Android enthusiasts,
This is just a quick state of the union on our android application, due to overwhelming customer demand for some transparency. We hear you, and we are working feverishly to deliver our android application, but just to bring you up to speed on some of the hurdles we have faced and where the state of the project is.
We originally began with the intent of re-using the underlying SIP engine on the iPhone application which we have had an extremely long time to test and tune on and ensure that it plays safe and sane on our network and provides a hopefully seamless and easy VoIP experience. This path we found fraught with difficulty due to platform differences and results were sub-optimal at best; and most importantly held indications that while we could push through the resulting mess would not live up to our standards in the long run; so we tore it down and built a more android friendly voip engine from the ground up. Unfortunately in developing products like this there is the occasional false start, we have certainly had that, and we have taken some extremely valuable lessons away from it.
We have also learned that the Android ecosystem is extremely complex to write for given the tremendous variety of devices, screen resolutions, and firmware permutations one can encounter in the wild; now I know most of you out there in internet-land are thinking “Well duh” to yourselves, and we presumed this going in, but the rabbit hole went much deeper than even we expected and so we have devoted an extreme amount of time to testing a large cross-section of not only the newest devices, but also testing a huge swath of devices that our customers will actually have in their pockets right now. Large touch screen phones, small sliders, tablets, Verizon phones, Sprint phones, ATT phones, you name it. This endeavor again has given us mountains of valuable information on how people actually use their devices, and has lead us to shift some of the UI around, as well as tune for the peculiarities of how each of these carriers actually handle their mobile data.
This whole project has been a herculean effort, which turned out to be orders of magnitude larger than the iPhone application due to open device ecosystem. That being said, I feel we are on track to a closed beta program (if you have told our support team you want to be a part of a beta program, we have you on a list don’t worry, and we will be contacting you) in the coming weeks but I don’t want to promise anything just yet since every time we have tried to provide a timeline the project seemed to go a bit pear-shaped.
Long story short, this is the biggest thing on our minds as of this moment and we are laser-focused on delivering a solid experience, so with that said, I’ll return to our development cave with the motivation stick and a wheelbarrow full of Cheetos and Mountain Dew to continue the effort.
Keep your eyes on the blog and forum for more developments.
-Ryan
How do we get on the Beta List?
You can post in our forum about it or email support and ask to be placed on the beta list.
Please place me on the beta list also
thanks for the update!
Please place me on the beta list for the Android App, keep up the good I know there is a lot of us out there that appreciate your efforts.
Please place me on the beta list for the Android App.
Please add me to the beta list for Android app.
I would also like to be added to the beta list, thanks.
Please add me to the beta list for Android app.
I have an Android tablet and would love to be a part of the beta testing. Thanks
Please add me on beta test for Android Application.
Thanks.
Kaz Iida
ITA, Inc.
kiida@saas.itaoffice.com
Pleasee add me to the list of your Android App Bet tester. Thanks
Please add me to the beta list.
Please add me also to the beta list, i would love to give it a try on my android device. Thanks!
…, will surely use this more than fring/skype as your rates are simply better. Looking forward for this app on android.
This sucks! How much time do you need to come out of your development cave to release a beta product?
Please add me to the beta list for Android app
One more taker for beta list. Thanks
Android Please,
I’m for alpha, beta , gamma test !!!!!!
What ever cames first
Do you have data on the preference of mobile platforms among current PP users? I would bet heavily that we are predominantly an Android bunch! I’m very disappointed that you guys are releasing…touting the Ver 2 Iphone app….while sporting a fat zip for Android.
Needless to say, looking forward to Android release…and Kudos for the softfone work!
Regards
Please add me to the beta list for Android app.
When will this Droid app be available? I don’t know about the term “droid enthusiasts” – truth is Droid powered phones take up a huge percentage of the mobile phones sold these days.
Vonage has a Droid app. Do not see why its so hard to set one up for Phonepower – sign me up for the beta. Or sign me up for leaving to another service in a year when we are all still waiting!
please add me to the beta list
please ad my device HTC Sensation 4G to your test list, I need the app for HTC Sensation 4G Android OS, thanks Wilson Vo
Haven’t seen anything on the Android app for almost a month – would love to see an update. Also, would like to be on beta list – using an Android tablet. Thanks!
I use an unlocked HTC HD2 on T-Mobile converted to Android 2.3.7. I would like to assist in the Beta testing. The features that interest me are:
– Control of forwarding (and other features)
– Access to voice mail
– Access to call log
– Call origination over wi-fi
With my plan, I have an excellent voice telephone where there is coverage. When I travel abroad, I buy a prepaid SIM card for each country in order to have local phone and data. At that time I forward my PhonePower line to my foreign number. The only time that I would use a PhonePower app to place or receive calls is when I have Wi-Fi connectivity but no cell coverage. In those cases the Wi-Fi connection might be slow or flakey, and I would hope that the app would be forgiving of marginal conditions. The ability to adaptivly switch to a lower bandwidth protocol would be welcome.
Looking forward to something awesome (you’ve had time to come up with it now.)
Fritz
Current subscriber to phone power. Using iconia tablet, andriod 3.2.1
Please enroll me in beta pgm. Thanks
Pls add me to the Android App beta list
Pls. enroll me in the Android app testing program. thanks
I would like to be part of the Android App Beta. I have a HTC Evo 3D and also an Evo 4G for which I could do testing.
I would also be intrested in the Android App Beta. Thanks
Please add me to your beta list for android app.
Samsung Galaxy SII from ATT
Please get me also in the list for Android apps for Phonepower.
Thanks,
Vikas
Please place me on the Beta list for the Android app. Thanks!
Please add me to the beta list. Thanks!
Please place me also in the list for Android apps for Phonepower
Please place me for beta list, have several Phones + Tablets running different OS flavors that I will be happy to contribute in testing. Thanks
Include me on the BETA testing for Android App. I have an LG Optimus V with Virgin Mobile.
Thanks!
Vonage is on their second gen android VOIP app…maybe u guys can hire someone from the that team????? even the early version….just saying…”it’s difficult” excuses just don’t fly forever.
I too expect something REALLY fantastic for the time we’ve had to wait!
Please add me to the beta list for Android app
hI, can I be added to the beta team of usrs ? Thank you. HTC Mytouch 3G side
Please put me on the beta test.
Please add me to the beta list
I have a Sprint Samsung Galaxsy S2 Phone
Please put me on the Beta Test List.
Add me to the beta also.
Please add me to the beta list. I have a galaxy note.
The last official post from phonepower was made on Oct 19 2011,
has anything been updated in the last 5 month?
do you have an estimated eta ?
It’s unfortunate that Phone Power can’t seem to get an Android App out the door. What’s even more unfortunate and extremely disappointing is that there has been no update since Oct 19. That’s very poor customer service. Come on guys, you at least owe us an update!
Please place me on the beta list for the Android App,