Facebook’s main app for iOS adds free voice calls inside North America

Facebook calling

Facebook has been spreading voice messaging throughout its mobile apps for awhile, but it’s clear the Palo Alto crew is no longer happy leaving interaction to canned speeches. Following a quiet rollout of live voice calls to Facebook Messenger earlier in the year, a version 5.5 update to Facebook’s core iOS app is giving social networkers a similar chance to talk to each other for free. The only stipulations are that users have the bandwidth to burn and live in either the US or Canada. Otherwise, the interface and functionality are dead ringers for the Messenger equivalents we tried in January. There’s still no word on when full voice calls will reach Android or other platforms, although they typically get feature parity before too long.

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Source: App Store

Skype starts testing video voicemail feature on OS X, Android and iOS, we go hands-on (video) (update)

Skype starts testing video voicemail

Facebook and Vine were just the beginning — you should have known that. Especially once the biggest social network in the world started dipping its toes in the VoIP pool. Skype isn’t about to let others encroach on its hard won territory without a fight. The Microsoft-owned messaging platform has started testing what amounts to a video voicemail feature on OS X, Android and iOS, something that had already been hinted at in its updated TOS. Why those operating systems at first, without any word about Windows or Windows Phone, we’re unsure. But it’s a safe bet Redmond’s own platforms will get the feature sooner rather than later. Currently users in the US and UK should be seeing the option, just dig a bit as it might be hidden behind a more actions or overflow icon, as it is on Android. Customers are getting 20 free video messages to start, though we weren’t able to wrangle any further details out of the company regarding pricing.

(Update: While we still have some unanswered questions regarding pricing, Skype did say that unlimited voice messaging will be included as part of a premium subscription.)

(Update 2: A Skype spokesperson reached out to us with the following statement about availability:

“Users in these markets across all Windows desktop and mobile platforms can receive messages, too. We will have send capability in Windows by end of April. In the meantime, we continue to test this new feature in its early release.”

April isn’t ideal, but it’s better than nothing.)

Filed under: , , ,

Comments

Skype for iOS updates with automatic call recovery, IM improvements

Today Skype released an update for the iPhone and iPad, both of which are getting some exclusive new features. Both devices now have automatic call recovery, meaning that dropped calls will result in an automatic redialing right away. There’s also a fix to IM conversations, that make them appear in the correct order this time around, and finally a new opt-in/out selector when registering in the app.

skype

The iPhone version of the app now features emergency call routing right through the native dialer, and on the iPad, there’s an improved UI that allows for a “simple swipe from the left of the screen to see your recent conversations in a sidebar.” Plus, there’s improved spacing and minor UI changes for the iPad mini.

Another new feature of the iPad version is the ability to add money to your Skype account from within the iPad app. This is mostly useful for those who don’t really access Skype on their computer and want the iPad app to be fully-featured. However, this new feature is limited to only Estonia, France, Sweden, the UK, and the US for now.

Other than that, there were plenty of bugfixes in the update as well. These included incorrect timestamps, calls not ending, etc. Overall, the app should run a lot smoother now. Sadly, the Android version of Skype has not been updated with these features, but it just may be a matter of time before the dev team gets around to it.


Skype for iOS updates with automatic call recovery, IM improvements is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Skype begins direct carrier billing in Russia, US and Canada to follow

Skype begins direct carrier billing in Russia, US and Canada to follow

As data bundles become more prevalent, it’s natural to see Skype as a thorn in the side of mobile operators’ voice offerings. A new direct billing deal with carriers announced today, however, could prove that the two can play nice. While it’s not a full embrace, it effectively means that operators could sell you Skype credit directly, and not be cut out of the loop completely. There are no details on what arrangements between operators and Skype will look like, but from the user’s perspective, it’s another welcome payment option. The service has been on the cards for some time now, with some operators expressing an interest for even longer. Skype tells us that the service is live today with an unnamed Russian operator, with promise of it coming to the US and Canada soon. As GigaOM points out, Mach — who the VoIP provider is partnering with — lists T-Mobile, Telus and Verizon Wireless among its client list. So, while nothing is confirmed, there’s a heads-up over which operators might get the facility first.

Comments

Line VoIP and instant messaging app reaches 100 million global users in 19 months

Line VoIP and instant messenger app reaches 100 million global users in 19 months

The likes of WhatsApp and Skype might still dominate the west, but Line continues to soak up new users in Asia and across the world. Since October 2012, the ever-expanding messaging app has managed to add just shy of 30 million new users — the biggest jump in new users yet. The total includes iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Windows Phone and feature phone iterations, with Line now claiming the app top spot in 41 app stores worldwide. And to celebrate the milestone? It’s made a charming video (embedded after the break) with a handful of its adorable characters.

Show full PR text

NHN ‘line’, the number of subscribers exceeded 100 million people

NHN subsidiary of NHN Japan’s global mobile messenger line (LINE) ’18, the service launched about 19 ​​months embroidery 1 billion people around the world join surpassed. communications lines through a PC or mobile device, voice calls and instant messaging features are available to subscribers with free service was launched last June 2011. Overseas users soared in regions such as East Asia, Middle East, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, in October 2011 after massive chugeo, free voice calls and features such as stickers, Russia and neighboring countries in 2012, in Spain, Chile and Mexico available in the region, including Spanish-speaking increasing the current week about 300 new subscribers manmyeongssik is increasing. As a result, 19 months after launch services today (18 days), the world join embroidery 100 million mark was Twitter about 49 months * 1, the period spent 1 billion subscribers in achieving Twitter or Facebook and Facebook about 54 months * 2, line comparison of a rapidly growing and you can see that in 2012, ‘Hello, Friends in Tokyo’ conference held in Tokyo, Japan, in July a new platform service line channels (LINE Channel) ‘was released. A solid user base line and 80.3 percent from the line channels’ highest monthly active users (MAU, Monthly Active User) ratio, based on a variety of interlocking App service was introduced, and so far 24 species of interlocking App (wepaep except) surpassed 1 billion cumulative release, download , especially last year, ‘line games’ began in earnest in November, has surpassed 10 million downloads in the 12 days of service launches Pop ‘line’, as well as 12 games while providing. Line game is the current cumulative total of 70 million cases surpassed the other hand, the line number of subscribers exceeded 100 million people, which commemorates today (18th) from 7 days to users of daily one line of popular paid sticker free progress that event

Filed under: ,

Comments

Source: Line Blog

Facebook iPhone Messenger VoIP Feature Not Powered By Skype

facebook skype iphone messenger voip Facebook iPhone Messenger VoIP Feature Not Powered By SkypeFacebook announced yesterday its iPhone Messenger application would receive the ability to make VoIP calls in the U.S., which was previously only made available to Canadian users as a way to test the feature before rolling it out in the U.S. Seeing how friendly Facebook and Skype have been the past few years, we assumed they were behind Facebook’s Messenger app receiving the ability to make VoIP calls. It turns out, we were wrong.

Skype has confirmed it isn’t behind Facebook’s Messenger’s VoIP call feature as it absolutely does not rely on Skype’s technology. Seeing how the call quality of VoIP calls are inside of the Facebook Messenger app, we think Facebook made a big mistake as they could probably have been much better if it did use Skype for its VoIP calls.

We’re sure one day in the future, Facebook will unveil who it’s using for its VoIP calling needs, but for now, all we can do is sit back and wonder why they didn’t use Skype given how much they’ve integrated with it and Microsoft for some time now.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Alleged Samsung Galaxy S4 Spotted In Benchmarks With 8-Core Exynos 5 Chipset, Blackberry 10 Z10 Sample Photos Spotted On Flickr And Picasa,

Skype: We’re not powering Facebook’s Messenger phone calls

Facebook’s new Messenger voice call feature, offering free VoIP over WiFi, is not powered by Skype‘s technology the company has confirmed, despite previous partnerships between the two. The new voice-calling Messenger app, which Facebook unveiled this week, does not rely on Skype’s back-end technology, Skype told SlashGear today. Facebook expects to roll out the feature to iOS users in the US over the course of the next few days.

skype_logo

Exactly who is powering Facebook’s new VoIP service is unclear, though Skype had been a reasonable guess. The two companies partnered back in 2011 to add video calling to Facebook chat conversations in the desktop browser; a new button triggered the calls, with no extra software to download or install.

Since then, Skype has been progressively building Facebook integration into its desktop apps, including simple Facebook to Facebook video calls initiated by clicking on the user’s friend list, rather than requiring their Skype username. Now, however, the Microsoft-owned Skype is focusing more on pushing its own mobile apps, most recently releasing a version for Windows Phone.

For Facebook, VoIP service is another example of it filling in the key spots in the phone industry with its own products, as it attempts to strengthen its mobile strategy and, eventually, monetize those users who access the social network via phones and/or tablets.

Earlier this week, the company announced Facebook Graph Search, a context-powered search engine intended to give personalized results based on the activities and preferences of the users’ friends. Under the hood, Facebook uses Microsoft’s Bing search engine to power the new system.


Skype: We’re not powering Facebook’s Messenger phone calls is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Logitech K725-C keyboard adds VoIP Caller ID screen and controls

Logitech has outed a new keyboard, the UC Solution for Cisco 725-C, complete with dedicated VoIP controls and a caller ID display. The new ‘board – which Logitech says pairs up neatly with its C920-C webcam and M525-C wireless mouse – is designed specifically to work with Cisco’s Jabber service, allowing users to throw out their desk phone and instead handle incoming and outgoing calls, voicemails, and more from their PC peripherals.

Logitech-UC-Solution-for-Cisco-725-C

Dedicated buttons for answering/ending calls as well as muting are present, with illumination so that you can be alerted to an incoming call even if you have the volume shut off. The voicemail button also lights up when there are new messages.

As for the other companion peripherals, the M525-C mouse comes with one of Logitech’s Unifying receiver dongles, which can plug directly into the K725-C keyboard, and has a scroll wheel and rubberized grips. The C920-C webcam can handle up to 1080p video at 30fps, and includes stereo microphones and onboard H.264 encoding for reducing computer processor strain.

Obviously you’ll need a Jabber system in order for the bundle to be any use to you, but we can envisage Logitech developing another version of the keyboard targeting home users instead, perhaps with Skype controls instead. As for the K725-C, that’ll land in March 2013 priced at $269.99, complete with both webcam and mouse, while the C920-C webcam will also be sold separately at $109.99.


Logitech K725-C keyboard adds VoIP Caller ID screen and controls is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Facebook rolling out free voice calling for iPhone users in the US

Earlier this month, Facebook rolled out a limited beta of sorts that introduced voice messaging and voIP calling in Canada. However, it looks like the testing of the feature went rather well, because just a couple weeks later, Facebook is now launching free voice calling to iPhone users in the US.

caliing

The new feature will show up in Facebook’s Messenger app if it hasn’t already. However, the best part is, you don’t need to update the app through the iTunes App Store. Facebook will simply place the new feature in the app without any hassle. It’s certainly a great feature for those who don’t want to use up their minutes, or who don’t have the phone number to one of their Facebook friends.

To perform a voice call to another Facebook user (that also has an iPhone), just open up a conversation with said person and tap the “i” button in the top-right corner. From there, you can tap “Free Call” to start the voice calling session. However, just like any voIP calling feature, you can only use it over WiFi or data.

Sadly, though, there’s no word on an Android version of Facebook’s voIP calling. We’re sure it will come at some point, but it seems like Facebook is favoring the iPhone for now. The new feature is rolling out now to all iPhone users who have the Messenger app installed, so if you don’t see it now, you’ll hopefully see it later tonight or early tomorrow.

[via The Verge]


Facebook rolling out free voice calling for iPhone users in the US is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Facebook Rolls Out VoIP Calling To U.S. iPhone Messenger Users

 Facebook Rolls Out VoIP Calling To U.S. iPhone Messenger Users

Earlier this month, Facebook updated its iPhone Messenger App to be a little more than just a way for you to IM your Facebook friends, that is, if for some reason you prefer to do it in a standalone application rather than reading your messages through Facebook’s official app. The update brought the ability to share voice messages to Facebook users through the application, but in Canada, or the land of maple syrup as I like to call it, they were given the ability to make VoIP calls through Facebook Messenger.

It looks like the “test” was deemed enough of a success for Facebook to now allow for the U.S. version of Facebook Messenger to be given the ability to make VoIP calls to other Facebook users. Best of all, there’s no update necessary as it’ll just start work as soon as you deem someone lucky enough to hear the sound of your voice rather than just your words on a screen.

Facebook teamed up with Skype back in November of 2011 as the union made it possible to make calls through Skype right from the comfort of your Facebook profile. Today’s update makes it much easier to chat with someone as you can initiate a call straight from your iPhone.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: RIM Launches Blackberry 10 “Last Chance Port-A-Thon” Event, Samsung Exynos Exploit Fix Pushed,