We are excited to see Google launching their calling from Gmail. From our perspective, Google’s entry into the VoIP market is very positive, as many of the millions of users of Google’s services have not yet made calls via the Internet. Google now makes this possible, and many will see how much money can be saved and how easy it is. We hope that many of Google’s users also want to save money on calls and text messages worldwide from their mobile phones. Vopium makes this possible.

Unlike Google’s service, which requires a computer and a headset, Vopium works directly from the mobile, allowing users to make free and low-cost international calls, send low cost text messages and IM with their friends on Skype, Windows Live Messenger, Facebook, Google Talk, AIM, Yahoo! and ICQ.

We even offer users 15 free minutes and SMS to anywhere in the world to get started. If you are not already a Vopium user, you can register here

See Press Release here

Our thoughts go to the millions of people affected by the flooding in Pakistan. One-fifth of the country is currently under water with 20 million people affected by the disaster.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday that while he has visited sites of natural disasters around the world, he had never seen anything like the devastation created by the flooding in Pakistan. He said the disaster is worse than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the 2005 Pakistani earthquake combined.

Pakistan is in need of help and Vopium has decided to donate 10% of all revenue generated from Vopium users calling Pakistan to the Red Cross/Red Crescent and their relief efforts in Pakistan. Moreover we have decided to make SMS to Pakistan Free. The campaign starts today and last until 1 October 2010, where we will reassess the situation.

You can see our rates to Pakistan here

Version 3.0 of Vopium for iPhone is now available on the Apple App Store

Now you can see when your contacts are online on Vopium. A small Vopium logo is shown next to the contact, indicating that you can call the contact for FREE. You can also chat with your friends on Facebook, adding to the list of Skype, MSN, Gtalk, AIM, Yahoo, ICQ and Twitter. And you can choose to receive a push notification when someone sends you a chat message while the Vopium app is closed.

The update also includes a number of useful improvements such as e.g. SMS templates and core Twitter features like Retweet, Reply and Direct Messages. The update also solves the VoIP problem experienced by users after upgrading to OS4.

The ability to see when other Vopium users are online is a feature many users have asked for, and something we are very pleased and proud to add. The feature will soon be extended to other handsets starting with Nokia Symbian and the same goes for Facebook chat.

Multitasking will be added soon, but we have decided to postpone it until it provides for a truly improved overall user experience, which requires a little further fine-tuning.

You can download the new iPhone app here.
If you are not already a Vopium user you can register here

We are excited and proud to announce that Vopium has received an investment of USD 16.5 million from international telecommunications investor Raghuvinder Kataria, securing our economic foundation and allowing us to accelerate our international expansion.

Raghuvinder Kataria is a well-known and respected face in the telecom industry and was one of the early investors in Bharti Airtel, today one of the world’s largest mobile companies.

Having spent the last two years optimizing our product, platform and marketing, we believe the timing is perfect. Both we and the market are now ready for significant growth. We have already seen tremendous growth on iPhone during the last couple of months where we now have 4,000 downloads a day. We have reached 250,000 users across 49 countries, and our customer intake is growing by 30% a month. We now have the means to boost this growth even further across the different supported platforms incl. Android, Nokia, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and PC/web.

The Mobile VoIP market is about to take off and we believe Vopium is optimally positioned with the best mobile VoIP solution available in the market. Now we also have the financial backing to lead the growth in the this space.

Read the press release here

German mobile operator, E-plus has just confirmed in an email to us that they have blocked our access number in Germany with referrence to “significant network loads” and “disturbances of network quality”. The real reason is obviously that they want to protect their high margins on international calls.

We will take this up with the German regulatory authority first thing Monday. In the meantime, we have a solution for all you E-plus users: Open Vopium on your mobile and run a “live update” from settings. This will update the access numbers. You may find more guidance for your specific handset here

Thanks to all you users who were quick to inform us about the problem. If you are also upset about this, you can contact E-plus customer support here

You are also all more than welcome to help us by spreading the word and sharing this blog post.

Do you want to share the exciting moment with your friends and family members who are watching the matches live on 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP while you are sitting at home, glued to your TV screens?

With Vopium you can call South Africa during FIFA world cup for only EUR 0.03/min. As always there are no restrictions on the offer. You can call both mobile and landlines as long as you want until 11th July. If you are in South Africa and have access to WiFi you can avoid expensive roaming charges, calling home with Vopium Wi-Fi.

If you are not already a Vopium users you can register here. We give you 15 free min and 15 SMS to anywhere in the world to get started.

Let’s all share the excitement of FIFA WORLD CUP 2010 with Vopium!

Reed more here

We are pleased to announce that our browser based call & IM service is again available on vopium.com, following recent upgrades. The update includes: Improved voice quality, quicker connection time, text messaging, twitter integration etc.

To make calls from the web, simply log in to your Vopium account from any PC/browser, and choose Call & IM. You can make calls to any phone number in the world, including your existing mobile contacts. You have all your IM/Chat services and Twitter in one, and can call Skype, Gtalk and other Vopium users 100% FREE when they are online. Just make sure to allow Vopium to use your Microphone and Speakers when prompted. Contacts that are present online are high-lighted in your contact book, meaning that you can call them 100% FREE!

We are delighted to inform you that Vopium has been awarded as a 2010 Essential Android App by CNET UK under the best VoIP app category for Android phones. CNET UK, one of the most informative sites for technology geeks has chosen 16 essential Android apps of year 2010 from the ever-growing Android market.

The list of awarded apps also includes other useful applications such as Barcode Scanner (utility), Spotify (music), TripIt (travel), Twidroid (social networking), Google Maps (Map app) and many more. The VoIP calling trend from mobile phone is now becoming a necessity for people who want to save money on international calls.

Vopium beats competition here by providing a reliable solution on some popular android phones such as HTC Legend, HTC Desire and Sony Ericssion X10. The reviewer has also mentioned the generous bonus of 15 minutes and 15 SMS free on Vopium signup along with their various low calling packages.

For more details, read here

Now iPhone users can make FREE calls to Vopium users, Skype users and Gtalk users also outside Wi-Fi, using the 3G data network. You also avoid the local charge and the call set-up charge to your operator. Instead you use your data plan.

3G data/VoIP calls are disabled as default, but can be enabled from settings in the new Vopium app.

NB! We recommend that you only enable 3G data calls if you have a flat rate data subscription. We also strongly recommend that you disable 3G VoIP/data calls when travelling to avoid expensive data roaming charges.

See more about Vopium for iPhone here
Download the new iPhone app from AppStore here

3G VoIP/data calls are already supported on Nokia Symbian and Windows Mobile.

Apple’s cool new iPad will be here Saturday, April 3rd. Wouldn’t it be great if you could also make calls on it?

With Vopium you can!

Simply download Vopium on your iPad and you can make cheap calls to any phone in world, send text messages, talk with your friends on Skype, Gtalk and Vopium for FREE, chat with them on MSN, Yahoo, AIM, ICQ, follow them on Twitter etc.

All for FREE. We even give new users 15 free minutes & 15 free SMS to anywhere in the world to get you started.

Read more about Vopium for iPad here.

If you are not already a Vopium user and doesn’t have your iPad yet, register here