Vopium (News - Alert), a provider of mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, announced the launch of the industry’s first Wi-Fi calling app through BlackBerry App World.

While there are several calling apps available for BlackBerry (News - Alert), they suffer from limitations and carrier-imposed requirements that undermine the benefits, according to Vopium officials.

The new BlackBerry Wi-Fi calling app eliminates these limitations and provides consumers and business users with free international and domestic Wi-Fi calls. The service also offers international calls over GSM and CDMA for as little as less than 1 cent per minute.

Unlike most Wi-Fi calling apps, the Vopium app does not require users to connect with a local call. The Vopium app also offers least-cost routing to both mobile and landline numbers whenever the user is connected to Wi-Fi.

"The new Vopium BlackBerry app is the latest example of our commitment to provide consumers and business users with high-quality, low-cost international and domestic calling," said Vopium founder and CEO Tanveer Sharif, in a statement. "Unlike other Wi-Fi calling apps that rely on bridging and other limited architectures, the Vopium BlackBerry app frees users to make calls in more places and on their terms.”

“No other BlackBerry Wi-Fi calling app can match Vopium's combination of savings, convenience, battery life, wireline interoperability and mobile operator independence,” Sharif added. “This app democratizes Wi-Fi calling for BlackBerry users, with no caveats and gotchas."

The service allows BlackBerry owners to make Wi-Fi calls with Vopium to mobile or landline numbers globally without their carrier's international charges because the calls are routed through Vopium's network.

Also, there are no international-roaming charges when connected to Wi-Fi, so when traveling internationally, Vopium users can make local and international calls for as little as less than 1 cent per minute. When the other party also has a Vopium app on their Android, BlackBerry, iPhone (News - Alert), Symbian or Windows Mobile smartphone, Wi-Fi calls and text messages are free.

The Vopium app also allows users to know if they are connected to and placing calls via Wi-Fi. The app is designed to minimize battery consumption, so users can make frequent Wi-Fi calls and still have battery life that lasts at least a full day. This makes Wi-Fi calling a viable replacement for office desk phones and home phones.

The service is now available in beta version. The Vopium app supports BlackBerry smartphones running OS 6 or later versions. The app is available directly from Vopium at http://vopium.com/blackberry-beta and from BlackBerry App World at https://appworld.blackberry.com/webstore/content/68003.