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  • KeKu Celebrates 500,000 Users With Group Calling App

    KeKu, the VoIP telephone service only launched early this year, but is already reaping the rewards of a fantastic service. With 500,000 customers internationally using their service on both iOS and Android devices, the sky seems to be the limit for this New York-based startup.

    KeKu’s apps allow free VoIP calls within their system, as well as inexpensive international rates for both mobile and traditional phone lines. The secret is that they provide local numbers to their users, which can be dolled out amongst their family and friends, regardless of their calling area.

    According to Manilo Carrelli, the company’s CEO, their success relies heavily on an exciting viral growth, especially in areas you wouldn’t expect that to occur within. The Middle East has been one of their biggest markets, probably due to the incredible expense of calling both locally and long distance in that region. Canada has also been a key area for them, with a 400% growth since the app’s launch.

    The international calling feature seems to be at the heart of their expansion. Users have found that they can use KeKu for local calls and often receive a better rate than they would from their area’s traditional phone service. And fans of Google Voice have been integrating with the KeKu app to direct Google Voice calls to an international phone line while abroad, a feature that Google does not yet provide on its own.

    With all of this unexpected growth, KeKu has been able to turn their attention towards additional services for its fans. First down the pipe is an iOS-based group calling app. All you have to do is drag the contacts you want to include into a group folder and tap the call button. It’s simple at the moment, without a lot of bells and whistles, but it certainly gets the job done.

  • Imo Pairs VoIP Capabilities With Its IM App

    Imo has been widely used for years now by fans of instant messaging looking to bring all their various accounts under one umbrella. The company recently announced that it is expanding its free VoIP calling service from an Android-only option to users on iOS devices as well.

    The Imo app can aggregate the eleven top IM applications into one easy service. And while Android clients have enjoyed free VoIP calling on top of all of that, any Apple users running iOS 3.1 or later who also have a 3G or better wireless connection will now be able to make their own VoIP calls.

    Users should take note that calls made while on your own 3G or 4G service will sap your data plan, and could be costly if you’re not too careful. Simply switching to an available Wi-Fi service will remove that concern.

    According to Imo representatives, the quality of the calling service should stand up to any traditional phone. Add that to the app’s voice-based IM service, photo sharing capability, and group messaging through Google Talk, Skype, Facebook Chat and many others, and you’ve got one powerful tool on your mobile device.

    The proof is in the numbers. To date, Imo has been downloaded more than four million times. And people are really using it as well. They average more than fifty million messages delivered each and every day, from over 700,000 regular users. Imo added VoIP calling to their Android app in February of this year, and it is a bit odd that it took them so long to figure it out for iOS customers. That delay may cost them some users, as there are now several other VoIP service apps for iOS devices that have already gained traction.

  • LifeSize Communications Launches Virtual Video MCU

    LifeSize Communications is well respected in the VoIP industry for their UVC video conferencing platform, especially since it is entirely software-based. They’ve recently announced some incredible innovations that will make video calls on mobile devices easier than ever.

    According to LifeSize VP and general manager of video solutions Michael Helmbrecht, the software platform will now include a unique bridging capability, allowing for video calling amongst multiple parties in a virtual environment.

    The company launched their UVC software platform back in February, after many years of development. They’ve faced stiff competition from larger companies in the market, such as Polycom and Cisco Systems. But while those behemoths focus on hardware-based systems, LifeSize is taking advantage of the increasingly mobile focus in the marketplace.

    Today’s workforce is all about mobility, so having the option to create a video conference on a tablet or smartphone as well as on a desktop or laptop computer is incredibly enticing. Hence, LifeSize’s UVC Multipoint. The multiparty video conferencing software is incredibly easy to use, and can scale upwards to meet increasing demand.

    LifeSize promises rock solid service, with reliable connections even in the extreme case of a system failure. And with each company employee able to start and manage their own video conference from wherever they are in the world, it’s clear that the UVC Multipoint fills an important void in the market. Each company that purchases the software will have one interface for administration, which means a shorter learning curve, and anyone with the license key can use it.

  • Cloud Storage Supports Genealogists

    The benefits of Cloud Storage have been brought to bear in many different industries, from finance to real estate and certainly personal computing. But genealogists have been taking advantage of the off-site storage with more and more frequency, due to the safety and security it offers.

    Genealogists spend years researching their findings, and the specter of losing all of that effort can be terrifying. Cloud Storage completely removes those fears. If a genealogist experiences a malfunctioning hard drive, it could cost them dearly. With all of their data stored in the cloud, no type of physical storage issue, no matter how extreme, can cause the irrevocable loss of work.

    Another useful benefit of Cloud Storage is the fact that data can be accessed from several different devices, in a variety of locations. That means a genealogist can access the same file and continue his work, whether on a personal computer, an office workstation, or a mobile device in transit between the two.

    File-sharing is also made much easier thanks to Cloud Storage technology. Many genealogists must share their findings regularly with associates, and also want to deliver summations to clients and family. Many Cloud Storage services come with file-sharing built in. If both parties have a Dropbox, SkyDrive or Box account, they can access and download files from any of their devices, making the sharing of even the most complicated or lengthy genealogy report an instant endeavor.

    Cloud Storage probably won’t completely take the place of physical storage, at least not until several more years of consistent, worry-free service are accrued. But at some point, the physical hard drive might end up a relic of the past, much like the names genealogists pour over during their studies.

  • Sony Reader Adds Cloud Storage Capability

    Every major technology company has worked their way into the mobile marketplace, as Sony has found their foothold with the popular ebook Reader device. Now they’re taking that to the next level, with the addition of Cloud Storage capabilities.

    Their new device, the Sony Reader PRS-T2, is now being released a year after the PRS-T1. While that device did gain popularity, it hasn’t been able to push aside Amazon’s Kindle. But these new upgrades may force ebook fans to sit up and take notice.

    The largest change is the incorporation of Evernote in the new device. That’s Sony’s aggregation service, built off of cloud storage, giving users the ability to mark their favorite sections or quotes from an ebook and store them in the cloud. They can then reference each highlighted section at their leisure.

    Evernote also gives users the ability to store video content or articles on the cloud, and then download them on demand to their Reader. That way users can read something on their home computer, and then pick up where they left off later on their mobile device. And a solid Wi-Fi connection is the only requirement.

    The Sony Reader PRS-T2 also comes with much improved battery life, and a promise of two months of continual usage between charges as long as the Wi-Fi feature is disabled. That’s roughly twice the battery life of the PRS-T1, a huge improvement for avid readers.

    Fans of the old device interested in checking out the new model can purchase it with a free download of the first Harry Potter book included. Future ebooks can either be borrowed from your local library or purchased for permanent download.

  • Microsoft Retools SkyDrive Cloud Storage

    Microsoft already offers a market-leading cloud storage service through their SkyDrive system. But the computing giant isn’t resting on its laurels, as evidenced by the recent announcement of some major upgrades to their offerings.

    According to the company’s debriefing, SkyDrive’s entire interface has been retooled, and will now match the tile-centric layout of all other Windows 8 devices. The new layout, deemed ‘Metro’ by Microsoft, will appear consistently on all the company’s new releases, include the upgraded Office release and new Windows operating system.

    In addition, Microsoft has added to SkyDrive’s search capabilities, expanded the sorting options, and improved the functioning of the drag-and-drop features. The SkyDrive desktop app has also received upgrades that should smooth performance on both Mac OS X and Windows 8 platforms, helping bulk uploads complete faster and with less glitches.

    Microsoft has also taken off all restrictions from the SkyDrive API, giving programmers the ability to adjust its functioning to their needs. This now allows third-party apps of all sorts to be uploaded to the Drive, making their cloud storage system welcoming for as many devices and users as possible.

    These significant upgrades shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to fans of Microsoft or industry experts. It’s been clear for well over a year now that Microsoft feels their SkyDrive will soon become one of the cornerstone products in their library. And since it will seamlessly integrate into all other Windows-powered desktop and mobile devices, they expect an increase in user retention across the board.

  • Is Apple Manufacturing an HDTV?

    Even though it’s yet an unconfirmed rumor, it’s difficult not to get excited. According to a series of Tweets from industry insiders and an upcoming report by Jeffries, Apple is currently in production on their own HDTV, to come to market in 2013.

    The Jeffries report has not yet been released, so regrettably none of the details can be confirmed. But according to an industry analyst with access to the report, Apple will partner with Verizon and AT&T to handle the service for the Apple HDTV, or iTV as it will be called.

    Customers who don’t want to change out their current cable provider will still be able to get on the Apple bandwagon. The iTV will also sell as a set-top box for Comcast and the other regional providers. Initial reports put the first iTV at a retail price of $1,250, and Apple expects to ship as many as two million units by the end of 2013.

    Of course, this isn’t the first report on an Apple HDTV to come from Jeffries. Near the beginning of the year they suggested a forthcoming product called the iPanel, at around that same price break, and that five million of the devices would be produced by the end of 2012.

    Those rumors seem to be picking up more support as the months pass. The Wall Street Journal has started discussing Apple’s HDTV release, even suggesting it would link directly to the iCloud, to allow for both live and on-demand television services.

    Time will tell if any of these rumors are true. Hopefully Apple will shed some further light on their HDTV at this fall’s new product release conference.

  • The Slow Decline of an Industry Giant

    The Sharp Corporation has been in business for over a hundred years, and has been a major player in the home entertainment industry for decades. But last Friday stockholders showed their displeasure with the company’s recent strategy, resulting in a near 30% drop in share prices.

    This came on the heels of the company’s announcement that it might be in line for as much as a $1.28 billion loss this fiscal year. And after declaring they would cut as many as 5,000 jobs from their international payroll, industry experts are predicting the beginning of the end for this once proud company.

    Sharp laid off the entire advertising and marketing department at its American headquarters, and those looking for reasons should look no further than their bottom line. Sharp enjoyed a LCD TV/HDTV market share of about 21% just seven years ago. Last year, that number had dropped all the way to under 8%.

    A couple of years back, sensing the impending disaster, Sharp put more than $4 billion into a new fabrication facility in Sakai City. They would own more than one third of the business, giving them a huge leg up in manufacture. However, when their money dried up, they ended up having to cut that investment down to under 10% of the company, and looked for another company to bring in additional investment.

    Hon Hai Precision, Taiwan’s parent company to Foxconn jumped in. The problem for Sharp was that Hon Hai’s investment ended up costing them only twenty cents on the dollar compared to what Sharp originally paid, and Hon Hai also became the largest investor through the deal.

    Even that miserable outcome hasn’t saved Sharp yet, as the investment is still waiting to be made official. Add that to Sharp receiving a debt rating from Moody’s Investors Service of Prime-3, basically the lowest grade an investment can receive, and the writing is clearly on the wall for this once proud industry leader.

  • 2011 Sony HDTV Still Leads the Industry

    Several other high-end HDTV units have come to market over the past year. But none have topped Sony’s Bravia XBR-46X929 in terms of style and ability. And with new models coming to market at year’s end, deal hunters could find one at a greater value than ever before.

    Sure, the $2,500 price tag might have discouraged some consumers from stepping up to the plate on this device. But while there may be larger units than Sony’s 46-inch model, none of them marry technology and aesthetic value so completely.

    The front of the Bravia XBR-46X929 is a single piece of Gorilla Glass, giving it a seamless, smooth look when hung up on your wall. And at only 1.5 inches wide, it’s barely noticeable, until you want it to be.

    And once you turn it on, you’ll truly understand the power of what you’ve purchased. The color is as good as it gets, the unit automatically adjusts the backlight section by section, and the image is smooth as can be, even during scenes of huge action.

    The Bravia comes stock with Netflix and 3D capabilities, as well as other huge bonuses such as Amazon Instant Video, YouTube, Hulu Plus, Skype and even digital music services from Pandora. All of those bonuses make the menu system a bit much to manage, but the set will quickly become your only requirement for total home entertainment.

    Again, you can certainly find a cheaper 46-inch than the Sony Bravia XBR-46X929, and the remote is a bit clunky and counterintuitive. But if picture quality and a massive amount of applications mean more to you than the temporary pain of shelling out a few extra hundred dollars, you simply won’t find a better HDTV set on the market. At least until Sony releases its next model.

  • What to expect in Windows Phone 8 and not Windows Phone 7.8

    Microsoft has already announced that Windows Phone owners should expect another update on their smartphones, the Windows Phone 7.8 update.

    Although every update is received with satisfaction, this time was rather different. Windows Phone owners were not happy when they heard that their current Windows Phone 7 smartphones won't be updated to Windows Phone 8. Microsoft sees Windows Phone 8 as part of the whole Windows 8 change and sadly for current Windows Phone owners, it couldn't be done on their existing smartphones. Windows Phone 7.8 update will contain some new features, but unfortunately it won't be like the Windows Phone 8 update.

    According to a French document that leaked at the Internet, Windows Phone 7.8 will lack the following features, comparing to Windows Phone 8:

    – Windows Phone Wallet
    – Internet Explorer 10
    – Real Multitasking
    – NFC
    – Device Management
    – MicroSD card support
    – Secure boot and encryption
    – Multi-core processor support

    Nokia did not comment on whether the document is correct, although the French blog "Smartphone France" claims it as authentic.

    Even though we are not totally sure of the document's authenticity, we do know that current Windows Phone owners will feel "betrayed" by Microsoft, since their relatively new smartphones will become obsolete sooner or later. Buying a smartphone just a few months ago and being obliged to leave it does not seem the ideal situation for any customer. Although Microsoft does plan something bigger, they still know that they need to win the current Windows Phone owners.

    Windows Phone 8 handsets are expected to arrive in the following months, with Nokia collaborating with Microsoft once again. The fact that the new iPhone arrives in the mid-September raises the competition even more, with Microsoft being aware that Windows 8 should make the difference. It's their chance to prove they can make it big in smartphones, too!