Wireless

wireless, WiFi, WiMAX, 3G, 4G, EVDO

Skype Video For iPhone!

December 30, 2010

Skype Video for iPhone is here! You can now make video calls from your iPhone with the latest update from the Apple App Store. Rich Tehrani and I tested it this morning on his iPhone 4 with my iPhone 3GS (only rear-facing camera).

The video quality was pretty good. I estimate between 5-12 fps over WiFi. After awhile my 3GS started going black for a few seconds and then would turn back on.

Posted in Apple, Skype, TMCnet, Video Conferencing, VoIP, Wireless

Apple iOS vs. Google Android

December 28, 2010

There was an interesting discussion of iOS-vs.-Android news that began with this report by Seth Weintraub for Fortune. He explains in the article the downward spiral cost of creating smartphone components and the end product smartphone as well. He also says Apple could be in big trouble as Android activations surpass iPhone because of the lower cost of Android phones. Seth writes:

Cheap smartphones could change the way carriers price contracts here in the U.S.

Posted in Android, Apple, Google, Microsoft, TMCnet, Wireless

Skype for Android Update - Supports Samsung Galaxy S & SD Card

December 16, 2010

Skype is on an update roll. Last week they released an update for Nokia/Symbian phones. Now they just released an update for Android devices that allows you to move the Skype app to external storage to free up precious local storage on the phone. This release also adds compatibility with the Samsung Galaxy S. Only catch is that you'll need Android 2.2.

Skype may be on an update roll, but there is NO truth to the rumor that they are releasing a video-enabled Skype app for iPhone or Android for some video chat action.

Posted in Android, Apple, Google, Mobile Phones, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Tru Rates Now Available in Australia

December 14, 2010

Some news I wanted to share from Tru (also known as Truphone)... Tru, (dba Truphone), has expanded its local rates and local number proposition to Australia. Starting today, both business and pre-pay customers of Tru’s GSM service in the UK and US will benefit from paying only local rates instead of roaming rates for all calls and texts to and within Australia, as well as local data rates when roaming within the country.

In an industry first, Tru’s network now offers customers the option to have three local mobile numbers for the UK, US and Australia on one SIM card, allowing friends and business contacts based in those countries to reach them wherever they are without paying the cost of an international call.

Posted in Mobile Phones, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Obihai Mashes Up Mobile, Landline, VoIP & Social Networking

December 10, 2010

Obihai Technology released their OBiON application for the iPhone. In some ways Obihai is very similar to the very hyped Ooma product, which Rich Tehrani likes, but I was initially not a fan of until they changed their business model. Obihai was started by the founders of the creators of the very first analog telephony adapters, the Komodo Fone 300, which was used by VOnage. A Little VoIP History: I got one of the earliest prototypes of the Komodo Fone 300 ATA device, which I reviewed for Internet Telephony Magazine back in 2000.

Posted in Apple, Gadgets, Mobile Phones, SIP, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Skype Updates Nokia App

December 8, 2010

Posted in Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Plantronics InstantMeeting - New Conferencing Mobile App

December 8, 2010

Plantronics tomorrow officially launches their InstantMeeting mobile conferencing dialer app. The app automatically recognizes upcoming conference calls in your calendar and then when the time comes it can automatically dial the conference phone number and enter in the conference ID and PIN - essentially "one touch" conference bridge dialing. There is a free trial version that provides 20 free calls, and a premium version that costs $2.99 for unlimited calls.

Certainly useful if your a supreme multi-tasker who works until the last possible second before dialing the conference bridge - perhaps even dialing late. This app can shave off some seconds and reduce the stress.

Posted in Android, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, Wireless

Viber - Another VoIP Mobile App Launches on iPhone

December 2, 2010

Viber, a mobile VoIP app for the iPhone launched today. There are plenty of mobile VoIP apps for the iPhone, but each has its weakness, including Skype, which is a battery hog. Viber's claim to fame is that it doesn't use buddy lists or require registration. Instead, your phone number is your username.

Posted in Android, Apple, Mobile Phones, SIP, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP, Wireless

Major AT&T Outage

November 29, 2010

There appears to be a regional and perhaps nationwide outage of AT&T services. Several co-workers have reported that their Apple iPhones cannot make phone calls or receive texts.

I tested my iPhone and sent some text messages that took over 5 minutes to be received - much longer than usual. According to Twitter, both AT&T and Sprint are experiencing a nationwide outage. Could Cyber Monday be affecting AT&T's & Sprint's network?

Posted in Apple, Mobile Phones, TMCnet, Wireless