Vonage to offer Facebook users free VoIP calls via 'Vonage Mobile' app

General

Today, Vonage announced the Vonage Mobile application for Facebook. The new app will allow users to, “make free mobile calls to all of their Facebook friends who [also] have the app [installed], anywhere in the world, directly from their friends list, with a single touch.” The application is currently available for the Android and iPhone platforms, works on Wi-Fi as well as 3G/4G, and — obviously — requires a Facebook account. The Vonage Mobile app will automatically import and categorize your Facebook friends-list by who is available for voice calls versus text chat. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Vonage Gives Facebook Users a Voice

New Mobile Application Provides Free, One-Touch Calling For Facebook Users Worldwide

HOLMDEL, N.J., Aug. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ – Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE: VG), a leading provider of high-quality voice and messaging services over broadband networks, today introduced the Vonage Mobile application for Facebook. This new service allows users to make free mobile calls to all of their Facebook friends who have the app, anywhere in the world, directly from their friends list, with a single touch.

The downloadable application is free to get and free to use. The new service enhances the ability to connect with Facebook friends through the addition of voice calling. It is available for iPhone, iPod touch and Android devices. And the service works over Wi-Fi and 3G /4G networks in most countries.

The new service is easy to use. The app works with a user’s existing community of Facebook friends, so there’s no need to remember screen names or to input numbers. The application eliminates dialing – users can just click on a friend and start talking. When placing a call, the friend’s profile picture and status update display on the screen.

“The Vonage Mobile app for Facebook is a tangible example of our commitment to deliver extraordinary value and a better communications experience for individuals and their social networks, across broadband-enabled devices, around the world,” said Marc Lefar, Chief Executive Officer of Vonage Holdings Corp. “This is just the start. In the future we will expand on this service to include a wide range of integrated voice and messaging services that change the way people communicate.”

How does the Vonage Mobile Application for Facebook work?
The Vonage Mobile application is simple. It’s simple to download, and so simple to use that we have eliminated the need for dialing altogether. To get started, the user:

  • Downloads the app from the iTunes Store, Android Market, the Vonage fan page on Facebook or vonage.com/talkfree.
  • Enters Facebook ID and password (one time only).
  • iews Facebook contacts after they are automatically loaded. They’ll be grouped by friends who can be called for free and friends available for instant messaging on Facebook. A Vonage logo will appear next to the names of friends who have downloaded the app.
  • Invites additional Facebook friends to get the app at the Vonage Fan Page on Facebook or vonage.com/talkfree.
  • Touches a friend’s name from the Call Free list to make a free call anywhere in the world; no need to be online.
  • Rings the phone for incoming calls, even if the application is closed.

This new service continues Vonage’s commitment to be the leader in low-cost communication services that connect individuals and social networks through any broadband device, worldwide. The application can be downloaded from the Android Market in 48 countries and from the iTunes Store in 87 countries. Users who don’t have an unlimited data plan should check with their carrier to see if any charges apply.

To become a fan on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/vonage. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit http://www.twitter.com/vonage.

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26 Comments
  • patrick

    Sounds better than skype. When is google voice gonna get in in this kinda application

    • marc

      i think gv is working towards this and the phone companies are trying to block them. if every country had gv then you could call gv to gv and not need international long distance rates!!!!

      • patrick x

        same here, wish they were there already. Even though using GV goes towards my minutes for me it is still the best integration i’ve seen on a phone in a while. Although it is fun to see the translations from voice mail, it is getting better.

  • bringit

    Looks pretty sweet.

  • Sohail

    I have used it and the voice quality is very good.

  • ohmy

    effing awesome!

    now im waiting for the catch…..vonage has to make money off this somehow right?

    • Cha_pimp

      Facebook has to be paying them… This might drive the final few people who refuse to use facebook, to actually do it… everyone likes saving minutes on their plan…

      Soon everything will be based on facebook.. I bet the people who Mark stole the idea from are realll pissed now lol

  • Ronaldo

    Magic Jack for MySpace is 10x better than this.

    • Barack Hussein Obama

      myspace sucks.

  • SamIamIam

    I bet this is giving them access to all your contacts and facebook info. And they sell that to advertisers.

  • hm.crespo

    Works well on EVO, needs some work though as I couldn’t use it on 4G.

  • ohmy

    blackberry???

    • Mike

      HAHAHA!

    • Mike

      Yeah, after the StarTac gets it.

      • ISLAPU

        There is always a hater…

  • http://facebook hatem

    thnx

  • ohmy

    glad to see @ least sum1 got my joke
    nifty feature and will be important for people who call OS all the time.

  • Sonar_Chris

    This is my answer for when I get deployed over seas. I’m on Verizon and since there is no CDMA over seas, with this app I can call my wife over wifi for free when the Navy deploys me. Thanks Vonage and Facebook, you made this Sailor’s deployment.

  • NumbersGuy

    Vonage is duplicating what another overseas (German?) provider announced early this year. I remember the headlines referred to free Android to Android calls, using the company’s app.

    Anyone recall the name of that firm?

    • NumbersGuy

      I remember now: It’s Rebtel from Sweden

      • Dave Lister

        I’m pretty sure the Rebtel app doesn’t route calls over the data network though, so it still ends up using your minutes. The “free” part of the Android to Android calls is there’s no international long distance charges.

  • http://www.phone-system.org voipsipnews.org

    cue lots of phone calls from losers you thought you’d seen the last of…

  • Joey T

    Vonnage is still in business?

  • thehotbreadguy

    Phone calls from losers…right you are. At this point there is no way to screen them out if you don’t want them to call. Just ignore the call, I guess. Until now the “friends” who are on your list just to pad your numbers couldn’t contact you by voice if you didn’t provide them your phone number. Now you are available to ALL of them until FB or Vonage figures out a way to keep them from calling you. BTW, I have this and it works reasonably well.

  • Tyson

    wait for vonage customers only? How are they making money on this? I’m glad I left that stock only.

  • unchol choi

    ì•„ë ¹

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