Fring VOIP and chat client goes mainstream

The iPhone app Fring , which acts as a VOIP client for Skype and other internet phone networks, as well as a voice and chat interface into IM networks like AIM and Yahoo,
is now available for free to everyone. Previously it only ran on Jailbroken iPhones, severely limiting its audience.On the iPhone, Fring can read both your IM and Skype buddy lists as well as the contacts in your phone's address book, and when you select
a contact, you get the option of calling him or her by SIP call, Skype, or standard cellular. VOIP calls obviously don't count against your cellular minutes, but you do need to have a WiFi connection to make the calls. The biggest challenge for Fring users is that it can't notify you of incoming calls or chats, nor indicate your presence to buddies, when the app is not actively running in the foreground on your phone. Apple
has yet to provide background notification capability to iPhone developers, although we keep hearing it will be in an upcoming release.

See also: Top 10 VoIP services