CES: App That Adds Second Number to Your iPhone Nears Major Milestone
6:00 am, January 8th, 2010, Leander Kahney
Toktumi CEO Peter Sisson demonstrates his Line2 app, which adds a second phone number to the iPhone.
LAS VEGAS — Peter Sisson is the CEO of Toktumi, a San Francisco company with a cool app that adds a second phone number to your iPhone. He kinda looks like Roger Sterling, the silver-haired, hard-drinking, hard smoking character from Mad Men.
Except Peter isn’t smoking, and he isn’t drinking. But he’s certainly got the same moxie. Sisson borrowed someone’s badge to gain entrance to an exclusive, invite-only CES event so that he could pitch a new version of his iPhone app to some of the hundreds of press in attendance. I’m glad he did, because it’s a doozie.
The Line2 app handles incoming and outgoing calls just like the native telephone functions on the iPhone. If someone rings your Line2 number, the iPhone rings, wheter the Line2 app is running or not.
Toktumi’s Line2 iPhone app is a “virtual” phone service that adds a second number to your iPhone. Aimed at business users, it allows you to keep your iPhone number for friends and family, and give your Line2 number to business contacts.
The app is already in the app store, but a major update is winding through Apple’s approval process. If the updated app is approved next week, it will be the first third-party app to offer telephone calls over cell networks AND Wi-Fi.
It’s a big step for a “virtual” phone service like Toktumi, transforming it into a truly alternative telephone service that rivals the built-in telephone functions of the iPhone.
In other words, you get a second telephone number that offers incoming and outgoing calls, cheap international rates, and visual voicemail just like the iPhone. The app doesn’t have to be running to accept a call — if someone rings your Line2 number, your iPhone rings as normal.
Oddly, it was this replication of “core functions” that Apple cited to the FCC as the reason it rejected Google’s Voice app. An app that makes calls just like the iPhone might confuse users, Apple told the FCC.
But it now seems clear that Apple rejected Google’s app not because of customer confusion, but because of Google.
“It’s clear that Apple rejected the Google app for competitive reasons,” said Sisson as he demoed his app for me. “It’s Apple’s sandbox, particularly now that Google has the Nexus One.”
Line2 offers much the same functionality as the Google Voice app, but Apple likely doesn’t see it as a competitive threat. It’ll offer everything in Google Voice (except SMS) – and more. It offers lots of business features such as caller ID, call rejection and re-routing, and conference calling.
It also works on the cell network when away from Wi-Fi or in the car, unlike rival VOIP services like Skype and Vonage.
(Correction: Vonage offers outgoing calls over cell and Wi-Fi, a feature introduced in October, but incoming calls only on the cell network, not over Wi-Fi).
The addition of Wi-Fi calling is a major boon, especially for iPhone customers who live in cell network dead zones. Wi-Fi calling also offers a cheap alternative to expensive overseas roaming charges.
“And you get to pay for it,” said Sisson, laughing. “That’s how we make money but you get support and lots of uptime. There’s also someone to call. With Google, there’s no one to call if something goes wrong. Google Voice is a great consumer app but that’s why we call this a ‘pro’ app.”
There’s a chance the app won’t be approved. Sisson was in touch with Apple’s Phil Schiller several months ago. He asked Schiller, the de facto head of the approval process, if it was OK to add Wi-Fi calling. Schiller replied with a noncommittal email saying there are other phone apps with that feature but he couldn’t guarantee it would be approved. Nor could he provide guidance. If the update isn’t approved, it’ll be a major blow, said Sisson. “You have to read the tea leaves and take a risk.”
Sisson is crossing his fingers it will be approved next week and be available for download in early February. Around the same time, Toktumi will be releasing a Mac desktop application that will make calls over the web, as well as offering customization and management features.
“It’s like Skype but it’s all unified,” said Sisson. “It works on your PC, your iPhone and your land line.”
Posted by Leander Kahney in Apple, News, iPhone, iPhone Apps | Comment on this article
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I think I should buy some stocks of Toktumi if the app manages manages to pass Apple’s screening tests
Hal, on January 8th, 2010 at 7:09 am
Another non UK app
Sean, on January 8th, 2010 at 7:22 am
The Vonage iphone app does calling over 3G and WiFi
InTheKnow, on January 8th, 2010 at 11:42 am
It will never make it to the app store. If they approve this they have to approve Google Voice.
firesign3000, on January 8th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
@ firesign3000. I wish it was the truth what you say.
Dont be surprised as the hands of Apple are around many necks and they would approve the app in a heartbeat. Yes, they have the greatest product IMO, but they are a bunch of monopolistic prostitutes.
This is why I, with NO SHAME at all, proudly boast that I have a jailbroken, unlocked, iPhone with cracked apps.
FTW. Rage against the Machine.
BIG WORM, on January 8th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Apple (mom) is unwilling to work with Google (Dad). This selfishness is breaking up this great love I have for both, Google (Dad) and Apple(mom). She is confident that through this divorce process I will pick her (Apple). However, I am getting older, and since dad (Google) is becoming a bachelor, and much cooler, he seems to be the choice for my future. Specially since Mom (Apple) is becoming such a bitch about letting me play with my iPhone.
manu, on January 8th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Funny about this app that gives you a second number, there was a company in CNBC’s ‘Planet of the Apps’ special last night that submitted the exact same thing in 10/08 and has never heard from Apple (as of the time of filming). The app was called Newber. They were interviewed as an example of the long wait periods and poor communication from Apple to developers. They had invested over $500k in development and couldn’t ever get anything other than it’s being reviewed.
Lee M., on January 8th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Just checked it out. Small catch, unless you own a small business. All of this fruity goodness is going to cost you $20 per month. Probably why it’s not a competitor to what’s already available. Google Voice would have been $0.
Epic fail if you just want a second line. Also some of the reviews are stewing over the customer support. One stating that the CEO blamed AT&T for the dropped calls. Mmmgh. I think I’ll pass on this one.
richardWhite, on January 8th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
A similar thing has just been launched in Holland for any mobile phone, using the network of T-Mobile: http://www.tweedenummer.nl (sorry, website in Dutch language only)
mark, on January 9th, 2010 at 3:25 am
Hi – Peter Sisson here. Want to respond to comments to clear up some misunderstandings…
@InTheKnow: The Vonage app does not support inbound calling over Wi-Fi. Therefore it doesn’t do you any good if you need to make AND receive calls in a bad cell zone. It uses your cell number and minutes for inbound calls.
@richardWhite: Our service targets businesses, who do not want to trust their phone service, which is their lifeline to their customers, to a free service. They want live customer support, guaranteed uptime, and business features like auto-attendant, etc. They also don’t want announced calls branded Google Voice as it makes them look cheap. And they want to use free conferencing services, which Google Voice blocks.
As for the guy in the app store who said I blamed AT&T for problems – he was in an area with intermittent 3G and the app had some responsiveness issues because he wasn’t getting data service. If AT&T’s 3G network is down, I don’t know what else to tell him. What would you have said? That’s one advantage of the Wi-Fi mode – you won’t have AT&T issues.
Also, a very important distinction between us and Google Voice. Google Voice does NOT offer VoIP, even on Android, so you must use cell minutes for every call. Because we offer Wi-Fi, you can reduce your cell plan to the minimum and use Wi-FI whenever convenient and avoid the cell network altogether. And calls sound better than cellular too – much clearer. So the $14.95/month is still cheaper than GV if you include the cellular savings. Charging for the service allows us to provide live support and other services like free number ports and free 800 numbers.
Thanks everybody – if there are folks that want to beta test the app while its waiting for approval, email me at psisson /at/ toktumi [dot] com.
Peter Sisson, on January 9th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Actually there are many iPhone apps that offer cheap calls over both 3G AND WiFi. One of the best is Vopium http://vopium.com/iphone_landing
Vopium launched their first iPhone app allowing both 3G and WiFI calling back in April 2009: http://vopium.com/blogs/vopium-iphone-now-on-apple-app-store/ and a new version will soon be launched incorporating MSN, Skype, Gtalk, Twitter etc.
Vopium is also available for the iPod Touch btw: http://vopium.com/ipod/
and works on 600 other handsets incl. Nokia, Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Android
Jonas, on January 22nd, 2010 at 5:02 am