls. Luckily I caught your reply down here and was corrected.
I clarified it in the post a bit with an update, thanks for the heads up.
Is it safe entering usernames and passwords for different communities into NimBuzz? It’s unclear whether these are only stored on the iPhone, or whether they are stored on their server as part of a user’s Nimbuzz account. The website doesn’t include any information about this either.
truphone already did this months ago on the iPhone. Nothing to see here… move along.
BeejiveIM > Nimbuzz
I just tried Numbuzz again with this new update, it’s horribly slow and you need an account with them before you can add other profiles. Forget about the lack of options, fail!
Get BeejiveIM if you are a huge instant message user, you will be more than happy.
Hey TC guys, you’re missing this one badly.
There is NOTHING new about this. Many companies are doing this, and most have an iphone app.
The story here should be why there is an illusion of value for companies like nimbuzz, truphone, jajah, fring, vbuzzer, et al. They’re all kludges that find ways to avoid “high” international calling rates.
They avoid higher rates by local connect and termination, and then VOIP the long leg of the transport. But there are still costs. The second the carriers (reluctantly) lower their rates, these guys are out of business. There is NO long term value any of these guys can create. None. No technology value, no mkt share value, no service value, absolutely nothing.
The good news is all consumers will eventually benefit, in that these kludges do apply downward pressure on rates.
Shame on you TC for missing the real story with companies like this. It makes me question the depth of the analysis on other sectors you cover. It doesn’t take a lot of insight to see through this.
If I’m wrong about anything here, I ask the community to point out my errors.
This is one of the reasons that our service is getting so much traction – we’re making it easy for people to call for free.
Nice. Ad-supported I presume? Do you get enough calls to attract advertisers?
the new shake gesture to undo is neat from Iphone.
http://health.okguru.com
I have to agree with the VoIP experts who have commented. This solution seems to cobble a quilt based on half a dozen unstable services. As a result, the service is limited, confusing, unstable. There is no long term value for a a company like Nimbuzz except to sell the company quickly. @TC, that’s the only story. Don’t fall for the $25 million funding, 10 million users, and questionable 25% retention rate.
You can image all the junior partners at the VC firms that swore their research was bullet proof and convinced the partners (formerly working at the car wash or pushing fries) to invest in this company are are home proof reading their resumes.
Why in the world did they need $10M, especially before market testing?
Has anyone used an iPhone app which can offer a reliable skype-out call over wifi? Have experimented with Fring, IM+ and now Nimbuzz but all of them seem pretty flaky..
I dont understand how nobody gets it but Betamax have several sip services (nonoh, intervoip…) which are much cheaper than Skype, Nimbuzz, Truphone, Fring… and it works WITHOUT internet.
Only requirement is to have flatrate for landlines (in Germany everybody have this).
It works like this:
Sign up for nonoh, top up 10€ credit
On Nonoh.net website you can find a local access number.
Dial that number and after few seconds of assisting voice you put the number which you want to call, click # and you get connected. No internet requirement.
Price for calling international landlines are 0-1 cent, for mobiles 7-10 cents.
To make things simple you can just save ready numbers in you address book. For example:
030 3119 0404, 004988888888 (access number, number you want to call)
When you dial this combination, whole thing goes automatically.
If you go abroad, just buy local sim card, get local access number from nonoh and voila, cheap international calls everywhere.
So, we only need now good mobile application which can do all this in background.
Its cheaper, no internet required and better call quality (calls are made over normal phone lines, not internet)
I hope some iphone developer will recognize this and make it real.
I’ve been using Betmax for years now and I probably saved thousands of euros comparing with other voip services.
And no, Im not working for Betamax, I just like their product
Nice post! Check out my website as well http://macmaniapodcast.com.
You are relentless, stop doing that.
I didnt notice the point until Dj raised the point and you clarified it .
nimbuzz is very very good,easy to handle.but the problem is we can not call india from the nimbuzz because india is not in the list of those countries where we can use nimbuzz for voice call. i want to download nimbuzz dialpaid in my device nokia n 73, can i do it
where is the buzz icon for the iphone? It seems i cannot buzz my contacts. Please let me know ASAP
how can we use this software in mobile phone?
i already download this software.