Hasta La Gadget!

Orange has launched Libon for iOS, pushing HD voice calls via app after apparently getting impatient for all other networks to implement the better quality audio. The free download – which will work on all carriers, and is headed to Android in early Q1 2013 – supports HD calls between Libon users over a 3G or WiFi connection, as well as personalized voicemail and voice-to-text transcription of messages.

Libon allows users to set up multiple voicemail greeting messages, which can automatically recognize different callers by their phone number. The app sorts contacts into groups, and if you particularly trust one group you can allow them to see your current location and even be read out a recent Twitter or Facebook status update.

There’s also instant messaging, and a dedicated contacts book with cloud backup in case you lose your phone. The free version of the app includes support for three contacts/contacts groups, whereas the premium upgrade – available in 95 countries – supports unlimited groups, full-length voicemail transcription in English, French, and Spanish, and email copies of voicemails.

Premium – a £1.99 in-app purchase – also includes an hour per month of international calling, to landlines or mobile numbers, in 31 countries. There’s also the option of prerecorded “funny” voicemails at £0.69 a go.

You can download Libon for iOS here [iTunes link]; it’ll work on iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, though so far there’s no iPad-specific version.

Orange Libon app pushes HD voice (since other carriers don’t seem to care) is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft recently revealed that it would be retiring its longstanding Live Messenger platform. However, instead of receiving a commemorative wristwatch and rocking chair for its services, the once prominent IM client will be integrated into Skype during Q1 2013. Taking its first step to get the ball rolling, the company issued an update to Skype for Windows 8. The latest software push brings group searches, improved video performance, bug fixes and most notably Messenger contacts are now available to call. While these changes are subtle, it’s good to finally see Microsoft making moves after shelling out $8.5 billion for the privilege a little over a year ago. Hopefully, this will lead to more practical roads, like finally bringing Skype to the Xbox 360. But that would make too much sense, wouldn’t it?

Filed under: Internet, Software, Microsoft

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Via: The Next Web

Source: Microsoft

Skype is doing its part this time of year to make it easier for its users to get a hold of their loved ones during the holiday season. Last week, they offered free calling for an entire month, but you only had one day to claim the deal. The next best thing is gift cards, which Skype just launched today.

Skype is offering both digital and physical gift cards that offer $10 or more in credits. These can be used either for the service’s VoIP calling or even some Skype WiFi at the airport. If you want a customizable Skype gift card, you’ll have to get one online, but if you’re looking for a physical gift card, the Microsoft Store, OfficeMax and Target have them available.

While $10 may not sound like a lot, Skype reassures you that $10 will get you plenty of calling time with your favorite people. They even made a quick infographic comparing different things that $10 will buy you compared to calling people over Skype. For instance, $10 will roughly buy you 1.62 cups of beer, according to Skype, but it will also get you a one-month premium subscription to Skype. When they put it that, it certainly sounds like a deal.

For those who live overseas from their family, a Skype gift card can certainly be a great Christmas gift. While Skype-to-Skype calls are free no matter where you’re located, calling landlines and mobile phones can cost a few pennies depending on who you’re calling, so if a family doesn’t have access to a computer, a Skype gift card is great for those who are forced to use a landline or cell phone.

Skype launches gift cards just in time for the holidays is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

If you’re looking for a way to get a hold of your relatives who are in a different country, and aren’t wanting to pay a whole lot in international calling fees, Skype is offering free international calling for one month, as well as free calling to landline and mobile phones. However, in order to claim it, you have act by the end of the day or the deal will be gone.

Skype-to-Skype calls have always been free inside of the country, but if you ever wanted to call your dear Aunt Tilda who lives across the pond, you have to make use of your Skype credits. Same thing goes for calling landline phones and mobile devices. However, Skype is making all of that free for one month starting today.

We’re not sure if a lot of people actually make phone calls nowadays, but if something’s free, you might as well as take advantage of it. There is, however, a “fair usage policy”, meaning that you can’t chit-chat for too long and hog the line, and premium and satellite numbers remain ineligible. Still, though, the policy seems pretty generous.

You’ll also have to attach some sort of payment method to your account, just in case you want to use it after your free one month is out, and international calling is eligible in over 40 countries. You must claim your free month by the end of today, so be sure to head to Skype’s website as soon as possible to grab your free month.

[via Ubergizmo]

Skype offering free international calling for one month is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Skype has taken down its password reset page as it deals with a password reset exploit that can give suspicious types access to your account with only your email address. The issue was first spotted on Russian forums months earlier, but TNW has since been able to replicate the same, apparently easy to reproduce, vulnerability. Before Skype withdrew its password reset page, the only way to avoid the problem was to change your email address to something unknown by anyone. According to Skype’s Heartbeat status blog, it’s now investigating the issue further.

Update: Skype has released a second statement: “Early this morning we were notified of user concerns surrounding the security of the password reset feature on our website. This issue affected some users where multiple Skype accounts were registered to the same email address.

“We suspended the password reset feature temporarily this morning as a precaution and have made updates to the password reset process today so that it is now working properly. We are reaching out to a small number of users who may have been impacted to assist as necessary.”

Filed under: Microsoft

Skype disables password reset page to deal with email-based security ‘vulnerability’ (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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