MobileMe Working
Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com
MobileMe is working. Here’s mine:
Published on July 11th, 2008
under Mobile
All posts under tagged ‘Mobile’
Hidden Costs of T-Mobile’s @Home
Source: www.voip-news.com
Is T-Mobile’s @Home as great a deal as it sounds? The service touts $10 a month unlimited calling via broadband . . . but you need a broadband line. And a T-Mobile cell phone line. And a special router . . .
Starting to sound like there’s a lot being tacked onto the deal? There is. But for some, it could be worthwhile.
To learn more about the true costs of @Home, check out this VoIP News feature.
Google’s Mobile Phone Suffers a Set Back
Source: solokay.blogspot.com
Contrary to the announcement made in November by Google Inc. to launch a new breed of handsets by the second half of this year, the company is now expecting the release of the phone by the fourth quarter. The delay has been attributed to some technical finishing which is being resolved by the experts working on the project.
This new breed of mobile handsets is based on a suite of mobile software called Android and this has attracted over 30 companies to partner with Google in order to deliver the Android-powered phone. The fact that Google delay in finishing its own software has held these companies into ransom, Sprint Nextel Corp which had hoped to launch an Android phone this year won’t be able to, so is also China Mobile the largest wireless carrier in the world with nearly 400 million subscriber accounts, had planned to launch an Android phone in the third quarter but it has run into issues that will likely delay the launch until late this year or early 2009.
Even so, the Android software has yet to win broad support from large mobile-software developers. Some say it is difficult to develop programs while Google is making changes as it finishes its own software.
Although, there is no evidence that Android won’t be able to gain momentum over time, the wireless carriers throughout the industry are confronting challenges as they seek to customize the Android software — which includes an operating system and programs that work with it — to promote their own Internet services. Some handset makers are taking longer than they thought to integrate Android, test it and build custom user interfaces to meet carrier specifications. According to Andy Rubin, director of mobile platforms at Google, managing the software-development effort while giving its partners the opportunity to lobby for new features takes time. "This is where the pain happens," he says. "We are very, very close."
Google however, assures its partners that the company is working hard to help them develop new features and drive down costs, collaborating with chip makers and other technology providers so handset makers and carriers don’t have to design Android-based phones from scratch.
The effort hinges on convincing partners to exploit the operating system, which supports capabilities such as the ability to build applications that know a phone’s location. Some software developers already have built flashy demos, ranging from security software that scans a person’s iris to an address book integrated with instant-messaging and other tools. Google says it has received roughly 1,800 submissions to a contest for developing Android-based application programs.
AT&T Introduces New Social Networking and Mobile Media Applications from Juice Wireless and Buzzwire
Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com
AT&T is making introducing new social media tools and platforms
JuiceCaster 6.0 and Buzzwire — that keep you connected to your online world. JuiceCaster 6.0 enables you to use your AT&T wireless device to instantly share and post your mobile videos and photos with your favorite online communities — including exclusive mobile video postings to YouTube and Flickr. With Buzzwire, you can access and customize an extensive streaming media library that spans popular video and audio content, as well as live Internet radio, directly from AT&T phones.
JuiceCaster 6.0
This unique application from Juice Wireless lets you share videos and pictures from your wireless device to the Web’s most popular social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. AT&T customers also have exclusive access to post directly to YouTube and Flickr as well. Family and friends can instantly view, rate and comment on content directly from their own phones or directly from an online social-networking site.
AT&T customers can use JuiceCaster to:
- Post mobile pictures and video to popular social-networking Web sites and blogs, including Blogger, Facebook, LiveJournal, MySpace, Twitter and Xanga
- Set your status to update automatically on Facebook and Twitter, and receive friends’ status updates on their own phones
- Broadcast existing or new mobile videos and photos to global audiences using YouTube and Flickr, without requiring a computer or Internet connection
- Make content public or create custom groups by adding and connecting with friends directly from AOL, JuiceCaster, Gmail, Hotmail, MS Outlook and Yahoo!
Meet new friends within the JuiceCaster community
JuiceCaster 6.0 is available for $2.99 a month on compatible 2G and 3G AT&T handsets. AT&T customers can simply text Juice to 386 to begin connecting and communicating in a rich social- networking environment that includes profiles, pictures, videos, friend lists, comments, ratings and personal status updates. For more information on JuiceCaster, visit www.att.com/mediamall.
Rebtel and easyMobile Partner on VoIP Service
Source: solokay.blogspot.com
Just as it looks forward to strengthening its UK presence and to ensure that the best services are available for its potential customers, Rebtel has concluded arrangement with easyMobile to offer VoIP services in the UK.
The agreement is a brand licensing one and it will ensure that Rebel’s mobile VoIP services are provided through easyGroup’s easyMobile website. Without the need to do any modification to their handsets or download any software, users can make cheap international VoIP calls from their mobile phone through this service. Another added advantage is the fact that the service works over any UK network on the user’s existing contract.
In order to make the service readily available, Rebtel has ensured signing up for an account to be free of charge; therefore you do not need to pay any amount before you can set up an account of your own. Also, no connection fees or any other costs and no monthly fees involved.
You can even test the service for free for about ten minutes and you only pay for minutes used thereafter.
Truphone Announces Mobile VoIP Service through Cellular
Source: solokay.blogspot.com
Truphone launches a new product that transports calls between handset and gateway over the local cellular voice network. The new service, called Truphone Anywhere, requires downloading Truphone software to your handset.By doing this, it transport the calls between handset and gateway over the local cellular voice network.
It currently works on a number of Nokia E- and N-series devices. Once installed, the software recognizes when you’re dialing an international number, and asks if you want to use Truphone Anywhere. (You can turn off the query and make the choice automatic if you wish.) If you decide to use it, the software instructs the handset to dial a local Truphone gateway. From there, the call travels over the Truphone VoIP network to the international destination. Truphone refers to this method as "call through."
On the other hand, there is an alternative method called callback. When you dial, the software doesn’t route the call to a local gateway. Instead, it sends a text message to a Truphone server in the U.K. or U.S. The server sets up a call from a gateway close to your handset. It then sets up a call from a similar gateway to the number you’re trying to reach, and connects the two calls via cheap VoIP circuits. The callback method works best when dialing even a local number can be expensive, such as when you’re traveling overseas or using a pay-as-you-go plan at home.
One interesting thing is that the callback and call-through methods can both reduce the cost of international calls by a factor of 10 or more. Unsurprisingly, a variety of other companies besides Truphone are using similar if not identical approaches to accomplish the same thing.
Truphone’s move reinforces the likelihood that transporting international VoIP calls locally over cellular voice networks will prove the most popular and practical approach for some time to come. Using cellular data networks alone to carry calls can get particularly complicated. For one thing, it requires uniform high-speed coverage, usually 3G, to work consistently. Carriers may also object to this usage, or even try to block calls.
When the calls use the local voice network, by contrast, the carriers will at least get paid for cellular minutes. And when the alternative is no compensation when calls go through wifi hotspots, it will hard for them to object to services like Truphone’s new offering.
Published on June 9th, 2008
under Cellular, CES, ICE, IP, Mobile, mobile Voip, Mobile VoIP Service, phone, S, SER, T, Truphone, UNC, VoIP, VoIP service
7 Ways to VoIP From Your Mobile Phone
Source: gigaom.com
While the emergence of VoIP, or voice-over-Internet protocol, technology has already helped push down the cost of making a phone call, now it’s starting to have a deflationary impact on the world of mobile, where call charges remain stubbornly high.
In the meantime, the ongoing adoption of 3G broadband and the inclusion of Wi-Fi in many high-end phones is drawing a growing amount of attention to mobile VoIP services. Indeed, research firm Disruptive Analysis predicts that the number of VoIP-over-3G users will top 250 million by the end of 2012 — from virtually zero in 2007.
We at GigaOM are constantly tinkering with these mobile services, so we’ve put together a list of seven mobile VoIP apps that we think you’ll find handy.
Skype Options
Service: Skype Mobile
Platform/Network: Java-based application that works on 50 popular phones from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and Samsung. Can be used on numerous cellular data networks.
Cost: Free
Features: Chatting (including with a group), presence settings (offline, online, do not disturb), and Skype-to-Skype calls (including SkypeIn).
Our Opinion: If your phone is supported, Skype Mobile is a great way to add Skype chatting and calls to it. Though it would be nice if the Skype application weren’t written in Java, as these applications are often sluggish and unstable.
Service: 3 Skypephone
Platform/Network: Uses a specialized handset. Currently available in the UK, Italy, Austria, Hong Kong, Australia, Ireland, Denmark and Sweden.
Cost: The phone costs £49.99 (about $98) and can be used on a pre-paid basis. Calls cost nothing if they’re made from Skype.
Features: Free Skype-to-Skype mobile calls and the ability to conduct Skype IM conversations, all without touching your computer.
Our Opinion: The 3 Skypephone is best suited for those who need a few monthly mobile minutes and wish to talk/IM to their Skype friends along the way. The pre-paid feature makes it an attractive and inexpensive option for Skype chatters in the geographies it serves.
Service: iSkoot
Platform/Network: Mobile handsets such as BlackBerry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and Palm OS models. Also works on GSM networks.
Cost: Modest to expensive, based on usage. Because iSkoot is a hybrid VoIP/GSM service, it uses SMS and mobile minutes when making and receiving calls or Skype IM messages.
Features: SkypeIn and Skype-to-Skype calls, Skype IM messages.
Our Opinion: iSkoot is a good option for keeping in touch with your Skype contacts. However, I would look at other software applications that just use data to send Skype SMS and Skype voice traffic.
Mobile VoIP Players
Service: Truphone
Platform/Network: Nokia handsets
Cost: Incoming free calls while on the Truphone network, low per-minute rates while on a GSM network. Outgoing calls are billed at very low per minute rates.
Features: Truphone offers free calls, SMS and voice mail while logged into the Truphone network via Wi-Fi. Otherwise, Truphone forwards calls to your mobile handset and you pay a low per-minute charge.
Our Opinion: With its smart forwarding options, Truphone is particularly useful for international travelers. Whether you’re on Wi-Fi or just your normal GSM network, you can be reached via your Truphone number no matter where you are (charges apply in certain cases, see their site for details). For times when Wi-Fi is not available, Truphone just released Truphone Anywhere, which utilizes local gateways for outgoing calls at low per-minute charges. I have trialed the service by forwarding calls from my Truphone number to my cell phone and the call quality was fantastic; voices were indistinguishable from any other cell phone call. A Truphone-to-Truphone VoIP call yielded even higher voice quality.
Service: Fring
Platform/Network: Nokia/Symbian handsets, Widows Mobile, iPhone (pre-release beta)
Cost: Free
Features: Allows you to make VoIP calls on any SIP network, Skype or to other Fring users. Additionally, Fring is a multi-protocol IM client that will allow you to chat with your buddies on Skype, MSN, ICQ, Google Talk, Twitter, AIM and Yahoo.
Our Opinion: I have used Fring to make SIP and Skype voice calls, and over EDGE the call is choppy and hard to understand. However, Wi-Fi provides enough bandwidth to make Fring calls clear and understandable. I wouldn’t say the quality is fantastic, but it is very comparable to a normal cell phone call.
Service: Talkonaut
Platform/Network: Available for Java-based phones, Symbian and Windows Mobile
Cost: Free
Features: Talkonaut offers free VoIP and IM chatting. For instant messaging, the application supports Google Talk, ICQ, AIM, and Yahoo. Talkonaut can also use SIP for VoIP calling.
Our Opinion: Talkonaut is a Russian offering and is still very new. The application was quite unstable on my Nokia N82 handset. With iffy performance and a very rusty user interface, I would recommend looking at other applications for this functionality, namely Fring.
Service: Nimbuzz
Platform/Network: Java program, Symbian; an iPhone version is coming soon.
Cost: Free
Features: Allows you to engage in IM conversations and conduct VoIP calls, as well as to share media such as photos and video. Nimbuzz also allows for client-to-client calls and has widgets enabling calls to originate from Facebok and MySpace. Compatible with Skype, Google Talk, AOL Instant Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo, MySpace, Facebook and Jabber IM networks.
Our Opinion: The Symbian application is very responsive and easy to use. A VoIP call originating from my Facebook page to Nimbuzz over a Wi-Fi connection sounded good — just as good as any call over a GSM network.
Service: Gizmo5 (formerly Gizmo Project)
Platform/Network: Nokia Symbian handsets, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Nokia Tablets
Cost: Free for VoIP calls, low per-minute charge to call landlines and to SMS to mobiles.
Features: Gizmo5 allows you to conduct voice calls to other Gizmo5 users and grants IM conversations with friends on Gizmo5, MSN, AIM, Yahoo and Jabber.
Our Opinion: Gizmo5 is a great competitor to Skype, just not as established or well-known. They have wisely developed their client software for many platforms including numerous mobile phones, and on both Mac and PC. VoIP call quality is stellar when calling between clients, as well as to landline/mobile phones.
What About Those Microsoft’s Echoes
Source: gigaom.com
Microsoft Corp., in its effort to woo telecoms has come up with yet another project, Echoes, a services platform that will likely to be sold to telecom carriers. It combines Microsoft’s Live Messenger, with over the air syncing of people’s address books with presence and gift wraps it as unified communications platform.
Mary Joe Foley points out that Bill Gates has been referring to Echoes in his speeches recently. Echoes was incubated by Microsoft Israel Research’s Corporate Vice President Moshe Lichtman and is being developed by Microsoft’s Israeli Strategic Development Center, Foley reports. According to one of her sources, the new platform will be able to:
- Syncs Address book contacts over the air.
- Ensure that IM messages work seamlessly with SMS.
- Windows Live Messenger contacts get local numbers.
- Voice calls from Messenger on PC to mobiles.
- Some sort of presence.
Skype, GrandCentral and others already deliver many of these services. From that perspective there is nothing new here, except for the need of being tied to Microsoft’s platforms. Echoes’ outlines Microsoft’s biggest challenges: the inordinate amount of time they spend on developing products that are either a platform or a suite forces them to make too many compromises. One can’t blame the company whose DNA is Windows (Platform) & a Suite (Office.) This is a malady which makes them unable to move ahead and define the future.
Published on May 30th, 2008
under Bill Gates, Grandcentral, Microsoft, Microsoft Echoes, Mobile, Moshe Lichtman, presence, Skype, Unified Communications, Voice, Web
Android: Much Coolness, But 3 Big Problems
Source: gigaom.com
Like all the other geeks in attendance, I couldn’t help myself from letting out an audible “whooo” when Google showed off an Android phone demo Wednesday that linked Street View to a compass (see video below). Sure it was just a demo, but watching the virtual-reality performance of photo-maps linked to hand motions shows how cool new applications could be when they start by running on a high-end mobile phone.
Delivering lots of cool new apps is the promise of Android, the open source mobile OS project from Google. With a much-improved iPhone-ish look and feel, the base Android platform seems ready for prime time and on schedule to launch somewhere, sometime, later this year. But I still see three big problems for Android apps that could keep the add-on market small for the foreseeable future.
Specifically the problems are:
– how many carriers are really going to offer Android phones?
– how will users find Android applications?
– how will developers convince users to take a chance and download their app?
Until Google can help answer those questions, Android apps are probably going to lag far behind those provided by big carriers on their captive hardware/software offerings, especially those designed for the already popular iPhone.
With a big crowd overall and packed rooms at Android-specific discussions, the Google I/O conference Wednesday showed there is great interest from the developer community for the idea of an open-source platform for the development of mobile apps. And the list of early winners in Google’s Android app development contest shows a wide range of creative thinking, with developers using the features of mobility and base apps like maps to build new, rich and sometimes quirky programs that would likely never get past the first gatekeeper at AT&T Wireless or Verizon.
But getting back to the problems — without a committed list of service providers, Google doesn’t have much of a market to offer developers yet. Similarly, the company’s silence on any kind of an apps marketplace means developers might be on their own when it comes to marketing their one-off ideas, adding a huge degree of difficulty, especially for smaller shops.
And the lack of an application certification process (Google said Wednesday that users will be asked to certify an app themselves at install) means another big hurdle for developers to cross, namely convincing users to trust that their app is safe, won’t break their phone or transmit personal info to undisclosed locations.
Seems like a lot to ask from users, especially those in the U.S., who historically haven’t been able to do much with their phones other than download new ringtones. Add education to the list of above problems and you see why I think this market is going to stay small for some time.
Paul Kapustka, former managing editor for GigaOM, now has his own blog at Sidecut Reports.
When Less is More: AT&T and Pantech Make Using a Mobile Phone a Breeze for Customers
Source: alanweinkrantz.typepad.com
If you are an experienced mobile phone user, the ins and outs of wireless
devices are second nature. Sometimes I get a bit caught up in thinking that everyone needs an iPhone or BlackBerry - you know us first movers, or early adapters.
But there is another market to consider.
For first-time phone owners, simplicity and ease-of-use are more important than ever. AT&T and Pantech Wireless Inc. today announced the Pantech Breeze™ from AT&T. Available in all company-owned stores and online beginning May 27, the Pantech Breeze is an ideal device for a wide range of users, from novice or first-time mobile phone owners to customers looking to simplify the overall user experience.
At its core, the Pantech Breeze is an uncomplicated mobile phone, specifically designed for people needing an easy way to stay in touch with friends, caregivers and loved ones. (Think older parents, grandparents, or someone who just needs a very basic cell phone. From its clean and uncluttered design to its simplified menus, oversized display with large keypad and quick-call keys, the Pantech Breeze includes a host of convenient features in a comfortable, modern design.
The Pantech Breeze is the direct result of AT&T and Pantech’s collaboration to build a device on the principles of Universal Design — the practice of designing products and applications that are usable by the most customers possible. AT&T recently published the company’s approach to Universal Design to encourage application developers and handset manufacturers to consider the needs of seniors or customers who have disabilities when creating products and services.
3Screens News Summary:
The Pantech Breeze takes into account many of the design principles set forth in AT&T’s approach to Universal Design:
- 1-2-3 Quick-Call Keys — Three preprogrammable quick-call buttons are located below the screen — users can easily select one of the three quick-call contacts and press the send button to start a call.
- Simplified Menu — Navigating the phone’s features is trouble-free with the simplified "breeze menu," which prioritizes the features that customers want to access most.
- Large Font — Menu screens on the Pantech Breeze use a highly visible large font. Additionally, the font of SMS messages is enlarged and the date and time of messages sent is at the beginning rather than at the end of a message.
- Easy-to-Use Buttons — The oversized buttons on the device respond with a tactile click when pressed, and the amount of time the keys remain illuminated after use is extended.
- Clear and Loud Speakerphone — A large, dedicated button starts and stops speakerphone use.
- Camera — A dedicated hard key for the camera brings up camera options "take a picture" and "photo album" to give users easy access to useable camera functions.
- Audible Keys — An option to have audio accompany numeric keystrokes makes it easy to know which buttons have been pressed, resulting in mistake-free dialing for those with limited sight.
In addition to these key design features, the Pantech Breeze is a powerful phone. The product is a GSM quad-band world device, able to make voice calls in more than 200 countries and access data and send messages in more than 145. The Pantech Breeze features a talk time of up to three hours and up to 10 hours of standby time. Full messaging, camera and video capabilities, Bluetooth® compatibility and tools such as an alarm clock, notepad, calendar and calculator are included.
Availability and Pricing
The Pantech Breeze will be available May 27 at select AT&T company-owned stores and online at www.wireless.att.com. The Pantech Breeze is $39.99 after a two-year service agreement and a $30 mail-in rebate or $124.99 after a $30 mail-in rebate for customers who prefer to use AT&T’s Pick Your Plan or Pay As You Go GoPhone® prepaid plans.
Fringland Launches First Public Mobile VoIP for iPhone
Source: solokay.blogspot.com
Unveiling what it calls the world’s foremost mobile VoIP application, Fringland Ltd stated that Apple iPhone can now be used for VoIP through mobile WiFi application.
Fringsters (subscribers using Fring application) can now talk, chat, interact and participate in online social communities with other users with their Apple iPhone WiFi connection through this new application.
The application was however not the effort of Fringland alone but developed in conjuction with Holon Institute of Technology Academics research labs in Israel. The product, which would be launched later this year, is still not yet available in commercial quantities and the ones out now are just pre-release version which they hope will enable them improve and do some necessary adjustments as may arise and at the same time allowing potential users to have what they called "The Fring Experience".
Live instant message chat with online contacts, free and low cost mobile cell phone calls over WiFi and discovering the freedom of being able to take their Fring contacts and buddies from other favorite communities on their iPhones are among the great features Apple iPhone users are going to enjoy using this product.
It should be recalled that Fring was first launched in February 2007 and actively allows users to knowingly communicate with each other and with contacts from Skype, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ, Twitter, Yahoo and AOL AIM.
With great success recorded since early this year as regards the number of subsribers on their network to the tune of over 100,000 new users every month and across over 280 countries through out the globe,it is expected that many mobile phone users will be attracte to this new appllication.
Mobile 2.0 In Barcelona this July 4th
Source: andyabramson.blogs.com
I’m really excited at what may be the best reason to be in Barcelona on July 4th.
It’s the Mobile 2.0 Conference Europe Conference and from the looks of things, this is the place where fireworks are sparking in the mobile world. Pal Rudy De Waele is involved and that always means more than you expect (in the way of great things) will be on tap. The July event is a follow up to the successful San francisco event last October. This is ideal for early stage, angel backed and VC seeking companies as well as those start-ups who already have raised their venture capital.
Here’s what Rudy passed on to me earlier today:
The Mobile 2.0 Conference is spreading its wings to Europe and will land on July 4 in Barcelona, Spain. This one-day event focusing on the Mobile Web and Disruptive Mobile Innovation, is brought to you by dotopen and the Mobile 2.0 Organizing Committee: Daniel Appelquist, Gregory Gorman, Mike Rowehl, Peter Vesterbacka and Rudy De Waele in partnership with ESADE.
The MOBILE 2.0 EUROPE conference brings together experts and thought leaders from all aspects of the mobile ecosystem, including startups, investors, mobile carriers, device manufacturers, and mobile application developers and web technologists. The conference is an opportunity for companies to connect to industry leadership and startup innovation and broaden your C-level relationships.
The event will be held at the Espacio ESADE FORUM, Barcelona and will run from 9:00am to 6:00pm with a reception at the Espacio ESADE FORUM afterward.
So, what can you expect? Two industry keynotes (to be announced), four panels and three series of innovative startups presenting live-demos.
Panel speakers as of today include:
* Tony Fish, AMF Ventures
* Dr. Maximilian Niederhofer, Associate, Atlas Venture
* Inma Martinez, Director and Principal Advisor, Stradbroke Advisor
* Anil Hansjee, Head of Corporate Development - EMEA, Google Inc.
* Mike Butcher, editor TechCrunch UK & Ireland
* Chris Liu, Managing Director, Fjord
* Leif Fågelstedt, COO, Blyk
* Ilja Laurs, Founder & CEO of GetJar
* Antonio Vince Staybl, CEO GoFresh
* Raimo van der Klein, Co-founder SPRXmobile
* Martin Duval, CEO bluenove / Director of the Orange Start-Up Program
* Carlos Domingo, General Director of Telefonica R+D labs
* Unai Iturburu, Head of Vodafone Spain R&D
* Anastassia Lauterbach, Executive Vice President for Strategy, T-Mobile International
* Peter Vesterbacka, Some Bazaar
* Daniel Appelquist, Senior Technology Strategist, Vodafone Group
Check the full speaker list here.
The Mobile 2.0 Europe presenting start-ups will be selected in 3 Categories (Seed Capital Stage, Pre Series A and Post Series A). Any start-up company with a mobile application can participate. To apply and present your company and your application, you need to fill in the online application form. Deadline for submission is June 6, 2008 at midnight CET.
Seed Capital Stage and Pre Series A Start-ups will be selected by dotopen and the Mobile 2.0 organizing committee. Post Series A Start-ups will be selected in collaboration with the VC Panel. During the event, all panel participants and organizers will vote their best Start-up in each category; the winner in each category receives an invitation to present at the Mobile 2.0 Event in San Francisco on November 3, 2008.
Early Bird registration for this event is only € 99,- till May 31 (breakfast, lunch, coffee and networking cocktail included), after that date tickets will cost €199,-
Don’t hesitate to contact the organizers at info@dotopen.eu in case of any question or comment.
