Skype has released the latest application for the iPhone 4 to take advantage of its multitasking abilities, whilst also announcing at the same time there will be no surcharge levy for 3G calling.
The iPhone 4 version of Skype will also be available to other devices that now run iOS 4, such as the iPhone 3GS and the more recent iPod Touch devices as the application uses the multitasking environment of the new operating system.
All of which means the communications software can be run in the background, waiting for a call or a message whilst the phone is used for other tasks and even when the phone is locked, the app is still active.
Skype’s multitasking abilities do not stop there, as it’s now possible to switch to another application whilst keeping the conversation alive - according to information supplied by the company.
Previously it appears Skype has charged a fee for making calls over 3G, from when it was first possible back in May, where they announced today this will be waved in order to increase call time as well as the frequency of calls. Skype is aware of the high fee most are paying for data tariffs too, where slapping on an extra fee isn’t entirely fair.
Mobile phone application developer Fring has brought out an iPhone 4 application that enables video calling on the latest Apple handset over 3G, where Apple’s iOS 4 only natively offers video calling over WIFI.
A company that’s well known for combining instant messaging from Google Talk, MSN messenger, Skype, AIM, Facebook into one application has now made use of the front facing camera of the iPhone 4.
Their latest software allows a FaceTime experience, not only over WIFI but over the regular data network used by the mobile and not just to fellow iPhone 4 users either. Fring’s software also allows video calling to other Fring users, whether they are using Android handsets or even Nokia phones.
The application also makes use of the multitasking ability of the iOS 4, by always running in the background where it can be instantly called up.
Another feature of the new software is the ‘Social Stream’, where all tweets, facebook updates, chats and calls are all presented in chronological feed. This operates in the much the same way as the Sony Ericsson Android TimeScale social networking app, only that just shows Facebook and Twitter feeds.
Apple has sent a letter out to journalists admitting there is an issue in the iPhone 4’s reception, it’s in the calculations used to show the signal bars and not a fault in gaining reception.
The letter is now publically available on the Apple website for all to see which goes on to explain away the issue, where it’s actually down to the way the iPhone 4 works out the signal and then displays it – where there isn’t any more issues, apart from that one.
The official statement by Apple goes on to state - “Upon investigation, we were stunned to find that the formula we use to calculate how many bars of signal strength to display is totally wrong”. “Our formula, in many instances, mistakenly displays 2 more bars than it should for a given signal strength. For example, we sometimes display 4 bars when we should be displaying as few as 2 bars”.” Users observing a drop of several bars when they grip their iPhone in a certain way are most likely in an area with very weak signal strength, but they don’t know it because we are erroneously displaying 4 or 5 bars. Their big drop in bars is because their high bars were never real in the first place.”
Apple goes on to mention “To fix this, we are adopting (American mobile phone network) AT&T’s recently recommended formula for calculating how many bars to display for a given signal strength”. “The real signal strength remains the same, but the iPhone’s bars will report it far more accurately, providing users a much better indication of the reception they will get in a given area.” “We are also making bars 1, 2 and 3 a bit taller so they will be easier to see”
Apple will be issuing a free software update, within a few weeks that has this corrected ‘formula’ worked in. This quick-fix will also be made available for the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G – as it could appear this problem is inherent to the iOS 4.
After bringing us Dongles, this is the first phone I’ve seen from Huawei. The U7510 is a compact and lightweight mobile, following the portrait design and build of more expensive rivals. A budget-end touchscreen that delivers a solid 3G web and social networking experience.
Extremely light at 56g and weighing less than half an iPhone, you may forget you’re carrying it. The 2.8" touchscreen displays 240×320 pixels in satisfactory quality, but typing longer messages or emails becomes very fiddly. This device is all about short, sharp status updates and instant gratification. Smells like teen spirit?
Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, YouTube, and IM chat services can all be accessed by the home screen widget bar. You can’t customise it much, but what else is there? 100MB of onboard storage will be ok for most users, if you have no other music player, then going up to 8GB via microSD is available. The camera is a very basic 2MP, but it can capture reasonable video, and is simple to use.
A basic touchscreen in the preferred design. Maybe not for me, the proposition will appeal to people on a restrictive budget, or perhaps those looking to replace non-warranty breakages at a bargain price. A choice for Teens and upwards to demonstrate they can be responsible with a phone, before gravitating next time to something more expensive with more frills.
The combined powers of 3 and T-Mobile activated their 10,000th 3G cell site in the UK last week, adding coverage and capacity for data-hungry consumers.
Mass expansion of existing sites began after the networks signed a ground breaking agreement to share, forming the 50/50 joint venture Mobile Broadband Network Limited to manage combined 3G access. When completed by around October this year, the project will manage 13,000 3G sites.
Antenna 10,000 was connected at Shooters Hill in London last week, bringing outdoor coverage to around 93% of the population. Indoor coverage will continue to improve as the project nears completion. UK 3G services certainly needs the shot in the arm, with smartphone and dongle access pushing current capacity to the limit.
AT&T punch back in the 3G happy slapping that’s ongoing with Verizon Wireless. Can you imagine the creative genius they’d deploy to counter the Christmas and comedy themed swipes Verizon have taken at them? Just keep on imagining because this is dull, dull, dull. Should I have known who Luke Wilson is?
The squabble illustrates the heavy marketing focus both networks are placing on 3G in the run up to the holiday season’s huge sale volumes. For Americans the battle is “we’ve got more” versus “ours is faster”, while in the UK the branding is much about how many social networking applications can you name check on any given phone.
