Review: Fring’s Push Notifications with SIP, Google Voice, Skype

DisclaimerThese tests were done on a 1st gen iPod touch in Canada. Skype results may not be accurate as Skype is not supported in Canada.

Fring has just released a new version of their iPod Touch/iPhone client that includes push notification support. I thought I’d try it out using my 1st gen iPod touch (no mic so no talking, but I can receive and hear calls), and my array of VOIP programs. They’ve made some nice progress, but it’s not quite there yet.

Test Setup:

Test Methodology:

I used my cell phone to call various combinations of my SIP number, SkypeIn, and Google Voice with skype and fring in various states to test push notifications and the ability to receive calls.

Results:

SkypeIn

SkypeIn Comments

Push notifications seem to work: However, Skype had to be running on my PC with my account logged in or else the call would go straight to skype voicemail. The notification would still come in, and I could launch Fring (or Skype) to take the call, but it would be too late. Having Skype running on my PC seemed to let the Skype servers think there was some chance someone would pick up the call. This would let me launch Fring, but Fring never connected the call and I was just brought to the history screen: At this point my cell phone was still receiving a ringing tone, PC Skype was still indicating a call, and Fring was doing nothing. If Fring or Skype were already running on the iPod (defeating the point of push notifications), the push notification would still come in, I could ignore it, and then each client could connect to the call properly. If Fring or Skype were not running, the push notification was ignored, and then the client application started manually after the call had been placed, neither app could connect to the call. It seems push notifications will let you know someone is calling, but calls can only be connected if the app is running when the call is placed.

Fring Push Notification Pops Up Fring Launches, Does Nothing

Google Voice

Google Voice Comments

There are a few advantages to using Google Voice for this, and a few disadvantages. First, when calling through Google Voice, the call never goes straight to voicemail, and skype is not required to be running on the PC. The notifications still come in, and I can launch Fring, but it still fails to connect. My cell phone keeps getting a ring signal until the Google Voice voicemail picks up.

If Skype is running on the iPod, a Fring push notification still comes in. If it is ignored Skype still fails to pick up on the call and it eventually goes to voicemail.

The disadvantage to using Google Voice is when you answer the phone you are presented with a menu of options for how to interact with the call. You can either answer it, let it go to voicemail and listen in, ignore it, etc, and you make your choice via the touch-tone dial pad. If Fring is running on the iPod, the call to Google Voice comes through, is connected and the call goes to the menu. The Fring client right now does not support in-call touch-tone tones so none of the options are selectable and the call just goes to voicemail.

SIP

SIP Comments

The SIP results are somewhat interesting. If Fring is running everything works as advertised. I can receive the call and talk normally. If however, Fring is not running, nothing happens. There is no push notification and the call goes straight to voicemail.

Conclusion:

The Fring devs have been great about being active and up to date with adding features, and push notifications is one of them. While Fring may work well with push notifications for non-voice applications, all they did for me was notify me (instantly mind you) that someone was calling. I was never able to connect to a call for which I received a push notification. It seems some work still needs to be done on this front, but progress is being made.

Background:

What’s the deal with push notifications?
Push notifications are apple’s way of allowing applications to run in the background on the iPhone without actually running. An example might be an instant messaging client. Without push notifications, if you close the IM client, you won’t receive any messages, and won’t have any idea that someone is trying to contact you. With push notifications enabled, when your friend sends you a message, it is “pushed” to your device and you get a notification that someone is trying to IM you. You can choose to ignore or react to the notification.

What do they mean for VOIP applications on the iPhone/iPod touch?
Push notifications will allow a user to receive a VOIP call even when their VOIP client software isn’t actively running on their device. Without them it’s sort of like having your phone on silent; you’ll only know someone is calling you if you have it open and are staring at it. A push notification will ring your VOIP client if you are playing a game, browsing, or just have your device sitting on the desk (if it’s an iPod touch, your screen has to be active and the wifi has to be on).