This method REQUIRES a WiFi connection and jailbroken iPhone!!!

Thanks goes to Unique311 at internettablettalk for first showing me how to do this on the Nokia N800/N810 Internet Tablets. I’m sure others came before him on the PC method. What’s new is it now works on the iPhone.

You need 3 accounts:

1) grandcentral at www.grandcentral.com (Edit: This should be your first check - they look to be closed for new users)
2) gizmo at www.gizmoproject.com
3) Fring on your iPhone www.fring.com

Watch gigafied’s video to get started:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWjPuL2TqHY

You don’t need to install Gizmo if you’re using just the iPhone. But free calling from the PC will require the softphone of Gizmo.

The extra step Unique311 shows is adding the gizmo number to each contact in grandcentral. For the iPhone, watch up to 1:32. By the way, you have to enter contacts that you want to call on your iPhone in grandcentral on your PC, and unfortunately that’s still a manual process. Here's Unique311's video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhJpS5doGZM

Now...install Fring. Instructions here:

http://www.fring.com/iphone/
Once you get Fring installed

Open Fring.
Tap “Communities”
Tap SIP
Enter your Gizmo username and password
Enter Proxy as: proxy01.sipphone.com

I then tap on the “Dialer”

Leave that open (Don't "Exit") and click the “Home” button to go back to the Springboard.

Open Safari.

Go to www.grandcentral.com/mobile

Log in.
Click “Contacts.”
Click a contact.

Click the word “call” next to the phone number. Fring will pop up and ask you to Accept or Decline. Click Accept and your free call is placed. (If you accidentally click the phone number, a black/gray screen pops up with the number and you can Cancel or Call. Cancel this. This is placing your call over the cell/mobile providers network = not free.)

It sounds complicated, but once you get setup and grandcentral bookmarked – it only takes a few seconds to make a call.

Fring is Beta, but it worked well on my one-hour free call from Berlin, Germany to Minnesota last night.

Cheers.

PS: Use the Gizmo softphone (just leave it open when calling from grandcentral) for free PC calls and similar VOIP phones on Windows Mobile and the Nokia Internet Tablets.

Not sure if grandcentral is still invite only, but can we not have a bunch of people begging for invites. Thanks.

Thanks for sharing, OP

Good information, but it seems like you need to unlock your iPhone to do this. You should probably put this in the title, or at least make it more clear in the description.

Personally, I think I'll hold off for a VOIP program to come through official iTunes software channels once the 2.0 firmware lands. Thanks for the tip, though.

firegod66 said:Personally, I think I'll hold off for a VOIP program to come through official iTunes software channels I don't see the powers that be allowing that to happen.

wow. this is pretty sweet. thanks OP

bdcook said:kronus said:firegod66 said:Personally, I think I'll hold off for a VOIP program to come through official iTunes software channels I don't see the powers that be allowing that to happen.

Excatly what I was thinking.

Actually, Apple has only said they would limit VOIP over the cellular network and allow it via Wifi.

Link

bdcook said:kronus said:firegod66 said:Personally, I think I'll hold off for a VOIP program to come through official iTunes software channels I don't see the powers that be allowing that to happen.

Excatly what I was thinking.

When they announced the SDK, Steve specifically said that they WOULD allow VOiP apps on the iTunes store.

I mean, its not that big of a deal...if you have an iPhone, when your in a WiFi area, it automatically switches over so you don't use any cellular minutes.

Although for iPod Touch owners, like me, with Wifi only, this may be worth a try. Now all I need is only one of those TouchMods mics....

aphexII said:bdcook said:kronus said:firegod66 said:Personally, I think I'll hold off for a VOIP program to come through official iTunes software channels I don't see the powers that be allowing that to happen.

Excatly what I was thinking.

Actually, Apple has only said they would limit VOIP over the cellular network and allow it via Wifi.

Link

Exactly, and as long as Gizmo or any other SIP program allows the input of the Gizmo account, you can use it for free. Today I think Fring is the only game in town for this. When an "Apple-approved" Sip client comes, if it isn't limited, then this method still applies.

wizecrack said:Great job. Thanks OP. Worked like a charm to me.

Although I did not have to use the grandcentral login and tap on call to place the call.
All I do is use the Fring and use the dialer to dial and it will call numbers immediately.

Thanks,

But that way aren't you paying for your call with your SIP service (i.e Gizmo)? With grandcentral it's free. (I know, because my Gizmo account has no credit).

In your grandcentral account (Accessed on your PC via www.grandcentral.com - not the mobile site) set your contact's settings to use your Gizmo SIP number to call out. You probably have it set to use your home phone.