fring Review
About fring
fring is a mobile internet service and community that allows users to access and interact with a variety of communication services such as Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM®. Through fring, you can send and receive calls as well as message all of your contacts all will using your cellular data plan or a WiFi connection rather than use your minutes. You can even make affordable local and international calls to landline and regular cellular numbers using your SkypeOut/SkypeIn account or almost any VoIP service. fring is compatible with Symbian 8, 9.1, 9.2, Windows Mobile 5 & 6 and UIQ handsets.
| Basic Info | fring Answers |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | London, UK |
| Year Established | 2007 |
| Call Type(s) | Voice over WiFi (VoWiFi), Voice over 3G (Vo3G) |
| Compatible Phones | fring is compatible with all Symbian 8, 9.1, 9.2, Windows Mobile 5 & 6 and UIQ handsets. |
| Availability | fring service can be used anywhere you have cellular or WiFi network connectivity. |
| Free Calls | fring allows you to make free calls to all of your Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Yahoo! and AIM friends. |
| Phone Number | With fring there is no need for a new phone number since fring leverages your existing communications services. |
| Calling Rates | fring users can make cheap local and international calls to landlines and regular mobile contacts using your SkypeOut account or hundreds of SIP-based providers such as Eutelia, GizmoProject, VoipCheap, VoipStunt, Free World & SIPNET over fring, even from non-SIP enabled handsets |
| SMS | fring utilizes your IM clients, rather than SMS messaging. |
| Instant Messaging | With fring you can instant message your Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo! and AIM friends. |
| Special Features | fring users can send and receive files, in addition to setting up auto-roam so that fring automatically detects when you move from one WiFi hotspot to the next. |
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April 7th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
It does what it says on the tin.
Filled in all my details, and it just worked.
Some handsets don’t have proper support, so you’ll have to use your hands-free kit with it.
April 8th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
fring is easy to load, easy to use and has great features, including an integrated contact list, wide IM support, SIP, file transfer, and you can’t beat the price!
April 14th, 2008 at 12:34 am
That’s exactly the one I’ve been waiting for! Easy to use, free, big money server.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I’ve been using it since the day of launch. Already switched 2 phones and this is always my 1st choice of a voip application.
Space is always an issue on a mobile, if you are limited in space and looking for some must-have’s- this is definitely one of them, just watch your battery.
April 17th, 2008 at 5:00 am
Just d/l’d fring for my opened iPhone here in the US, and I love it already. Compared to other IM programs available for the iPhone, it’s up there. As far as Skype goes, I’m not a Skype user YET.
There are some features that need implementing, but the user forums over at fring.com are bustling with suggestions and the staff is great at keeping on top of the bugs and feature requests.
fring is an app with several options built in that Apple doesn’t have yet. There will never be Skype via Apple’s AppStore, but you can bet they have support for the big name chat programs. We’ll see what Apple does in June. In the meantime fring is on the leading edge!
April 26th, 2008 at 1:38 am
I use it for my Iphone. And I have skype and GTalk. Skype is great but only problem is that you cant talk on skype from Iphone to Iphone. One person must call from a P.C. But my friend and I managed to talk Iphone to Iphone by Gtalk. I expected to have problems since it is a pre release. I think these problems will be released. And if you use multiple services (skype and Gchat), all your buddies are on the same list and you dont know if they are on skype or Gtalk. But overall very happy with it.
May 3rd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
It does not work on UIQ phones
every when we try to call, it display that
“this phone is not allowed for VOIP CALL on GPRS mode.”
May 19th, 2008 at 7:20 am
hi i am intarested to make international call use FRING service,if is possible please get back back to me with proper information,how i can use this site? thank you
May 29th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
I tested Fring, and it does not work very well !!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 9:45 pm
I’ve been waiting for soooo long for a VoIP application for my iPhone, thanks fring!…
August 28th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
The best S/W I found in freeware category for Instant Messaging. Use it and you will love it. The only problem I saw was that it is a bit slow on my HTC Touch.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:32 am
For SKYPE from a mobile s60 - a top product…
September 26th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I have the same problem as Mr. Chirag Sheth says. The VOIP is not working on GPRS. Though the fring forum says it is fixed, in my case it is not working.
Beji
October 6th, 2008 at 4:27 am
[…] iPhone Application Now Available On Friday, fring, the mobile internet service and community that allows users to access and interact with a variety […]
October 17th, 2008 at 8:37 am
lots of delays and voice quality is bad
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:13 am
[…] good folks at fring, a mobile internet service and community that allows users to access and interact with a variety of […]
October 26th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Actually, it’s working very well, especially because I’m using it on a Nokia N82 at HSDPA speed: no delay, perfect sound, a lot of useful features…Roberto, from Italy
November 1st, 2008 at 11:48 am
I am using Fring in Saudi Arabia with a 3G connection via STC (Saudi Telecom rather Al Jawal) on a Nokia E51.
The only problem with Fring is that my Skype contact list is not loaded completely. I tried to solve this problem with the Fring support but up to now no solution.
The other problem is the unreliability of the 3G network by Saudi Telecom. If it’s running then it’s fine, but a few times during a week there a problems; maybe this is in the Western region (Yanbu) only.
Thomas
www.CheapestMobileCalls.com
November 9th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
This is a wonderful sotware….I use an HTC TOUCH DIAMOND and so far it has been good….But the sound quality is not good….i think that is not a prob because u use this to chat mainly……..A good ALLROUNDER Software
November 11th, 2008 at 2:29 am
We’re big fans of both apple and their iphone product here at ichromis.com. We’re all mac users and have a passion for helping our customers interface these devices with asterisk and the several other open source projects that are out there. Our cell phones are all 2nd generation 3G iphones and with all the buzz surrounding mobile VoIP applications, we decided to try out fring.
The reason fring has people talking is that it is the first application to offer mobile VoIP across different platforms. fring is described as: a mobile internet service and community that allows users to access and interact with a variety of communication services such as Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, Twitter, Yahoo!, AIM and any open SIP based VoIP service provider. So in contrast to truphone (which also has a client for the iphone and a handful of other mobile devices) this is a software client that allows you to make free mobile calls from your phone through any of the approved services as mentioned above.
We use Skype here at Chromis in addition to our Switchvox SIP server. So after a very easy installation and registering with fring, I plugged in both my Skype ID and SIP account settings (which are normally reserved for my counterpath eyebeam softphone). Both services registered immediately and I was able to place a test call to my colleague Brian via Skype. Aside from some tolerable echo, this went off without a hitch. We then did a SIP call from my fring extension to his Polycom IP550. Also no issues there. Call quality was great. We then initiated a SIP to SIP iphone conversation via fring on via our iphones. Again a little noticeable echo but definitely tolerable. My only complaint was the heat my iphone was generating after a 10 minute call. It doesn’t get this hot on a cellular call unless I’m on for over 30-40 minutes.
I then tried a SIP to PSTN call to my neighbors house, who, in order to thwart solicitors, requires you to enter your telephone number if the caller ID information is unknown. I found that I could not complete the call as I did not have a keypad to enter the number to punch through. So fring may want to take a look at a way to get the DTMF tones once a call is placed. I called back about 10 minutes later and the call went through. I’m still not sure what the how I was able to get through. So I told him the reason I was calling and he said that it wasn’t bad call quality, but a little off. He said it “sounded like I was calling from Berlin, like it was an international call”. He noted that he could understand everything that I was saying.
fring claims to be compatible with 3G, WiFi, GPRS, or Edge networks. According to Steve Jobs, AT&T has a policy banning VoIP over their 3G network . (See what happens when you try to use a 3G connection.) The error message in the photo reads: “Voice is not available with 3G connection type.” So unlimited internet does not always mean “unlimited”. At least apple iphone users get free wifi at Starbucks.
fring is a great application that has its little quirks, I probably won’t use it all the time, but if you see me in Starbucks drinking coffee while talking on the phone, it might not be the cellular network I’m talking on…
November 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
[…] to Go Ad Supported Earlier today, fring, the mobile VoIP service and community provider, announced that they would soon be introducing […]
December 17th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Its a wonderful piece of software. I installed it in my New Nokia E71. Its working fine. Im using it in Saudi Arabia. Its saving lot of money on my calls. Thanks
January 11th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Fring is a great app. For those who have voice latency, check your router/access-point QoS (Quality of Service) configuration and make sure the “Voice Packets” have the highest priorities.
March 28th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Even though fring’s features and sound quality are acceptable and are of the norm, it is for naught because the overall reliability is absolutely dismal and dreadful. I know it’s free but the fact they are putting it out there as a finished product because it’s so unstable and wracked with bugs and inconsistencies. Plus their lack of customer service makes you wonder if there’s a skeleton crew or caged monkeys at least.
April 28th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I have a Nokia E90 and tryed a few application and paid for one that was so unrealiable. This is free and works so wonderfully. I like how you can log onto everything at once with the addons. I travel alot so keeping contact is so important. I love the instant messaging on yahoo and MSN. I found it to be not power hungry on the E90 and run it all day without problems. I use Skype alot when calling overseas and this plugin is a must for me. I gave all 5’s as I found nothing wrong with this product. The writers of this application did their homework. You also have to remember this free and a quality product. Im surpised people giving low marks when other products cost and are not up to standard like this.
May 28th, 2009 at 6:26 am
easy to load, great price, easy to use, add-ons are terrfic. i didnt believe it would do what it said. i didnt believe it would be this awesome. FringLand!
June 18th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
The application is amazing and even more so considering its free. I use SIP a lot and the SIP packaged on my Nokia E71 was on again and off again, however when I configured it with fring no stability issues. Quite impressive! Other add-ons are good but would like to see more and perhaps more than just the barebones versions of some existing stuff (Hence the 3). The fact that you can use it with WiFi or GPRS/EDGE/3G makes it even more robust. The only reason why I gave a ‘3′ for Customer service is that I have not had to contact them. A must have for people on the go who want to be connected. Well done…
September 6th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Its great . I am following voip trends for a decade.
In mobile voip developments fring scores the best amongst all, great application . Have all my buddies of Gmail,yahoo and Skype together . From India with a GSM network voice calls are OK with a delay but clearly audible .
Worked in UAE, too .
Good job .
Try it you won’t reget.
Thanks …. Partha
October 29th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I’m using it with Wi-Fi and 3G connection works just fine. the best application from all other tested applications.
The option to use any SIP providers for local & international calls is one of the best
January 8th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
[…] VoIP calls? Hi Buddy, Nokia N96 and N78 were not going to have the native Nokia SIP client yet, fring has announced support for the fring application on the N96 as well as N 78. Regards, […]
February 4th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Amazing app. on the iPhone the Skype integration is genius. Only critisim is that it seeks to hang at times when re-launching the app.
Also a method within the app. of setting your status; online, away, eating biscuits etc. would be great. Overall it’s a very well thought out and useful app. Thanks!
March 24th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Big problems on android… no bluetooth or speakerphone support and way to low volume through earpiece.
No ability to dial touchtones once a call has connected prevents using many business phone trees…. totally worthless for making a call in this situation.
May 10th, 2010 at 7:04 am
The type of handset is a HP IPAQ Voice messenger S/N: 3CC932057Q, product nr FB142AT#ABH, Model nr RMN:HSTNH-F20C with Windows Mobile 6.1. When I try to make a phone call via my SIP account Internetcalls.com the sound of the caller who is talking is not to understand. I have tried it both with 3G UMTS and Wi-Fi. The fring test calling where you can give a message of 10 seconds does not work. I can hear the ‘fring voice’ bud not my voice as response
June 2nd, 2010 at 11:06 pm
For me, Rebtel is fabulastic!!!!fantastic and fabulous!!!
The best!
June 28th, 2010 at 1:21 am
I just got HTC evo and fring on this phone is working very slow and having problems to contact skype. I have tryed many times and cant make a call to my skype friends. Fring itself gos off line.
June 30th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Got my iPad, downloaded the fring app, connected to my TFX Connect account and it works like a dream. No static, wifi or 3G, works great. Good app, great pay as u go rates like 1c Canada, 1.5c US bye bye Telcos!!! Fring apps are amazing as fring to fring is free. Really easy to download and setup.
July 9th, 2010 at 2:27 pm
Fring, I dont know how it is but one thing i found that its
saying that some body else has taken my name as username.
its strange.
does anybody has such a experience?
August 11th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Doesn’t work on my Droid.
December 7th, 2010 at 11:53 am
So far Fring out has the most competitive rates for global calling. Added to that the application is quite stable now a days and voice clarity is pretty good. Strongly recommend for any VoIP users.
December 13th, 2010 at 1:47 am
calling rate is good .software system is also good.
but out going call system is very bad.third time i am mailing you.you dont clear my line.your service is very bad bad bad bad bad bad bad bad and busterd
January 9th, 2011 at 5:15 am
I can hear very well, but the person on the other side heear a loud bAck ground noise and the call breaks up. I will appreciate if this could be fixed. Thanks
January 19th, 2011 at 6:39 pm
I was happy using it, it saves me time of buying card.unfortunately the price starts low and increase everyday.it is like linear function.I usually check the rate because I don’t believe in initial prices.Compare to cards,it is very expensive.I will never use it again.
February 20th, 2011 at 1:35 am
Got my new Evo 4G and wanted to take it out for a spin…use that new Video to Video feature. Fring can only do that with another Fring account and not between any of the actual messaging protocols the rest of the planet uses (Live, AIM, Gtalk etc). I can’t speak to the sound quality since I’m using my actual cell phone to call people on my cell phone…LOL. My major complain with Fring is that their password reset service went down weeks ago and still isn’t fixed so I can’t get it running again…I switched to Nimbuzz. Sorry, Fring!
March 3rd, 2011 at 2:29 am
i tried to call but the signals goes out and the call get disconnected. i still hve balance on my accoutn. its soo bad ….
April 5th, 2011 at 3:19 am
its a scam. i called to my family cell in jamaica and got a fake message saying hold on wait..cough cough… someone on the line….. taking my credits.
thought i dial wrong. try it again and got the same message. same cough everything. Terrible service! So upset
May 4th, 2011 at 2:22 am
It’s a rip-off. I installed fring on my Nokia e73 and it was happy to take my money for “minutes”, but it fails to complete a VOIP call each and every single time.
DO NOT FALL FOR THE FRING SCAM!
May 5th, 2011 at 4:59 am
Fringout is fraud!!! They charge 5 times more than what they claim!
May 30th, 2011 at 5:16 am
best price, really easy to use and all what you need, but the sound quality is really low. I moved to skype…which is really expensive compared to skype but does what i pay for…a call with a good sound quality. after a finish my credit I will delete fring from my iphone.
July 31st, 2011 at 7:49 am
The main purpose I wanted it, is to make low cost, international landline calls from my iPhone.
I made many calls to 3 countries using Fring from my wifi, 3G and a friend’s wifi, every call was bad to extremely bad from the receivers side (voice cutting and broken), I could hear them very well.
Test call, or if I ring my landline in Australia is perfect.
I have been in touch with coustomer service for many weeeks, and they tell me it is from my side.
How is it from my side, if test call and calling my own landline is good.
A few times after calling on Fring and had to terminate because it got very frustrating on other side to understand me, I called using pennytel (higher price rate) and the quality was perfect.
September 7th, 2011 at 12:43 am
I’ve been using it heavily with family.. both voice and video. the call quality is as good as using a cellular (GSM) network. The video streaming is excellent but of course will only work if you have good wifi bandwidth or 3g (will not work with Edge). The voice will work with Edge which is something i havent seen yet with similar communication applications. I understand that the vision is to make it simple and intuitive, however, adding some emoticons to the messaging would improve it and prevent using multiple apps for different purposes. Thanks Fring and wish all the best and prosperity for your good work.
October 6th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
Sound Quality and Sound Quality and Sound Quality
October 17th, 2011 at 2:43 pm
i tried the program in Oman to call Arabian Country in Africa and Asia and it’s free cheap comparing with other VOIP programs but i didn’t try to contact customer service because i didn’t face any problem till now
the only thing that I’m mobile number not appear to the receiver or even mention the call came from Oman
March 29th, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Its just fake rates, they don’t charge those rates actually and most of the times the call gets diverted to don’t know where and tehy charge you heavily for that.
Just stealing people’s money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 14th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
help
June 14th, 2012 at 8:01 am
Waisted all my credit trying to call my girlfriend in sierra leone. She could hear me but I couldn’t. Money back please.
July 20th, 2012 at 11:34 am
I am using nokia c7 mobile, opareting system symbain bella. Fring not working. What can i do?