After a few minutes of syncing the new [iPod Touch 4] to my Mac Book Pro I went through the steps of configuring a few Voice applications.
After making calls over WiFi using my new FreeTalk Everyman Handsfree headset that's designed for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch I quickly realized that the sound quality was as good *OR BETTER* than on my iPhone.
Next I fired up the Verizon Wireless MiFi and made a few more test calls to friends whom I regularly speak with over my Verizon Droid. The result was even more revealing. People on the other end said I sounded better. For the most part my calls were made using Truphone and Bria, and for calls to the PSTN they seemed to have a better overall tone. However, nothing beat Skype to Skype calls, as the wideband Silk codec in the Skype client and the Silk codec in the headset worked as planned.
With an unlimited plan from Truphone for $12.95, free calling over Google Voice via the Gizmo client and my Skype Unlimited World Plan at about $12.00 a month, all that calling and data still ends up costing less than an iPhone with a calling bundle and a data plan on AT&T. The key here is we're all moving to a data centric world, and as I look at my minutes consumed I realizing I'm talking far less over a mobile phone, making more placing and receiving more calls from my laptop, and connecting more and more with my colleagues and peers using VoIP, all the time, more and more without a traditional mobile operator for voice, but instead using them as the pipe for the voice supplier of my choice.
UPDATE-> The speaker on the iPod touch works with Bria, Skype and Truphone, so I guess I really now do have an iPhone without a contract for a lot less.