AT&T now supports iPhone VoIP over its 3G network

Everyone is having their say on the "AT&T is allowing VoIP now" story. But it isn't that huge a change in policy. It is really amounts to just a permission slip to Apple.

Let's get this straight. AT&T has always "supported" VoIP on its networks. If you ever used a non-iPhone smartphone on AT&T (why would you?), you'd know that Skype works fine. I used to use Fring for making Skype calls on my unlocked Nokia N95 for years. Never had an issue.

The problem is that AT&T made a deal with Apple — one of the many on both sides — that forbade Apple from letting VoIP applications run on AT&T's network. Or specifically:

"There is a provision in Apple's agreement with AT&T that obligates Apple not to include functionality in any Apple phone that enables a customer to use AT&T's cellular network service to originate or terminate a VoIP session without obtaining AT&T's permission."

AT&T's network supports VoIP calls. It wouldn't surprise me if AT&T did some QoS packet prioritization tricks to make VoIP packets a little slower than they would be otherwise, but it does work.

In fact, before Apple changed its OS to not allow Skype to go over 3G, I made a few calls over 3G. They sounded pretty good. Here's a little proof:

And ... if you've ever used your iPhone to tether the Internet to your laptop, you know you can make Skype calls from your PC/Mac remotely over AT&T's 3G network.

But, back to the point here. The announcement today isn't that AT&T is changing its network or routers in any way. It is just giving Apple permission (as stated above) to make one single phone able to carry VoIP traffic.

Apple will have to push an upgrade to its software that allows Skype, Fring, Vonage, Truphone and other VoIP clients work over 3G. Until now they've been Wifi only.

Also, there has been some concern (or scare tactics by AT&T) that VoIP would kill AT&T's already taxed network. Frankly, VoIP is a very light load. You can have two conversations over a typical old 56K dial-up modem.

The update shouldn't be that complex. There has been a jailbroken app or two out which applications like Skype (and Slingbox!) can access called VoIPover3g.

Speaking of Sling, when are AT&T and the FCC going to address that ban on 3G?