Working with mobile applications has ignited a keen interests in handset and mobile device design. I spend way too much time lurking in forums and reading blogs about new devices, their software, and new services that manufacturers are releasing.

I started to feel that this obsession was become a bit of a distraction, so I started looking at more productive diversions. Recently, I’ve been fascinated by Voice-Over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a cost saving measure.

Typically, I have used Skype to manage my long-distance calling, but in that I have never managed to convince my network of friends and family to use it as well. The fact that it is connected a computer is often cited as a key reason why it is not used more often by my wife.

Moreover, I have had shoddy quality with Skype, which I think has to do with it’s P2P (Peer-2-peer) model—so much so, that I has become more than “a bit annoying”. I would use iChat or Google Talk Voice more if I knew other friends that used them. Consequently, I felt that I needed to address both the medium (computer) and the transport path (Skype) in order to leverage the Internet and create some value to me and my family.

So I started researching straight up VoIP sevices. As it turns out, I have already had two devices capable of being VoIP phones (my Nokia n800 Internet Tablet and my Nokia E61i mobile phone). All I needed was a VoIP SIP-provider. I chose Voip.ms, a Montreal-based provider and I have been quite happy with the experience. No echo, really great voice quality—there really isn’t anything bad that I can say at the moment.

VoIP is a powerful tool. Here is what I’m doing with it:

1. Using it to make long distance calls at calling-card rates. No fees, no expiring credit—just no-nonsense pay-as-you-go.
2. Paying $1.49 USD a month for a Toronto-based phone number (Direct Inward Dialing or DID) as a second-home line, primary work line.
3. Setting up multiple devices to ring simultaneously when my new number is called. These devices will ring as long as they are connected to the Internet.
4. Configured a relatively inexpensive analogue-terminal-adapter (ATA) that converts a standard phone into an IP phone. I use the Cisco Linksys SPA2102.

Sure I pay for incoming calls—but at 1.5 cents a minute (USD). It’s so cheap. To top-it-off, I am billed at 6-second intervals.

The great thing about this is that the number follows you were you go. As long as I’m connected to WIFI, my mobile phone has 2 lines effectively—with the VoIP line allowing me to make calls without impacting the shared minutes I have between my wife and mother-in-law. Suck on that Rogers!

In the case of my mobile, I’ve configured the VoIP server to use my mobile number as the call-display. You can actually spoof a lot of numbers—kind of dangerous.

The ATA device is what makes this all accessible for me and my wife—I can use a standard cordless phone to make my calls—none of the hassle with Skype, headsets and microphones.

I’m pretty stoked about this.