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Tag: 3g

  • Viber 3G VoIP Mobile App Coming to Android

    Viber, a mobile application that offers users free phone calls and text messaging to other Viber users over 3G and Wi-Fi, announced the official launch of the Android version of the app, bringing Viber to millions of additional users.

    Viber also announced that it has acquired over 12 million active users (last 30 days) and has an impressive call traffic volume of over one billion minutes of calls per quarter.

    Viber was released for iPhone just seven months ago and it now has over 20 million registered users and 12 million active users who currently talk on Viber for 11 million minutes every day, with an average of 6 minutes per call.

    The Android version of Viber features the same easy setup process and high-quality calls that drove its success on the iPhone. The Android version of Viber includes several exclusive features:

    • Full call screen whenever a Viber call is received;
    • Popup text message notification, which lets users respond to text messages without having to open Viber;
    • Tighter integration with the phone, which allows users to see their regular call logs and messages within Viber;
    • A default dialer setting that enables users to use the Viber dialer for all their phone calls, not just for Viber calls.

    "We have been looking forward to launching our Android app, especially after having received a staggering number of requests from Android users asking us to bring Viber to the Android market. Our latest user numbers are the best indicator of how much our users love to talk and send messages for free with Viber," said Talmon Marco, Viber CEO.

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    [Originally appeared on VoIP.Biz-news.com]

  • Viber 3G VoIP Mobile App Coming to Android

    Viber, a mobile application that offers users free phone calls and text messaging to other Viber users over 3G and Wi-Fi, announced the official launch of the Android version of the app, bringing Viber to millions of additional users.

    Viber also announced that it has acquired over 12 million active users (last 30 days) and has an impressive call traffic volume of over one billion minutes of calls per quarter.

    Viber was released for iPhone just seven months ago and it now has over 20 million registered users and 12 million active users who currently talk on Viber for 11 million minutes every day, with an average of 6 minutes per call.

    The Android version of Viber features the same easy setup process and high-quality calls that drove its success on the iPhone. The Android version of Viber includes several exclusive features:

    • Full call screen whenever a Viber call is received;
    • Popup text message notification, which lets users respond to text messages without having to open Viber;
    • Tighter integration with the phone, which allows users to see their regular call logs and messages within Viber;
    • A default dialer setting that enables users to use the Viber dialer for all their phone calls, not just for Viber calls.

    "We have been looking forward to launching our Android app, especially after having received a staggering number of requests from Android users asking us to bring Viber to the Android market. Our latest user numbers are the best indicator of how much our users love to talk and send messages for free with Viber," said Talmon Marco, Viber CEO.

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  • Verizon and Apple Team Up to Deliver iPhone 4 on Verizon

    Verizon Wireless and Apple have just announced that the iPhone 4 will be available on the Verizon network beginning on Thursday, February 10. Verizon customers will be given the opportunity to pre-order CDMA iPhone 4 online on February 3, ahead of general availability.

    The companies have signed a multi-year but non-exclusive deal. The device will be selling at standar $199 for the 16GB and $299 for 32GB. iPhone 4 on Verizon will include new Personal Hotspot capabilities allowing customers to use iPhone 4 to connect up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices. The phone works on Verizon 3G (EV-DO) only – 4G data or GSM roaming will not be available.

    “We are pleased to introduce millions of wireless users to the industry leading iPhone 4 on the nation’s most reliable network,” said Lowell McAdam, president and chief operating officer of Verizon.

    “This is an important step for the industry as two great companies join forces to give wireless customers one of the most important technological additions to the mobile landscape this century,” he added.

    Tim Cook, Apple’s chief operating officer said: “Verizon Wireless customers have told us they can’t wait to get their hands on iPhone 4, and we think they are going to love it. We have enormous respect for the company Verizon has built and the loyalty they have earned from their customers.”

    iPhone 4 features a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, HD video recording, Apple’s A4 chip, a 3-axis gyro and a glass and stainless steel design. iPhone 4 also comes with iOS 4, which includes multitasking, folders, Game Center, AirPlay and AirPrint wireless printing.

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  • Broadcom Announces New Android Platform to Enable Mass Market Smartphones

    Broadcom has announced a new baseband platform that provides simultaneous HSDPA modem connectivity and Android-based applications processing.

    According to the company, the new Broadcom BCM2157 dual-core baseband processor delivers high-end smartphone features on more affordable 3G Android handsets: this includes mobile hot-spot, multi-touch screens, innovative media and applications processing, "and other capabilities that will help handset makers drive these features to a larger tier of users."

    The BCM2157 baseband processor platform includes the following features:

    • 3G HSDPA modem supports 7.2 Megabits per second (Mbps) downstream connectivity and worldwide roaming.
    • Built-in support for HVGA displays, multi-touch screens, 5 megapixel digital cameras, 3G dual SIM/dual standby, and other key smartphone capabilities.
    • Dual-core ARM processors for dedicated modem support and superior application processing (500MHz).
    • Broadcom’s complete connectivity suite, featuring Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS and NFC solutions, including InConcert technology that makes these various technologies work better together.
    • Support for mobile hotspot functionality, allowing the handset to share the 3G connection with up to 8 simultaneous devices or users via Wi-Fi.

    The platform is based on mature technology, building on the proven architecture of the BCM2153 and is now sampling to early access customers with first commercial launches expected in Q1 2011.

    "The smartphone continues to influence the cellular industry, with defining features like multi-touch screens and the ability to run applications now enriching lower cost handsets. We’ve maximized the functionality of our new Android-processing baseband platform to enable our partners to deliver the most popular features in more affordable designs," said Scott Bibaud, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Broadcom’s Mobile Platforms Group

  • Fring Launches Dynamic Video Quality Mobile Calling

    fring announced the rollout of its network-optimized DVQ mobile video calling technology. The company’s proprietary DVQ (dynamic video quality) technology adjusts video bit rate and frame rate according to the specific device to match current network bandwidth during a call, delivering the best possible video picture quality for available bandwidth between call peers.

    Where network capacity is constrained, fring’s DVQ technology dynamically adapts the video picture quality, rather than losing the video call while providing the best possible audio quality. In addition, with an integrated DVQ indicator, fring intelligently notifies users of changes in their network strength in real time.

    According to fring, mobile eco-system resources are "core" to the company’s product’s design and its use: DVQ technology adjusts to match bandwidth at every point of every call. This adaptive nature allows for changing call conditions and network availability which translates into more connected calls and fewer dropped calls. Importantly, users enjoy rich video calling according to network congestion and in step with operator’s bandwidth availability – at all traffic hours.

    “In the year since pioneering mobile video calls, we’ve seen that users network conditions change dramatically during and between video calls. That’s the nature of mobile experiences in heterogeneous networks,” said Alex Nerst, Co-Founder & CTO of fring.

    "DVQ lets users make the best use of the peer- to- peer network capacity available at any moment during a video call, regardless of if they’re stepping into an elevator, commuting on a train or simply walking away from their WiFi hub," he added.

    DVQ technology is compatible with all mobile data bearers: 3G, 4G, WIMax and WiFi and is currently available from the iPhone App Store and the Android market.

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  • Skype Now Available for Android Phones

    Skype has just announced the release of Skype for Android, a client for mobile handsets, built for smartphones running Android OS version 2.1 or above.

    Skype said that the application has been tested successfully by the company on HTC Desire, HTC Legend, Google Nexus One, Motorola Milestone XT720, and Motorola Milestone. It may work on other Android phones, but the company can’t guarantee full functionality or compatibility.

    In the US, Skype for Android calling works over WiFi only. Outside the US the app works over WiFi or mobile data connection (GPRS, EDGE, 3G). It is not available in China and Japan at this moment.

    The application is downloadable for free from the Android Market and supports the following languages: Brazilian Portuguese, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Swedish, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese & Traditional Chinese.

    Mark Douglas, Product Manager of Android said: "The Skype experience is ubiquitous today. More and more people are using Skype to do things together when apart. With the addition of Android, we are pleased that Skype is now available on three of the most popular mobile platforms today: Android, iOS and Symbian"

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  • Skype Now Available on Verizon Multimedia Phones on the BREW Platform

    Skype is taking another step forward with Verizon and expanding the Skype mobile application onto a variety of Multimedia 3G phones with an app based on the BREW platform, including the LG enV TOUCH, LG Chocolate Touch and Samsung Reality.

    According to Skype, their mobile app for Verizon Wireless 3G Multimedia phones works the same way it does on the carrier’s smartphones, “letting you make free calls to friends and family on Skype, great value calls to landlines and mobile phones overseas, and send IMs to people on Skype anywhere in the world.”

    On Skype blog, Peter Parkes explains how charging works:

    Skype-to-Skype calls, to or from your mobile, computer or TV
    These calls are completely free (you’ll need a data plan in order to use Skype mobile on your Verizon phone.). They don’t count towards your Verizon minutes allowance.

    Calls to another mobile number or landline number in the US
    These calls count towards your Verizon minutes.

    Calls to an international mobile number or landline number
    These calls are great value – pay for these using Skype Credit or one of our subscriptions.

    “Additionally, as the app runs in the background, you’ll never miss a call,” says Parkes.

    Six months ago, Skype announced a strategic relationship between them and Verizon Wireless to create the Skype mobile application and make it available on a variety of Verizon Wireless’ Android and BlackBerry smartphones.

    Skype mobile is also available for DROID and selected BlackBerry smartphones on Verizon Wireless.

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  • Sonus Enables Cable Customers to Make and Receive Calls on Their Smartphone Using Their Home Phone Number

    Sonus Networks has introduced a new solution for cable operators to add value to their existing home line services.

    Dubbed "Fixed – Smartphone Convergence," cable operators can use new capabilities in the company’s ASX Telephony Application Server to allow cable subscribers with home phone service to combine their existing phone line with up to five additional SIP-enabled devices including 3G/Wi-Fi enabled smartphones.

    According to the company, the Sonus Fixed – Smartphone Convergence solution makes it possible for subscribers to receive or place calls using both their home telephone line (using NCS or SIP call control) and nearly any SIP-enabled device connected to the Internet.

    The solution will ring all of the devices simultaneously and allows users to make and receive multiple calls concurrently as well as allow calls to be transferred to other users.

    "Cable operators are looking for ways to add more value for fixed line customers, and also get more involved in offering mobile services," said Greg Zweig, director of access product management at Sonus Networks.

    "With Fixed – Smartphone Convergence powered by the ASX Telephony Application Server, we are giving cable operators a way to make a subscriber’s home number more valuable and more convenient to access, anywhere in the world. The solution gives MSOs a compelling new offering that leverages the explosion in smart mobile phones and tablet computers," he added.

    Sonus is demonstrating this new solution at the CableLabs Summer Conference 2010 taking place August 15-18 at the Keystone Resort and Conference Center, Keystone, Colo. Live calls coming into the booth’s landline phone will ring simultaneously on different devices including a PC softphone and a SIP-enabled smartphone.

  • Vonage Mobile App Provides Free Wi-Fi / 3G Calling For Facebook Users Worldwide

    Vonage has just introduced the Vonage Mobile application for Facebook, a new service that allows users to make free mobile calls to all of their Facebook friends who have the app, anywhere in the world, directly from their friends list.

    The downloadable application is free to get and free to use. According to Vonage, the new service enhances the ability to connect with Facebook friends through the addition of voice calling.

    It is available for iPhone, iPod touch and Android devices and works over Wi-Fi and 3G /4G networks in most countries.

    “The new service is easy to use,” says Vonage. The app works with a user’s existing community of Facebook friends, so there’s no need to remember screen names or to input numbers. The application eliminates dialing – users can just click on a friend and start talking. When placing a call, the friend’s profile picture and status update display on the screen.

    "The Vonage Mobile app for Facebook is a tangible example of our commitment to deliver extraordinary value and a better communications experience for individuals and their social networks, across broadband-enabled devices, around the world," said Marc Lefar, Chief Executive Officer of Vonage.

    "This is just the start. In the future we will expand on this service to include a wide range of integrated voice and messaging services that change the way people communicate," he added.

    The application can be downloaded from the Android Market in 48 countries and from the iTunes Store in 87 countries. Users who don’t have an unlimited data plan should check with their carrier to see if any charges apply.

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  • ABI Research: Mobile Data Usage Grows but Data Revenue Lags

    Mobile data usage continues to grow exponentially as 3G technology spreads globally. According to ABI Research, from 2009 to 2015 data usage in Western Europe and North America is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 42% and 55% respectively.

    In 2010, the average North American user is expected to consume 159 megabytes of data – up from 100 megabytes in 2009.

    “Mobile voice has already been surpassed by mobile data traffic on some networks, and this trend will only accelerate,” says ABI Research wireless analyst Bhavya Khanna.

    “This boom in usage is driven by the rapid adoption of smartphones in these markets,” he added.

    According to analysts, the explosion in data traffic does not mean a corresponding rise in data revenues for operators, as the popularity of unlimited or fixed price plans caps revenue even as usage grows. Mobile data revenues are expected to grow at a CAGR of about 18% in North America, in sharp contrast to the increase in usage. This presents a challenge for operators as they look to manage the demands on their networks without a corresponding increase in income.

    ABI Research claims that the growth in data traffic comes at the cost of voice: minutes of use are on the decline in developed markets in North America and Western Europe.

    "However, in emerging markets there is still room for voice usage growth. Increasing competition in Africa has reduced tariffs, resulting in minutes of use per user growing by 9% between 2009 and 2010. There is still much room for growth on the continent, as average usage per subscriber continues to be half of that of the Asia-Pacific region," said Khanna.

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