VoIP comes to the iPad

The iPad's use and adaptability as a communications platform has been stressed by VoIP provider Truphone, which has created a VoIP application for the device, it has been widely reported.

Although the iPad's hefty size and weight make it relatively impractical to use as a phone, the deployment of the software by Truphone helps to demonstrate the broad range of options which gadget enthusiasts can get out of VoIP systems.

The application gives users free calling to other Truphone and/or Google Talk users, using Wi-Fi.

Due to the low cost of VoIP-to-VoIP calling, this dramatically cuts the cost of calling on the iPad to simply the users' Wi-Fi subscription, eschewing typical phone bills due to VoIP traffic running over the internet, rather than traditional telecom infrastructure.