Here is the new version of my app, Siphon for iPhone and iPod Touch 2. Remember back in January 2008, Siphon was the first public version of VoIP/SIP for iPhone OS 1.X. It worked for the iPod Touch 1 (jailbreak) with the Touchmods microphones, in February/March 2008 Siphon was used for iPhone with French ADSL Provider. Since there were several versions for iphone but always with headset, because open source SDK and iPhone OS 1.X didn’t allow to access to the audio device.

Siphon is a SIP/VoIP client for the iPhone and iPod Touch 2 that allows you to save money on calls when WiFi coverage is available. You can enable SIP/VoIP on 3G/Edge network. But before you enable this option, you should read your mobile subscription, several mobile providers forbid VoIP on their data network.

Siphon allows you to make calls trough SIP providers all over the world using an interface similar to that of the iPhone. Unlike other applications, Siphon is a true SIP client, and connects directly to your SIP provider. Siphon uses the address book and favorites on your iPhone.

Siphon is already translated in 7 languages (English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Danish). If you want translated in new language, you can contact me here. The parameters of several SIP providers are described here. This list can be extended with your information. And you can follow or create issues on my site.

Using Siphon is free for the moment, but I think this type of application can be sold to 4€. So if you appreciate this application, you could donate by Paypal button in settings.

Since Apple provided the SDK and AppStore, Siphon has been ported on this environment with all limitations we know. Siphon has been submitted 4 times since October 2008. But the first three times Apple refused for different reasons:

• Bad behavior of the interface,
• VoIP on 3G/Edge (no test, they just read a message)

All the times, I modified (if necessary) and extended Siphon functionalities without success. I submitted for the last time in December. Since December, 7 2008 I have no news from Apple.  It’s not completely true. The December 7th, Apple asked “unexpected additional time for review”, and since of that: nothing.

It seems that if you use SupremePreferences or ExtremePreferences then Siphon settings are not displayed.
The solution is to deactivate SupremePreferences or ExtremePreferences, and to define your SIP parameters. When all parameters is ok, you can activate your extension.

1) You can install appstore apps larger than 10mb over the 3g
2) You can use Voice over IP apps such as Fring on 3G! (Think free phone calls, no minutes, everywhere you have 3G).

By default, his app only activates itself when you load Fring or Appstore.

From the developer:
This MobileSubstrate library can trick any application into thinking that it is on Wifi even though it is on a cellular data connection. There are a lot of possible uses for that, but for me the main use is being able to use VoIP programs like Fring over 3G. You can configure what apps get tricked by adding the app’s bundle identifier to “/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/VoIPover3G.plist”. Currently, the default is to trick only appstore and fring. If you remove or rename the VoIPover3G.plist ALL applications will be tricked. This is not recommended though, because for a lot of apps its makes sense to know whether they are on wifi or 3G.

If you use it for VoIP, it might be that your internet provider blocks the ports that are needed for the application to work. This cannot be circumvented by this library.

Note: If your provider forbids VoIP and catches you and you have to pay for it, I am not responsible!

This is cool enough that I am adding it to the ongoing “reasons to jailbreak” list.

Update (10/25/2008): Just released an update that adds iTunes store and Truphone by default. Truphone is another VoIP client so if Fring doesn’t work for you, you can try this one.