Mobile VoIP Provider Integrates AOL Instant Messenger into its Apple iPhone and iPod touch Applications, Adds PayPal to Prepayment Methods

Truphone, the mobile VoIP service, today integrated AOL® Instant Messenger® (AIM™) into its Apple iPhone™ and iPodTM touch applications. Now customers on both devices can use Truphone to also instant message their AIM friends via their AIM identity.

Truphone has already integrated Google Talk™, Skype™, Windows Live Messenger™ and Yahoo! ® Messenger into its applications for these devices, blending voice and IM across multiple platforms, and reaching over 800 million addressable accounts for free.

“Our goal is for mobile phone users to be able to reach any contact on their buddy lists, at any time and at no cost, using just one application,” said Geraldine Wilson, Truphone CEO.  “We will keep integrating more services and functionality, on other platforms too, giving people everything they need to stay in touch, all within the Truphone application.”

When not in Wi-Fi range, iPhone users can still exchange calls and messages with Skype and Google Talk users for the cost of a local call*, using the Truphone Anywhere feature. Voice calling will be added to AOL IM, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger within months.

In a separate development, Truphone today began accepting PayPal credit as a method of prepayment for calls out of its network.  This addition makes it easy for people without major credit or debit cards to benefit from Truphone’s low calling rates to over 200 countries. 

Wilson said: “With PayPal we found not only a payment processing service, but also an addressable community that matched up very nicely to the typical Truphone customer.”

Customers may refill credit to their Truphone accounts via handheld, web site, or phone. They can also choose to automatically top up when credit has fallen to a specified level.