How to Set Up Windows Mobile Internet Calling

[adamz]

When Windows Mobile 6 was announced, one of the cool new features we noticed was the integrated Internet Calling capabilities. This would theoretically let us use our Windows Mobile phones for voice over IP calls, however, there was no obvious way to set this up nor was there any documentation about what services are supported. Furthermore, when Windows Mobile 6 devices started showing up, most of the carriers hid or removed the Internet Calling feature and we all forgot about it.

Today I found a number of threads on XDA-Developers about how to set this up.

So how does it work? After the very complicated configuration process, I have to say I am very pleased. I can now easily make nationwide and international calls over my WiFi network extremely inexpensively. Unfortunately, depending on network congestion and which SIP VoIP server you use, there may be a slight delay.

How is this better than Skype? Well, I can dial directly from my contacts address book, I can use Microsoft Voice Command to make calls, and it’s fully integrated with the native Windows Mobile dialer. Also, it works with a Bluetooth headset, which is pretty important for me.

See below for more information and links to the instructions.

[adamz]

The primary thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=299950) lists some instructions for provisioning an SIP based VoIP account. If you do not have the “Internet Calling” today screen item, you can install it by downloading the WM6VoIP.CAB (ftp://xda:xda@ftp.xda-developers.com/Hermes/WMXL_Support_Files/WM6VoIP.CAB) as recommended in that thread, however the newer Custel VoIP CAB at the bottom of this post (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1237207&postcount=1) works much better.

After you get the VoIP support back into Windows Mobile 6, you have to sign up for a compatible SIP VoIP service. There are many out there. I decided to try VoIPBuster (http://www.voipbuster.com).

Next you have to figure out how to get your account settings into your Windows Mobile 6 Pro phone. The instructions for setting up your SIP account (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1191513&postcount=1) are a bit complicated, so some one created an SIP Configuration Tool (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=303493), however I hear there are mixed results when using that tool. I used the original provision instructions and created a CAB file that will install my SIP settings and log-in information.

Now, you’re not done yet. You still have to configure the dialing rules. You can find a good explanation here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=1194545&postcount=52). Basically, you have to edit the ipdialplan.xml file located in your device’s Windows folder in order to dial the numbers in your address book correctly. The post recommends using Total Commander, but I just copied the file to my desktop, edited it, deleted the one in the Windows folder and copied the edited one into the same location. Make note that you have to do a soft-reset in order for the changes to take place.

Some VoIP services that seem to work are:
VoIPBuster (http://www.voipbuster.com)
SIP phone (http://www.sipphone.com/)
Free World Dialup (http://www.freeworlddialup.com)
SparVoip (http://www.sparvoip.de)
Freephonie (http://www.freephonie.org)
VoipStunt (http://www.voipstunt.com)

[Jaime Rivera]

Wow Adam!

Would this turn your phone radio off while on an internet call over Wi-Fi or are you still able to receive GSM calls? Meaning, can both work simultaneously or do they have to work separately. Would there be a possibility of it working over Edge?

If I understood it correctly, This would actually mean that while on roaming, I could simply switch to internet calls over the hotel's Wi-Fi connection and save some money :D.

Cheers!

[adamz]

Wow Adam!

Would this turn your phone radio off while on an internet call over Wi-Fi or are you still able to receive GSM calls? Meaning, can both work simultaneously or do they have to work separately. Would there be a possibility of it working over Edge?

If I understood it correctly, This would actually mean that while on roaming, I could simply switch to internet calls over the hotel's Wi-Fi connection and save some money :D.

Cheers!

No, the phone radio remains on. I can definitely still receive GSM calls while the Internet Phone account is selected, but I haven't tried actually being on a VoIP call while receiving a GSM call. I would expect it to just show up as a second call coming in just like regular call waiting, but I haven't tested that yet.

There is a possibility of it working over EDGE or 3G:


To activate Internet Calling over 3G (thanks Sleuth255 & Golfman),
go to the HKLM\Comm\RTC\AdapterTypes with a registry editor (like Total Commander),
now delete both the "1" and the "2" values that are here,
next reset your device and Internet calling will connect over the data connection for your phoneservice.


So yes, you can save a lot of money by using the Internet Phone while you're at a WiFi spot. The VoipBuster service that I signed up for gives you 120 days of free calling (to select countries) when you buy 10 Euros worth of credit. After the 120 days are up, you still have 10 Euros worth of calls (maybe 1000 minutes or so). Then you buy another 10 Euros and get another 120 days of free calls. 10 Euros is about $15 USD. VoipBuster does not support incoming calls at this time though, but I don't care about that. There are other VoIP services that can do that if you want.

But yeah... if you need to call some one when you're in another country, find a free WiFi spot and you're golden!


Also note that you have to keep the PDA on and the WiFi connection active in order for this to work. If it goes off into sleep mode while you're on a VoIP call, the call gets ended!

[Jaime Rivera]

Great!

So if the Edge or 3G connectivity does work, the device could go to standby and you're still connected :D! That said, adding incoming calls to a unlimited 3G plan that you can always leave active could somehow enable you to practically carry two phones in one.

Golden... truly golden!

[Rainman]

Adam gave me call using this setup earlier today. The sound quality was excellent! And as Adam mentioned, there seemed to be a 1 second delay from when hes spoke and when I would actually hear what he had said. Otherwise, very cool.

[playdeep]

Doesnt work with Vonage? Already have an account with them.

[adamz]

Doesnt work with Vonage? Already have an account with them.

If you look through the thread at XDA-Developers it seems that some people did get it to work with Vonage, but then towards the end it sounds like Vonage made some changes so that it would not work. So I think Vonage is trying to be all proprietary about it and not allowing standard SIP VoIP phones to work on their network.

[playdeep]

I am confused,....on the voipbuster site it says it is free(for US cell and landlines, and Canada landlines at least...) and then in this thread you say it costs money.

[adamz]

Yeah, there's an asterick next to the "Free". When you sign up, I guess you only get 10 free calls, and then you have to buy some credit at which point you get unlimited free calls (300min/week) to the free countries for 120 days and then after that you just use up your credit for another 1000 minutes or so, then fill up again for another 120 days of free calls. So I guess it's not really free, but still very inexpensive. We're talking like $15 USD for well over 4 months of calls.

[Kevin Lee]

I'm using Samsung M4650 WM6 Pro version in Korea. Is it possible to use WM6VoIP?
This Samsung M4650 is normally called i710 or i718 in USA.

Is there any idea to use it?

[Dapth]

Hello,

Has anyone encountered a problem that there is no voice?
I mean that I have successfully configured my phone. And I'm able to place a call. My collocutor replies but... I don't hear him and he doesn't hear me.

Thanks.