ROK Launches Free Mobile VoIP
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'ROK Viper' Provides Free Mobile-to-Mobile Calls Worldwide
LONDON, Sept. 6 -- ROK Mobile, the UK-based mobile applications developer credited with creating, amongst other technologies, the world's first mass-market mobile TV over 2.5G GPRS and the world's first copy-protected movies-on-memory-cards for play on mobile phones, today announced the launch of ROK Viper, its innovative mobile-to-mobile VoIP service.
ROK Viper is claimed to be the world's first 'no strings attached' free mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) application.
ROK Viper offers free software -- available online at www.rokviper.com -- which connects compatible handsets wirelessly to broadband via Bluetooth on their handset and computer and, in so doing, uses the internet to carry the call rather than a mobile network.
"We all love our mobile phones and the freedom they bring to us, but we hate the high calling charges," said Jonathan Kendrick, Chairman of ROK. "So we set out to develop our really easy-to-use mobile VoIP solution as we know there will be universal appeal for such a thing -- particularly if we gave it away for free and it enabled callers to make free calls on their mobiles."
Initially compatible with several Bluetooth-enabled Nokia handsets, ROK aims to add more than 100 mobile handsets to include Java-powered handsets and Windows devices over the next 3 months.
ROK Viper shows the users who, amongst their contacts, are 'online' -- in the same way that MSN shows who is online at any given time. As people are increasingly using their mobiles even when at home because of the ease of use and simplicity of the contact lists stored in mobiles, ROK is confident the on-handset display of contacts will prove very useful to Viper customers.
In addition, for those people without Bluetooth on their computers, ROK will be offering a turn-key 'auto-install' Bluetooth adaptor and application-loaded CD-ROM for sale online.
"All you need to do is download the free application from the website and start making calls for free to other Viper-enabled handsets," explained Kendrick. "It couldn't be simpler and, even when you call non-Viper mobiles and landlines, the cost will be much, much lower than standard network charges."
With no need for customers to subscribe to any pre-pay account or multi-service bundle, nor to key in pre-fix access codes to use the service, ROK expects Viper customers will encourage their friends, family and co-workers to also use Viper to save on mobile phone costs.
"One of the most popular uses of Viper, we believe, will be among business travelers who spend much of their time within Bluetooth range of their PC's -- in their offices, hotel rooms or in Wi-Fi zones -- who will now be able to make free and low-cost calls anywhere in the world as easily as dialing directly over the networks -- but without the costs involved," Kendrick described.
ROK Viper is described as 'empowering the mobile customer' with ease-of-use functionality and is predicting massive up-take of the service.
About ROK:
ROK employs 130 full-time staff worldwide with offices in the UK, Los Angeles and Beijing.
ROK is a privately owned and privately financed mobile technology development company -- credited with providing the world's first mass-market 2.5G GPRS multi-channel mobile TV (www.rok.tv and www.roktv.com) and the world's first DRM-protected full-length movies on memory cards for play on mobile phones (rokplayer.com).
ROK has already been awarded several major patents for it's innovative technologies -- with dozens more filed internationally.
For further information, please contact:
Bruce Renny - ROK UK
Tel: +44 (0)1902 374 896
bruce.renny@rokcorp.com
Doug Dyer - ROK USA
Tel+ 310 849 2617
doug.dyer@rokcorp.com
www.RokViper.com
http://www.rok.tv
