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January 25, 2013

UK-based Truphone is on a Roll

The year 2013 will see the advancement of a lot of technology trends, but it will also see the expansion of a number of interesting start-up companies in the telecommunications space. One of them is London-based Truphone, a mobile VoIP company.

London-based Truphone launched as a start-up in 2006, with the introduction of its mobile VoIP application. In 2007, it demonstrated the first VoIP application on the Apple iPhone before launching a series of other applications for Apple's iPhone, iPad and the Google Android platform as well as RIM’s BlackBerry. Today, the company also offers GSM-based voice, text and data mobile services, which will soon be available in the U.S.

Last year, the company established a new Enterprise Development Center at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark, which joins its U.S. headquarters in North Carolina's Research Triangle Park. At present, in addition to the company’s UK and U.S. facilities, the company has additional operations in Australia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands and Portugal, and the company employs more than 350 people.

Mobility Techzone recently spoke with Adam Linford, head of labs at Truphone to discuss mobile enterprise trends and the future direction of the company. As the concept of BYOD, or “bring your own device,” becomes more popular in enterprises, companies that build mobile apps will need to keep the specific needs of these users in mind.

“Truphone has a SIM card offering which partners with a multi-platform mobile application suite of services,” said Linford. “We are perfectly geared up to service the needs of those companies that have embraced the BYOD attitude to corporate communications. Many of our future products and services, around areas such as provisioning and distribution, are being designed with BYOD in mind.”

Linford says that Truphone’s technology is especially well suited for companies whose employees do a lot of international roaming, which can get critically expensive and take a huge bite out of budgets. In fact, a study conducted last year found that the average monthly roaming charge for employees who travel internationally is over $1,000. Data roaming is even more expensive than voice calls, and this has caused a serious dilemma for organizations trying to keep a rein on costs. While many companies are taking steps like asking employees to use coffee shop Wi-Fi, the fact remains that new ideas are needed to eliminate high roaming charges.

Truphone offers a direct solution with its Tru Sim card, which works in over 220 countries, offers voice, text and data at very low rates and is available as a Micro and Nano SIM. Most network SIM cards can only hold one number on them, which is where the Tru Sim card differs from competitors. The company offers a unique technology, known as multi-IMSI, which allows the card to hold multiple numbers simultaneously. In addition, users can keep their existing numbers when they switch to Truphone at no extra cost.

It will be interesting to watch Truphone’s expansion into the U.S. in the coming year. While there are many options for high-quality mobile VoIP today, it’s safe to say that Truphone’s unique technologies will show us something we haven’t seen before.

To find out more about Truphone and Adam Linford, Head of Labs & Mobile Applications Development, visit the company at ITEXPO Miami 2013, taking place Jan. 29- Feb 1, in Miami, Florida. Linford is speaking during “Audio Quality in VoIP: Quo Vadis?” For more information on ITEXPO Miami 2013 click here.




Edited by Brooke Neuman


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