Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on December 07, 2010 by CyberNet.

I don’t make many phone calls, but lately I’ve been on the verge of migrating my contacts over to my Google Voice phone number. The big reason I want to to do this is to to completely eliminate my text messaging fees, and with the official Google Voice app for the iPhone I’m awfully close to making the complete transition. Wouldn’t it be cool, however, if you didn’t have to use any minutes for calls made with your Google Voice account on the iPhone?

Well, I’m here to tell you it’s possible with a free third-party app called Talkatone. The Google Voice VoIP calling is a feature that’s tucked away in the app a bit, but in my testing I didn’t notice a difference from a normal call when talking to someone that was on a landline. This isn’t just for Google Voice users though… it can also be used to make calls to your contacts who are logged into Google Talk (assuming they are using Gmail Chat and have the video chat plugin installed). You can also go old-school and use this as an instant messenger with your Google Talk friends.

With this article I’m just focusing on the ability to call a phone using Google Voice VoIP access on Talkatone. Just follow the three simple steps below to navigate your way to VoIP bliss.

1. Launch Talkatone, and login so that you get to your contacts screen. Double-tap the header labeled Contacts:
   
2. Select the Google Voice VoIP Call option:
   
3. Dial the number you want to call, or select the Address Book button in the upper-right corner to select someone from your iPhone contacts:
   

If you find that this isn’t working for you the developer says you may need to set up the Google Voice integration first:

1. Login to your GMail account on Mac or PC and sign in to chat there.
2. Make at least one phone call from there using the Call Phone button (you may need to accept the terms of service). If you don’t have Call Phone you may need to install Google Video chat plugin first.
3. Optionally: To receive your Google Voice calls in Talkatone as VoIP you may login to your Google Voice account and click Forward to Google Chat.

Here’s a more comprehensive list of Talkatone features:

• Login using your GMail account directly to Google Servers over a secure connection.
• Portrait and Landscape modes supported.
• Voice Calls over 3G and WiFi (sorry, NO VIDEO yet, it’s on our list) with advanced codecs support, packet loss reconciliation, etc. for superior voice call quality.
• Share your location in real time with your peers.
• Unique “double-side coverflow” navigation with support of swipe gestures for quick switching between open windows.
• Supports avatars from Google Talk server and from your iPhone’s address book.
• Basic Bluetooth headset support.
• Double-tap top status bar to show the “Quick Menu”: mute message sounds, clear unread counts and place a Google Voice VoIP call.
• For U.S./Canada users: basic support for VoIP calling to/from regular phones using Google Voice account.

Not bad, and it’s all free. I did get a glimpse of some iAds in the app, but I only saw them after I had actually been connected with the person I was calling. I didn’t see any ads elsewhere in the app. Since it is free you don’t have much to lose by trying it out.

Talkatone iTunes Link
Thanks Jason!

Copyright © 2013 CyberNetNews.com

A few months back AT&T made some changes to its international data plans and today old Ma Bell is at it again. The carrier’s new text and call packages will take effect on November 16th and will offer flat rate pricing to globetrotters who often find themselves abroad. AT&T’s Europe Travel plan offers minutes in increments of 30, 80 and 200 respectively priced at $30, $60 and $120 per month, with an overage rate of $1 per minute. For customers traveling elsewhere, the company’s new Rest of World Travel setup features buckets of 15, 40 and 100 minutes of talk time also priced at $30, $60 and $120 a month, with an overage charge of $2 per additional minute. As for those who’d rather text than talk, AT&T’s newest Global Messaging plan serves up 600 text, video and picture messages for $60 per month in over 120 countries. Finally, customers who have 300MB or 800MB international data add-ons will be able to use AT&T’s WiFi International app to access up to 1GB of free WiFi data each month. Now take a breath and let all of that info marinate. Got it? Good. So, if you’re a frequent flyer trying to save some won, euros or rupees, or whatever — then be sure to check out the press release for a complete list of countries covered under these new plans.

Continue reading AT&T announces new flat rate global talk and text plans, offers options for weary travelers

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, AT&T

AT&T announces new flat rate global talk and text plans, offers options for weary travelers originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hidden among the higher-profile items at Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10.1 launch today was a device that at first seemed familiar, but turned out to be far more than your everyday S Pen. That’s right, Samsung’s already capable stylus just got a major boost — meet the BT S Pen. The device, which received no formal introduction during its host device’s launch event, first appeared in the “press kit” bag that attendees received on the way out the door. It’s similar in size and shape to the company’s Galaxy S Pen Holder Kit, which serves as a sleeve for the standard-issue Note S Pen, but Bluetooth functionality, along with a microphone and tiny speaker, enable the lightweight plastic contraption to double as a wireless headset — sure to come in handy with the SIM slot-equipped international Note 10.1 flavor.

We caught our first hint of the pen’s functionality upon discovering a bundled AC adapter — that seemed mighty odd. The box also included an unusually beefy user manual and no fewer than five replacement “nibs” (read: stylus tips). Pairing took but a few seconds, and then we were on our way answering calls with a single tap of the talk button. There’s also a built-in vibration mechanism, which serves to alert you to incoming calls. Sound quality was solid, but speaking into a pen admittedly felt a bit odd — you may not draw as many stares as you would if speaking directly into a 10.1, but the seemingly unusual action may still turn a few heads. Otherwise, the S pen functioned as expected.

The packaging is all we have to go off of at this point — Samsung reps we spoke to didn’t know to expect the device today, so there’s no pricing or availability info to share. We do know that it’s rated for three hours of talk time and 130 hours of standby, it weighs 21 grams, offers Bluetooth 3.0 compatibility and will work with Galaxy Note devices — you could use it as a headset with other gadgets, though there wouldn’t be much appeal. It also includes a micro-USB charging cable, with the port accessible just above the shirt clip. That’s all she wrote for now — apparently this accessory was available exclusively at today’s event, and may not make its way to the US, if it’s released at all. You can see it in action now though, in our hands-on video after the break.

Continue reading Samsung HM5100 Bluetooth S Pen makes a surprise debut in our Note 10.1 ‘press kit,’ we pencil in a chat (hands-on)

Filed under: Cellphones, Peripherals, Tablet PCs

Samsung HM5100 Bluetooth S Pen makes a surprise debut in our Note 10.1 ‘press kit,’ we pencil in a chat (hands-on) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:47:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With more carriers pushing unlimited calling plans, we can’t say there’s necessarily a need for the friends and family features of yesteryear on this side of the Atlantic, but plenty of networks beyond the good ole US of A are a bit more stingy when it comes to tallying talk time. The latest Google patent application to be published was filed last December and covers exactly this type of scenario, suggesting that the Google+ profile of the future could include an option to create a “Telco Co. Preferred Calling” circle, which would theoretically enable free calling between yourself and a small group of friends.

According to the application, semi-public information, such as a telephone number, would be shared between Google and a registered service provider, and you would maintain discount calling relationships from within Google+, adding and dropping callers to and from your online contacts list. You could also dictate custom rules, such as ringtones for contacts in specific groups, or create carrier-branded circles that are populated with your friends on the same network, making it easier to determine whether or not you’ll be billed for calls to a particular user. Like all patent applications, there’s no guarantee that Google’s submission with come to fruition, but if you’re feeling optimistic, you can hit up the source link below for all the legalese.

Google+ patent app details myFaves-like carrier contacts integration with social network circles originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 29 Jun 2012 10:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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