Android’s missing SIP stacks prompts fresh VoIP rumor

**Mr Android** · 11-29-2007, 07:50 AM

27 November 2007 - 13:02

Although the carriers might not want you to play with it, many cellphones on the market today have at least fledgling compatibility with VoIP protocols. Significantly absent from the Android OS, however, are the SIP and IMS stacks that facilitate IP-based call initiation and quality-of-service management. It’s an omission that has led some to question Google’s intent toward non-traditional communication on Android-powered handsets, and others to suggest that the future of VoIP standards is not so tied-up as some of the companies already using SIP/IMS might claim.

“Maybe Google wants to replace SIP and IMS — or subsume them within Android. By leaving these standards out, Google can position Android as the default platform for mobile devices and once it gets its fingers around the carriers from the device side, it can then take over the ecosystems for SIP and IMS and move the service providers onto these systems — or whatever technology Google positions in their place” Stephen Wellman, InformationWeek

One possibility is that it could dovetail into the persistent rumors of Google acquiring popular VoIP platform Skype, which has always used a closed ecosystem rather than a more open, publicised alternative such as SIP. Of course, that would seemingly run contrary to the “open access” ethos behind Android and the OHA, but by omitting a defined VoIP technology they could argue that developers are free to load whichever of the many third-party SIP/IMS stacks onto their handset as they so choose.

Chris Davies for Google-Phone.com

**krush** · 04-05-2009, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Android

27 November 2007 - 13:02

Although the carriers might not want you to play with it, many cellphones on the market today have at least fledgling compatibility with Business Voip Phone protocols. Significantly absent from the Android OS, however, are the SIP and IMS stacks that facilitate IP-based call initiation and quality-of-service management. It’s an omission that has led some to question Google’s intent toward non-traditional communication on Android-powered handsets, and others to suggest that the future of VoIP standards is not so tied-up as some of the companies already using SIP/IMS might claim.

“Maybe Google wants to replace SIP and IMS — or subsume them within Android. By leaving these standards out, Google can position Android as the default platform for mobile devices and once it gets its fingers around the carriers from the device side, it can then take over the ecosystems for SIP and IMS and move the service providers onto these systems — or whatever technology Google positions in their place” Stephen Wellman, InformationWeek

One possibility is that it could dovetail into the persistent rumors of Google acquiring popular VoIP platform Skype, which has always used a closed ecosystem rather than a more open, publicised alternative such as SIP. Of course, that would seemingly run contrary to the “open access” ethos behind Android and the OHA, but by omitting a defined VoIP technology they could argue that developers are free to load whichever of the many third-party SIP/IMS stacks onto their handset as they so choose.

Chris Davies for Google-Phone.com

Very interesting!
Thanks for the post. It really gives me something to think about!
Cheers!

**balan** · 04-21-2009, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Android

27 November 2007 - 13:02

Although the carriers might not want you to play with it, many cellphones on the market today have at least fledgling compatibility with VoIP protocols. Significantly absent from the Android OS, however, are the SIP and IMS stacks that facilitate IP-based call initiation and quality-of-service management. It’s an omission that has led some to question Google’s intent toward non-traditional communication on Android-powered handsets, and others to suggest that the future of Voip Phone standards is not so tied-up as some of the companies already using SIP/IMS might claim.

“Maybe Google wants to replace SIP and IMS — or subsume them within Android. By leaving these standards out, Google can position Android as the default platform for mobile devices and once it gets its fingers around the carriers from the device side, it can then take over the ecosystems for SIP and IMS and move the service providers onto these systems — or whatever technology Google positions in their place” Stephen Wellman, InformationWeek

One possibility is that it could dovetail into the persistent rumors of Google acquiring popular VoIP platform Skype, which has always used a closed ecosystem rather than a more open, publicised alternative such as SIP. Of course, that would seemingly run contrary to the “open access” ethos behind Android and the OHA, but by omitting a defined Voip Service technology they could argue that developers are free to load whichever of the many third-party SIP/IMS stacks onto their handset as they so choose.

Chris Davies for Google-Phone.com

It is amazing what technology has come to...
Voip is definitely the way to go and the way to save a whole lot of money!!!

**marej** · 05-04-2009, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Mr Android

27 November 2007 - 13:02

One possibility is that it could dovetail into the persistent rumors of Google acquiring popular VoIP platform Skype, which has always used a closed ecosystem rather than a more open, publicised alternative such as SIP Voip Provider. Of course, that would seemingly run contrary to the “open access” ethos behind Android and the OHA, but by omitting a defined VoIP technology they could argue that developers are free to load whichever of the many third-party SIP/IMS stacks onto their handset as they so choose.

Chris Davies for Google-Phone.com

There is a lot to consider when trying to make a decision on this.
Do your homework and ask around to see what others use.

**jimm1909** · 05-07-2009, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by balan

It is amazing what technology has come to...
voip is definitely the way to go and the way to save a whole lot of money!!!

balan-

I would have to agree with you. My company switched to voip a couple of months ago and have seen a noticeable decrease in our monthly bill.

**Stryder** · 05-07-2009, 08:51 PM

Check out sipdroid - http://sipdroid.org/

Though it's in BETA, it's available for download and installs on a developer phone.

**balan** · 05-24-2009, 10:37 PM

Originally Posted by jimm1909

balan-

I would have to agree with you. My company switched to a Voip Provider a couple of months ago and have seen a noticeable decrease in our monthly bill.

I am glad that you are using voip and seeing the savings!
Spread the word...
Voip is it!!!!!

**tarasvp** · 07-08-2009, 01:27 PM

Big list of voip providers here.
I found some interesting...

**Rob88** · 09-10-2009, 12:48 AM

Originally Posted by jimm1909

balan-

I would have to agree with you. My company switched to a business voip provider a couple of months ago and have seen a noticeable decrease in our monthly bill.

The savings are real and the technology is catching on but it's going to be awhile before the majority of business owners fully trust switching to Voice over IP.