Wireless carrier T-Mobile is no stranger to VoIP, having experimented with it for a time through its now defunct Hotspot@Home service, which ended last year. Well, it’s trying again, but this time bringing the technology to social networking site Facebook.

Called Bobsled by T-Mobile (don’t ask, I have no clue why they settled on this name), the application for both PC and Mac gives users the capability to place free VoIP calls between Facebook friends, including integration with the Facebook chat system. The application is free to all Facebook users and is not exclusive to subscriber’s of T-Mobile’s wireless services.

If you wish, you can also use Bobsled to leave voice messages, which you will have the choice of sending to your contact privately or post to that friend’s wall. Imagine all the people singing Happy Birthday rather than writing it —although I don’t know if that’s a good thing.

Facebook is only the first outlet for T-Mobile’s renewed VoIP strategy. The company says it has plans to eventually allow calling to landline and wireless numbers, as well as creating applications for tablets and smartphones regardless of carrier.

Could the T-Mobile brand be positioning itself for a life post-AT&T merger? Who knows, but it’ll be interesting to watch.

 
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