IPhone Client Applications Make This a Great Time to be an iPhone Owner

Today, when we think of iPhone client applications (app) what comes to mind are iPhone client SIP applications. This is because the capability to access voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) is a relatively new development for the iPhone. SIP (session initiation protocol), a powerful multimedia protocol, is far from new and applications for other platforms have been widely used for a long time. In the iPhone client application world SIP has not be widely available until recently. This is due in large part to Apple’s reluctance to support third party development since widespread use holds the potential to erode AT&T’s traditional cellular talk time market share. Lucky for users, iPhone client applications that allow for telephony via wireless networks (wi-fi) are here now. Skype, for example, recently announced its very own iPhone client app. This tool is actually available for download from the Apple store. There are many other SIP iPhone clients available for download as well, some from the Apple store, others from third party sites.
The availability of iPhone client SIP over wi-fi is a compromise solution that allows AT&T to retain its traditional cellular talk time market but gives users access to VoIP. While it may not be a perfect solution, it is a welcome one since iPhone users have been demanding access to VoIP since the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. SIP iPhone client apps seemed slow in coming but are now bursting on the scene and there are plenty of different VoIP iPhone clients to choose from.
If you are new to the world of Internet telephony you may not understand why having iPhone client apps for SIP is so important to users. The biggest appeal is the potential to save money. Since SIP/VoIP can help you avoid using traditional cellular minutes and make long distance calls to virtually anywhere in the world without paying toll charges, the potential for savings is huge. This technology is already widely used in the non-Apple arena so iPhone users were eager to get caught up.
We have only discussed iPhone client apps that have to do with talking over the telephone. There are many other types of iPhone client apps as well. When you use social networking sites such as Twitter or Facebook you are using an iPhone client app. You are also using an iPhone client app when you instant message or use WordPress for iPhone. The list goes on an on and it continues to grow. If we remember how new the iPhone really is, it becomes apparent that we have just scratched the surface of what is possible. We should also remember that most iPhone client apps that have been developed are based on 3G technology. We can only imagine what may happen when 4G is put in place on a wide basis.
It is an exciting time to be an iPhone owner. New, imaginative, and useful iPhone client applications come onto the market every day and protocols such as SIP are just opening up. New applications will continue to add functionality and creativity to the device. So as you try out new applications, don’t get too comfortable. Something newer and cooler is sure to be on the market soon.