wifi only phone a viable alternative?

[BlahBlahYouToo]

with google voice, skype, other VOIP apps available on smartphones, would it be possibly to bypass a traditional carrier and use WiFi to make calls?

lets say Wifi is plentiful around you (pittsburgh for instance), or you scarcely use a phone.
is this a viable alternative?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Why not? Grab an iPod Touch, download Skype, get a Skype number.

I have a friend at work that uses his all the time, he does FaceTime chat as well...

 

[SunnyD]

Yep, sure is. In fact, that's for the most part how I've been using my phone(s) for the past several months. I don't carry a voice plan, or if I do it's just prepaid (nice to have just in case). I use Google Voice + Sipdroid. Personally, I don't talk on the phone much anyway, so the solution works. Right now I'm actually trying the iPad data plan on my phone... unfortunately while 1900MHz UMTS (3g) on AT&T is available here in Huntsville, I'm barely on the edge of the tower's range it seems while I'm at work, and I get zero coverage at home on it, which was a hope (I'm on a T-Mo Vibrant, so I can only get 3g on the 1900MHz band on AT&T).

But like you, I'm near wifi more often than not, so making calls is still pretty easy to do.

BTW, an iPod Touch won't work - you'll need a separate mic. Buying a cheap old iPhone is a better deal... plus if you end up with a 3g or better you can hop on the iPad data plan and get voip even when you're not around wifi. I did the math, and for $25/mo that 2GB equates to roughly 3000 voice minutes using VOIP (minus any bandwidth you use for data during the course of the month of course).

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

i'm under the impression that the new touch has a mic, in order to use facetime.

how do you get your ipad data plan onto the old iphone?
both can use simultaneously or you have to bounce the SIM back and forth?

 

[SunnyD]

i'm under the impression that the new touch has a mic, in order to use facetime.

how do you get your ipad data plan onto the old iphone?
both can use simultaneously or you have to bounce the SIM back and forth?

You need an iPad sim, activated (or hacktivated) for an iPad plan. You'll need to swap sims if that's the direction you want to go.