Well it seems that the Touchmods team have done it again. This time they teamed up with the French ADSL provider “Free“
The new VoIP application goes by the name of “Siphon”
It seems that the current version is a locked provider. You have to use Free’s service. While being a French service others in Europe can use this as well. This is due to the fact that they donated to the project mainly for their software development. You can download it from their website here.
Don’t worry though, the Touchmods Team are still thinking about everyone else. They will be releasing a new open app for everyone else to test on.
One more little piece of information for you. The Touchmods Team plan on hooking us all up soon. What I mean by that is, they are working on a way to link our calling and our contacts app together so that we can just add a number from the contacts book. That is just too cool!!
[Source] http://touchmods.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/xxxl-free/
[Source] http://freephonie.org/portal.php?article=3611&pid=1
Popularity: 38% [?]
February 8th, 2008 at 1:19 am
Indeed an achievment! But I am sorry to say the Touchmods commited a serious fraud. They asked for donation claiming that they need it to be able to continue to work and to give out to the public new apps.
And what they did was to make a deal with a company and thus now you have to pay in order to get the app. What about all the people that were tricked to donate money beleiving that they were supporting a non-profit group of the open source community?
This is unethical
February 8th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Hi Alex,
I really don’t see it that way. The touchmods apps are free. However, this particular company requires you to use their app. I believe that they donated an iPhone for help in the development with an app that is exclusive to that particular company.
If I am not mistaken, the Touchmods team will be releasing an another app for everyone to use freely with other providers. Please keep in mind though, I do believe that you will not be able to find any voip provider that will allow you to talk for free forever.
Please correct me if I am wrong.
February 8th, 2008 at 2:44 am
Hi Phoenix,
Yes I believe you are wrong. I read very carefully the anouncement they posted on their blog. The will release a time limited version sometime in the future for testing purposes. That means that the fully functional application will be available in some other way either by paying drectly or by buying some other voip service. In either case it will not be free. Don’t take me wrong. I believe making a nice application is a good thing and if you do it for a profession you should be paid for it. On the other hand asking for donations to do non-work and then using the money to develop an application that you sell to a company to make a profit, excuse me but this is a fraud.
I beleive they must immediately remove the “asking for donation” from their blogg and return all the donations they have received by deceiving people.
February 8th, 2008 at 2:46 am
correction: non-work is non-profit work
February 8th, 2008 at 2:49 am
Well, put like that, it is quite disturbing. That is definitely something that I will look into quite a bit more. I will try to get some more details and I will keep you posted.
February 8th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
After doing some more research and speaking with the team, I would most definitely, still stand behind my original statement.
As stated before, the software that is for the “Free” company was designed for that particular company and if you want to participate in it then you can. They donated an iPhone for the development of that particular app therefor if you want to use that particular SW then you will be locked with that company.
HOWEVER. . .
As, the Touchmods stated there will be an open version that will soon be released to the public to use on other providers.
What people need to understand is that the company donated for the development for a software just for them.
Please don’t confuse others donations for that project. It is very simple really. Two similar product are created. One for a company and one for all.
Bottom line. You are not getting cheated nor are they committing fraud. Also, as stated above. You cannot have a sip voip provider for free forever. Eventually, you have to upgrade your account with your provider. The touchmods team sw is mearly stating that.
You have never been cheated. The Touchmods team are firm in standing behind their word and I don’t believe that this will ever change.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
So let us summarize what we know until now.
A company (Free) donated 290 dolars and in rerurn they got a software as they wanted (locked)
A great number of other people who donated more than 2000 dolars to get a free version of the software got nothing!!!!
And my guess is that they will not release a completely free version of the software because then the value of the Locked version that they “sold” to the company would be diminished and the companies investment will go bust.
In fact i beleive that there would be no issue whatsoever today if they had clearly stated from the beginning of the project that they intent to develop commercial software. But then …… nobody would have donated even a single dolar!!!
I have to aknowledge though that after the mess that was created the Touchmods have offered to return all the Donations.
So People go and ask for your money back (since they clearly intent to go commercial they do not need them).
February 14th, 2008 at 12:02 am
I have to say that you have a valid point. I cannot argue with that point. I can however, say that I do know different. I completely understand what you are saying and I can see your concern.
I do know, after talking with the team, of their plans. I can assure you that there are no wrong intentions. They may have not worded good enough for some however they have worded it enough to keep them out of trouble with other certain people.
Please just be a little patient and you will see what I am talking about. If I am wrong or was misinformed then I will gladly retract all of my supporting statements.