T-Mobile Unveils VoIP Calling Service for iPhone and iPad Users

T-Mobile is making available a calling service for iPhone and iPad users, even though it is not in the business of selling those devices.

Reports indicate the company is increasing its free voice-over-IP service, known as Bobsled, to iPhones, iPads and Android phones.

Users with the app can complete calls to mobile or land line phones in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico minus charges. Users can make the calls via cellular data networks, which generally charge for the data usage, or over Wi-Fi, which in some cases may be free.

"With Bobsled, we continue to leverage and embrace the power of IP communications to bring seamless, cost-effective connections to consumers across networks, devices, countries and carriers," Brad Duea, senior vice president, T-Mobile USA, said in a statement. "With Bobsled, people can now make free voice calls from an iPad or tablet, send free one-to-one and group messages anywhere in the world, and access their phone's contacts and text messages from their tablet or computer."

The new services grow off of the Bobsled service that T-Mobile initially unveiled in early 2011.

At first, it let users make calls only to Facebook friends from PCs. In the fall, it started individuals to make calls from Facebook to mobile devices and complete calls from PCs to U.S. mobile and land line phones.

Unlike competing services, Bobsled Messaging claims that it provides a universal way to talk.

The service allows people to send free, rich media messages - including photos, videos and locations - to Bobsled users worldwide where they have an open data connection from any Android-powered smartphone, tablet or Web-connected device.