Google ostensibly close to buying WhatsApp for $1 billion

By Christian Zibreg on Apr 7, 2013

WhatsApp, the cross-platform instant messaging application for smartphones, is rumored to be close to negotiating a landmark acquisition deal with Google. Sources reportedly close to the negotiations claim the Internet giant is considering dropping a whopping one billion dollars on the popular service that as of March 2013 had a cool 200 million users, a hundred million ones on Android alone.

The report ties nicely with talk of a new instant messaging brand from Google called Babble, and even more so given Facebook with its new Home UI layer for select Android devices is basically encouraging its one billion users to use its Messenger service right from their Lock screen or from whichever app they happen to be using at any give moment… Read More

 

Facebook voice calling now available in UK, seen elsewhere

By Christian Zibreg on Mar 25, 2013

The social networking giant Facebook back in early-January updated its free Messenger app with the ability to share audio snippets, having added that feature to its official iOS client, also a free download, later that month. Initially only available to Canadian and North American users, today the company has expanded in-app voice calling to people in the United Kingdom in the form of a quiet backend update.

The handy feature should presumably become available to UK users through the company’s main iOS client at a later stage as well… Read More

 

Skype for iPhone gains emergency call redirection, automatic call recovery

By Christian Zibreg on Feb 7, 2013

Following a Skype for iPad update earlier this week that has enabled automatic dropped call recovery, in-app purchase of Skype credits and a minor UI tweak, the Microsoft-owned VoIP provider has pushed out an update to its iPhone and iPod touch client this morning. Borrowing from the latest iPad build, the iPhone version will now automatically reconnect any dropped call.

More importantly emergency calls now get routed through the native dialer, which is interesting knowing most other VoIP apps don’t support this feature. A few more tidbits and the full changelog follow after the jump… Read More

 

You can now add money to your account directly in Skype for iPad

By Christian Zibreg on Feb 4, 2013

Microsoft-owned Skype has some nice mobile clients on the iPhone and iPad (unlike its fugly Mac app). Though it’s a tad heavy on CPU and battery, Skype on iOS offers excellent voice quality and image clarity in video chats. At least that’s what my experience’s been, your mileage may vary. Today, a new iPad build has surfaced on the App Store with some new nice capabilities worth a mention.

If you use Skype credits to text people and make inexpensive calls, no longer do you need to buy these on the Skype web site as the iPad build now supports adding money in-app, but only if you live in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Sweden or Estonia (more countries to follow soon).

Experiencing poor reception (it’s Skype’s way of letting us know we should buy some credits)? No problem, the new version now automatically reconnects a dropped call. More tidbits right after the break… Read More

 

Facebook begins rolling out free Messenger VoIP feature to the US

By Cody Lee on Jan 16, 2013

Earlier this month, we told you that Facebook had added a free VoIP calling feature to its Messenger app in Canada. It was clearly a test, to ensure that the social network’s servers could handle the added bandwidth. And apparently the tests went well.

Today, many users, including us, have noticed that Facebook has quietly started rolling out the VoIP feature to the US version of its Messenger app. It comes by way of a new ‘Free Call’ button, which will allow you to telephone your FB contacts for free… Read More

 

Viber gains emoticons, locations, stickers and group conversations with up to 40 participants

By Christian Zibreg on Dec 18, 2012

Viber, the popular IM and VoIP software for smartphones, joins a rash of holiday updates by releasing a new version of its iPhone and iPod touch client. Viber version 3.2, now available free from the App Store, makes text messaging more fun by giving you the ability to share stickers with friends and enrich your communication with emoticons. Also new is the enhanced group messaging feature supporting group conversations with up to 40 participants. You can also share locations in messages and the app is now optimized for the iPhone 5′s taller display and plays nicely with iOS 6… Read More

 

Libon relaunches globally with free HD calls and smart voicemail

By Oliver Haslam on Nov 29, 2012

We told you all about Libon a while ago. For those with short memories, Libon offered iOS users a way to take voicemail to the next level. Visual voicemail and customised messages depending on the caller were features that stood out, and we liked it a lot.

Now though, the Libon team has relaunched its app, this time adding in one or two features that not only improve the app as a whole, but also pitt it squarely as competition for some other well known, and highly established iOS apps.

Here’s a little spoiler – it’s pretty awesome… Read More

 

Viber for iOS updated with refreshed UI, all-new voice engine

By Christian Zibreg on Jul 24, 2012

Viber, an extremely popular VoIP app released last December by a small Israeli startup, got a huge update today, bringing a re-worked user interface with group messaging, profile photos and more, in addition to an all-new voice engine said to deliver improved voice quality.

Like Vonage and Skype, Viber lets you talk to people using your device’s cellular or WiFi data connection, exchange instant messages and images, all the while bypassing the carriers’ costly voice minutes and text/MMS messages.Unlike Skype, there’s no need to create an account with Viber… Read More

 

VOIP service Line2 gets updated with MMS

By Cody Lee on Apr 24, 2012

We’ve told you about Line2 before. The VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) service, which launched July 28th last year, turns your iPad (or iPhone) into a second phone line for just $9.99 a month.

We haven’t heard much from the company since then, but this week they’re out with a fairly big announcement. It seems they’ve added an MMS (Multimedia Messaging) feature to the service… Read More

 

New Vonage iOS App Promises 30% Lower Rates Than Skype

By Oliver Haslam on Feb 8, 2012

Vonage has come out fighting in its ongoing battle with the king of VoIP, Skype. The company has just released a new iOS app along with a low calling rate that is sure to put the frighteners on Skype.

Available to download for free right now, the Vonage app allows VoIP calls between Vonage users across iOS and Android as well as cheap calls to traditional landlines, too.

Vonage claims to be 70% cheaper than traditional telcos, and 30% cheaper than Skype… Read More

 

Google Voice Updated With Sprint Support and More

By Cody Lee on Dec 21, 2011

It seems like everyone is in a hurry to update their applications before the end of the year. We’ve seen major updates roll out today for Pulse news reader and the Kindle Fire app, and now Google has pushed one out for its Voice software.

Google Voice users will be happy to hear that the iOS app has finally been brought up to speed with its Android counterpart. The update brings handy additions, like multi-recipient text messaging and support for Sprint iPhone users. Read More

 

VoIP-Based Services Like iMessage Reportedly Eating Carriers’ Lunches

By Oliver Haslam on Nov 19, 2011

With third-party instant messaging apps, Apple’s own iMessage, and VoIP services becoming more prevalent, it is to be expected that at some point mobile networks will see a reduction in revenue as people move away from using SMS and voice calling.

What we didn’t really expect is the move to start happening so soon. But according to one report, carriers are already feeling the pinch.

Research carried out by infrastructure solutions provider Mavenir Systems on behalf of mobileSQUARED suggests that carriers are already finding that third-party solutions are beginning to impact their business, and it’s only going to get worse for the bottom line… Read More

 

AT&T Releases International Calling VoIP App for iPhone

By Cody Lee on Nov 9, 2011

Voice Over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. Thanks to services like Vonage and Skype, and the increasing availability of broadband internet, VOIP has replaced many people’s landline telephone service.

Now, AT&T is looking to get in on the action. A newly released app from the wireless carrier will enable users to place both domestic and international calls using VoIP technology. And surprisingly, it’s affordable… Read More

 

T-Mobile Extends Its Reach to iOS

By Oliver Haslam on Oct 11, 2011

T-Mobile may have not got in on the iPhone 4S action as many had predicted, but that hasn’t stopped the carrier from reaching for a little bit of the iOS pie with its Bobsled app for the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Android phones also get in on the fun.

Bobsled is T-Mobile’s VoIP service that lets users make phone calls over the internet (much like Skype). While Bobsled was originally a Facebook app, now it’s creeping out into the world of the App Store and beyond… Read More

 

Turn Your iPad Into a Phone with Line2

By Oliver Haslam on Jul 18, 2011

While the iPad’s considerable size doesn’t particularly lend itself to being a telephone, that hasn’t stopped many from wanting to use it as one.

A new app promises to turn our favorite tablet into a 9.7″ smartphone, and all for $10 per month, according to AppAdvice.

Starting July 28th, we could be making and taking telephone calls from our iPads using either the in-built mic and speaker, or a bluetooth headset… Read More

 

iPod Touch 3G Concept

By Zech TesfaYohannes on Jul 11, 2011

Over the past week or so, there have been rumors floating around about a 3G-Enabled iPod Touch coming later this fall. If this were happen, you would be able to use 3G data on your iPod Touch, for Facetime, iMessages, etc. You would also be able to use a VoIP app, such as Skype or Viber, to call people from your iPod Touch.

We took this concept to Photoshop, and we came up with the iPod Touch 3G. It looks exactly like the current iPod Touch, but has a black strip on the back. It also says “3G” in the menu bar. Along with that, it also features an integrated SIM card, as the next iPhone is rumored to have… Read More

 

App Picks of the Week: Starbucks 2.0, fring for iPad, Tumblr 2.0, Glo Bible, TimeSpan

By Alex Heath on Jul 3, 2011

Every week, we select a few apps that catch our eye. These apps can be from the App Store, web apps, or jailbreak apps.

We took a week off last week, so we’re back with an extra large dose of picks from the App Store! This time around, we have several updated apps that bring new features and enhancements, alongside a couple new picks that bring something interesting to the table as well. Hope you enjoy this week’s picks! Read More

 

Closer Look at Skype for iPad, Drops Tuesday

By Alex Heath on Jun 25, 2011

Yesterday, we told you about the promo video that leaked detailing the upcoming Skype for iPad app. It was later confirmed by Skype that the video was real, and that Skype’s official app for the iPad will be available in the App Store next week.

CNET has a hands-on look at Skype’s unreleased app for the iPad, and the long-awaited app is set to go live in the App Store on Tuesday… Read More

 

iOS 5 Will Transcribe Your Voicemail to Text

By Alex Heath on May 11, 2011

Following the news that Apple is partnering with Naunce for voice integration in iOS 5, we’ve heard from an inside source at Apple that iOS 5 will allow you to read your voicemails. Google Voice has offered voicemail transcription for quite some time, and, according to our anonymous source, Apple is hard at work to implement this type of service into iOS 5.

More cloud-based features are rumored to debut in Apple’s next major release of iOS when the software is previewed at WWDC this June. A more Google-esque approach to cloud services makes sense if Apple wants to stay competitive in the cloud space. Voicemail transcription would be one more feature to beef up Apple’s cloud offerings… Read More

 

Microsoft Buys Skype for $8.5 Billion

By Alex Heath on May 10, 2011

In a shocking report, The Wall Street Journal has confirmed that Microsoft has purchased Skype in a 8.5 billion dollar buyout. This deal gives Microsoft complete ownership of Skype Technologies SA, and this buyout is one of Microsoft’s biggest purchases to date.

Skype has been a key player in the desktop and mobile space as one of the most popular VoIP services in existence. On iOS, Skype has always been a wonderful service for those wishing to make calls (both audio and video) over 3G and Wi-Fi. Read More

 
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