Earlier this year Skype unveiled an “exclusive” arrangement with Verizon that involved releasing a somewhat-limited version of Skype for Verizon phones which in some cases eats user minutes, seemingly defeating some benefits of Skype. It was widely speculated that as part of the arrangement, Skype slowed their development of Skype for other platforms – though now they’ve finally released a version of Skype for the Apple iPhone. Unfortunately for users, this version too seems to have some odd restrictions:

iPhone users can make free Skype-to-Skype calls for the rest of the year but after that will have to pay a small, monthly subscription fee. Perhaps even more disconcerting for Skype users, the app – at least initially – apparently does not support background push notifications, meaning users must have the app up and running to receive incoming Skype calls.

These restrictions seem to be custom-made to help AT&T avoid the erosion of SMS and voice revenues in the face of smartphones, push IM clients and mobile VoIP. Of course it remains amusing that Skype keeps striking these kinds of restrictive, closed agreements with companies like AT&T and Verizon – after spending a large chunk of the last five years complaining about closed networks.

Link to the original article…

Apple iPad isn’t a cellphone. Apple iPad doesn’t have a forward facing camera. I’ve been ranting about that kind of stuff all over my Twitter account for quite a while. Seems like Truphone wants to shut me up with their announcement:

Truphone, the global mobile operator, today announced the availability of its application that offers thousands of Apple iPad customers the ability to make voice calls. The company’s award-winning VoIP application turns the tablet-sized device into a mobile phone that offers free or low-cost international calls, as well as advanced Instant Messaging features that integrate a user’s contacts from across multiple IM networks.

Truphone was the first to officially launch a mobile VoIP calling application for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch platforms, and the company continues to lead the way with the launch of Truphone for iPad.

The Truphone iPad application offers customers free calling to other Truphone and Google Talk users when connected over Wi-Fi, and international calling to mobile phones and landlines for as low as 5 cents a minute. Truphone also offers an unlimited calling plan and free voicemail.

Yeah. So now you can use Truphone to actually make VoIP calls to other Truphone and cellphone users for relatively cheap. The Truphone application is free, there are some fees involved calling phones other than Truphone user to Truphone user.

[ Links: Truphone, Truphone Rates ]

Samsung Electronics today unveiled ‘Samsung M5650′, a music-focused addition to its popular lineup of full touch screen handsets for young mobile users. Following on the launch of the Corby (S3650), the Samsung M5650 further strengthens Samsung’s offering for digitally savvy young users who seek colorful and bold designs, easy connectivity and great functionality.

Tailored for music lovers, the Samsung M5650 is equipped with a one-touch key for listening to your favorite tunes on top of all the diverse features of the Corby, which swept the global market with sales of 3.5 million units within two months of its launch in September.

The Samsung M5650′s bold design emphasizes the same contoured exterior as seen in the Corby, adding curved edges on its reverse side to maximizing its smooth and sophisticated feel. In addition, the Samsung M5650 offers enhanced social networking features for those who are actively digitally connected through means such as e-mail, instant messaging and blogs. Additionally, the Samsung M5650 allows quick access to MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, and the ability to easily upload photos and videos.

Offering 3G connectivity, the Samsung M5650 comes with a full range of features such as WiFi, a 3-megapixel camera, FM radio, MP3 player, USB 2.0, Bluetooth, One Finger Zoom and a Cartoon UI. Samsung M5650 is currently available in Portugal and soon expand to other Europe markets, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, India and China. The battery cover is available in blue or black.

Link to the original article…

Fring has always been on the cutting edge and one of my favorite multiple client IM programs on my Nokia N810 and Apple iPhone but the addition of being able to receive video just pushes it that much further than the rest in my book.

And what a new year’s gift this is… the world’s first video calls over internet on the Apple iPhone and Apple iPod Touch! fringsters with iPhones and iPod Touch (and selected Nokia devices as announced last week) can now see all their family and friends on fring and Skype this Holiday Season!

Right now iPhone and iPod touch users can receive and make fring and Skype video calls entirely over Internet connection (for free!) and see the person on the other end. When a front camera is placed on these, we’ll have two-way video calls available here too just as we do on all the supported Nokia devices.

The promise of 2-way video from Fring has my attention, that’s been the killer app in my mind for quite some time. Just will be awkward because the Apple iPhone has no forward facing camera at the moment and the Nokia devices they’re currently supporting are only the Symbian phones.

But the Maemo powered Nokia N900 also has a forward facing camera… how about some support there too fring? Please?

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