Preloaded Truphone handsets to invade U.S.

VoIP-enabled handsets will soon be widely available in the U.S. market as a result of a deal between global e-tailer, eXpansys and London VoIP provider, Truphone. eXpansys has agreed to pre-install Truphone VoIP capability on all the compatible smartphones it sells. Truphone said the arrangement applies to phones sold in the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Hong Kong and Australia.

eXpansys offers more than 1,100 smartphones on it's U.K. page, and is said to be one of the largest smartphone retailers, if not the largest. The U.S. division of eXpansys is Mobile Planet in Bloomington, Ill., which lists more than 1,000 smartphones.

Truphone gained momentum last month when the court ordered T-Mobile to route its calls. The two ended up in court after T-Mobile barred the VoIPer over a schism on interconnection fees. Truphone wanted more than T-Mobile was willing to pony up. The court told Truphone to take T-Mobile's rate and take the spat to trial if they didn't like it. Truphone executives have indicated they are indeed going ahead with a suit, and the eXpansys deal suggests that neither they nor the market are concerned about the outcome.

For more:
- The Truphone press release is here
- Ewan Spence provides insight at blognation here

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