Qik launches video apps for iPhone
Qik, a mobile video streaming platform has introduced an iPhone app, named Qik Video Connect.
The service intends to allow a person to stay connected with friends and family through video calling, video messaging and video sharing.
With the Qik Video Connect, users can instantly share the latest happening with their contacts through a live video call. If they are not able to connect live, users can send a video mail. Customers can also post live video links to Facebook and Twitter.
The social video feed allows users to follow what friends are doing by receiving alerts when new videos are shared and watching those videos directly on their mobile phone. The application is available in two options, Qik Video Connect and Qik Video Connect Plus.
The Plus option is available for US$2.99 and offers additional features such as real-time effects, video editing, and HD quality. Both the Qik Video Connect and Connect Plus apps enable live video chat over 3G or Wi-Fi between iPhones, iPod Touches with built-in cameras. Both apps are available for download at the Apple App store for iPhone and 4 generation iPod Touch models with iOS 4 or later.
Cablecom introduces Bill2Mobile iPhone app (Switzerland)
Swiss cable network operator Cablecom has introduced the new Bill2Mobile iPhone; iPad and iPod Touch app to encourage customers opt for paperless bills.
The app provides a general idea of a customer’s bill at the touch of a button. The app is developed by the ETH Zurich in partnership with cablecom and can be downloaded from the Swiss iTunes store.
To access the app, customers must confirm their identity with their Cablecom customer login. Bill2Mobile is available in German, French, Italian and English.
Zynga Launches ‘Words With Friends’ on Android
Zynga Inc. today announced that Words With Friends, the most popular multiplayer word game for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, with over 10 million users, will soon be available on AndroidTM phones and tablets. Words With Friends for Android will be available on Android MarketTM and will enable a large number of players to enjoy the game any time or place.
“Zynga is dedicated to making its games available anytime and on any device regardless of platform,” said David Ko, Senior Vice President of Mobile for Zynga. “Bringing Words With Friends to Android means our players will have the ability to play and engage with even more of their friends and family wherever they are and whenever they want.”
Words With Friends will be cross-platform giving players on Android and iOS devices the ability to play against more friends, family and random opponents. The features will be the same on both platforms, including the ability to play up to 20 simultaneous games at a time, in-game chat and push notifications.
The Android version of the game will launch in Android Market as a free download later this month. In the coming months, Zynga will also offer an ad-free premium version.
Creating best-in-class mobile social games is a critical component to Zynga’s overall strategy. With over 5 billion mobile subscribers worldwide, an increasing number of people are accessing the Internet for the first time from their mobile devices. Zynga is focused on delivering the best mobile experiences for its existing games on the Web as well as unique mobile-first social gaming experiences such as Words With Friends.
About Zynga Inc.
Zynga Inc. is the world’s largest social game developer with more than 295 million monthly active users playing their games which include FarmVille, FrontierVille, Mafia Wars, Zynga Poker, Caf© World, Treasure Isle andCityVille. Zynga Inc. games are available on a number of global platforms including Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo, the iPad and iPhone. Through Zynga.org, Zynga players have raised more than $5 million for world social causes. Zynga Inc. is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit www.zynga.com or www.zynga.org.
Android and Android Market are trademarks of Google, Inc.
Shazam to incorporate Spotify on app for iPhone, Android
Music identification service, Shazam has announced a deal to incorporate the music streaming service, Spotify into its free and premium Apps for iPhone, iPod touch and Android.
Consequently, Shazamers will be able to access Spotify directly through a new ‘Play in Spotify’ feature, which will directly take the user to Spotify where they can easily listen to the full track that they either tagged or discovered within Shazam from recommendations or the Shazam charts.
‘Play in Spotify’ integrates with the Spotify Premium App in UK, Sweden, Norway, Finland, France, Spain and the Netherlands.
According to Andrew Fisher, CEO of Shazam, integrating Spotify into Shazam’s applications combines’ music discovery with one of the world’s most popular music streaming services, providing a seamless experience for music fans at the point of inspiration in any location. Spotify is delivering an innovative, high quality experience to music lovers and we’re excited to bring the Spotify service to Shazam.
As of today, users of premium Apps Shazam Encore and (SHAZAM) RED will be able to combine their ability to access unlimited tagging with the new ‘Play in Spotify’ feature for an unparalleled and unrestricted mobile music discovery and streaming service.
The Shazam free App, available with five tags per month, will include the same feature later in Q1.
Skype to add Wi-Fi, 3G video calling to iPhone app
Skype has announced that the new version of its iPhone application adds video call support, allowing users to make video calls over 3G and Wi-Fi networks. The announcement suggests that users of the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch are now able to make and/or receive free video calls with one another, as well as with anyone else running Skype software that supports video calling.
According to Neil Stevens, General Manager of Skype’s consumer business, with video calling representing approximately 40% of all Skype-to-Skype minutes for the first six months of 2010, our users have been eager to get Skype video calling on their mobile phones. By bringing video to mainstream users at their home or work via their desktops, on the go with their mobiles, or into their living room via their TV, Skype has made it possible for millions of people to share video moments wherever they are.
The new Skype for iPhone app will be able to make and receive video calls with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, and 4th generation iPod touch with i0S 4.0 or above. The iPad and 3rd generation iPod touch are now able to receive, not send, video calls. Calls can be made between any device using the new Skype for iPhone app and desktop computers including Skype for Windows 4.2 and above, Skype for Mac 2.8 and above, Skype for Linux, and the ASUS Videophone.
Video calls use QVGA video and are reported to average 15 frames per second on received video and 12 frames per second on sent video. But these numbers are very much dependent on the quality of the 3G or Wi-Fi environment being used to make and receive the video calls.
According to a representative from Skype, mobile is a huge priority for them and you will see a lot more updates on the mobile front including Android in the New Year.
Nokia files further lawsuit against Apple
Nokia has filed patent claims in the U.K. High Court, Dusseldorf and Mannheim District Courts in Germany and the District Court of the Hague, Netherlands, again alleging that Apple infringes Nokia patents in many of its products sold in these countries, including iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.
According to Paul Melin, Vice President, Intellectual Property at Nokia, these actions add 13 further Nokia patents to the 24 already asserted against Apple in the US International Trade Commission and the Delaware and Wisconsin Federal courts. The Nokia inventions protected by these patents include several which enable compelling user experiences. For example, using a wiping gesture on a touch screen to navigate content, or enabling access to constantly changing services with an on-device app store, both filed more than ten years before the launch of the iPhone.
Nokia’s filing in the UK covers 4 Nokia patents related to touch user interface, on-device app stores, signal noise suppression and modulator structures. Whereas in Dusseldorf, Germany it covers 7 Nokia patents related to touch user interface, antenna structures, messaging functionality and chipsets. Nokia’s filing in Mannheim, Germany covers 5 Nokia patents related to on-device app stores, caller ID, display illumination and the integration of multiple radios. Nokia’s filing in the Hague, Netherlands covers 2 Nokia patents related to signal noise suppression and data card functionality.
The company added that none of the asserted patents have been declared essential to any wireless communication standard.
GO launches digital voice product in Saudi Arabia
GO (Etihad Atheeb Telecom), a leading telecom services provider in Saudi Arabia has launched the company’s latest digital voice product, GO Terhal†thus introducing a revolutionary concept for the first time in the Kingdom.
According to the company, GO Terhal provides a range of unique features starting with the ability to transform any smart device (iPod Touch, iPad, and Samsung Galaxy Tab) to a phone device to make local and international calls and receive calls free of charge, with a special number from GO starting with 08111.
Besides, any smart phone device (iPhone, Galaxy S, HTC, Sony Ericsson, Nokia, and Blackberry) running on operating systems such as (iOS, Google Android, Smibian^3, and Windows Phone 7) or any Personal computer or Laptop (Windows, MAC, Linux), can work without a SIM Card and with the ability to customize infinite numbers on one device and ability to share one number among infinite number of devices.
GO Terhal†can be downloaded free of charge from any of the popular App Stores such as iTunes App Store, Ovi Store and Google Android. Calls within GO Terhal†network are free of charge during launch period.
According to Raed Kayal, acting Chief Executive of GO Telecom, the company is pleased to launch the Digital calling service GO Terhalâ€, which is a significant step for both the company and the Saudi telecom market, as a varied number of segments inside and outside Saudi Arabia will benefit from this high-definition voice service. The company’s aim is to fully utilize their advanced infrastructure and increase the number of subscribers as every internet user inside or outside the Saudi Arabia is a potential customer regardless of their internet service provider.
