iPhone Investigator

Vocal Instant Messaging Now Available for the iPhone

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–‘Push-to-talk’ — the voice equivalent of text messaging (SMS) — has come to the iPhone™ for the first time.

Promised as ‘soon’ when it launched its service for the iPhone on July 29, Palringo has added the vocal instant messaging functionality to its rich messaging application available from Apple’s App Store.

Kerry Ritz, CEO of Palringo, said: “We’ve completed the suite of ways in which people can communicate with each other using an iPhone, adding voice, text-based and picture instant messaging to the standard phone call, SMS and e-mail functionality of the phone. This functionality really adds value to the already-terrific iPhone experience.

“When we launched Palringo for the iPhone, we said that our vocal IM functionality would be added imminently. We’ve kept the promise we made to the thousands and thousands of iPhone users who downloaded Palringo and made us one of the most popular free applications from the App Store,” he added.

The concept of push-to-talk varies in popularity around the world. Currently, in the United States, both Verizon and Sprint are promoting their push-to-talk services as alternatives to each other. However, both of these options lock customers into both a specific device and a specific network.

Palringo does neither of these things, being entirely operator-independent and also working on almost every handset released in the last two years. Most recently the company added RIM’s BlackBerry platform to a list that already includes Windows Mobile, Symbian and Java-based devices from manufacturers including Nokia, Motorola, LG, Samsung, HTC, HP and Sony Ericsson.

“Some of the big carriers tout their PTT services, but they have the ‘carrier barrier’ limitation of locking their customers into their networks and only the handsets the carriers support,” Ritz said. “That sort of lock-in is a 20th century business model and it doesn’t wash with savvy mobile users today.”

Palringo integrates with several existing popular instant-messaging services: AOL’s AIM, Google Talk, Yahoo! Messenger, Gadu Gadu, ICQ, Jabber and Windows Live Messenger. People can also use Palringo to contact their friends using iChat, Apple’s IM client.

Palringo for the iPhone is free and easy to download and install from Apple’s App Store. There are no hidden costs, catches or other charges.

About Palringo

Palringo makes instant messaging work on mobile. It combines walkie-talkie style voice (vocal instant messaging) with the ‘chat’ functionality of instant messaging and offers the ability to share pictures too. Both one-to-one and group discussions are enabled, on any mobile network or connected PC. Palringo connects with other popular instant messaging services. Additional media information, including logo and pictures, is available at www.palringopressoffice.blogspot.com.

Popularity: 27% [?]

Yesterday Apple released the 2.0.2 update for its iPhone and iPhone 3G.

As with the previous 2.0.1 software version, the company doesn’t say what is new in it, and only mentions “Bug Fixes”.   Reports are showing that the possible fixes includes better overall 3G performance in signal and data loading, less crashes in 3rd party applications, less dropped calls, and reduced keyboard lag.

Popularity: 30% [?]

Orange, a French telecom company, announced today that it will be distributing Apple’s coveted iPhone to its customers. The iPhone will new be made available in Austria, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Jordan, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Africa.

A spokesperson for Orange parent company France Telecom told Reuters that the carrier will be the exclusive iPhone provider in Belgium and Romania, with co-exclusive or non-exclusive deals in other countries.

No other details were revealed.

[via Reuters]

Popularity: 64% [?]

DJ Nitrogen has released a new version of its Ringtone Lab for Apple’s iPhone. Still in beta, the ringtone editor offers an alternative to generic ringtones used by the iPhone and lets users create their own. The new app also has a new “recipe-sharing” tool that lets users share ringtones - legally.

The app will work with any iPhone on any network, in any country with any version and is available now for download for US$4.99. To get more information on DJ Nitro’s Ringtone Lab for the iPhone beta, go
here .

Popularity: 61% [?]

Swisscom, a telecom company in Switzerland, has released this statement - “Swisscom has signed a deal with Apple to bring the iPhone to Switzerland later this year. We will inform you personally as soon as we have more news.”

According to the company’s website, the iPhone will be available in silver, black, and white for the 32GB model (799 Swiss Francs/US$760) and in silver for the 16MB (659 Swiss Francs/US$630).

Le Matin, a daily newspaper is reporting that the 3G model will support video conferencing, mobile TV, and GPS. The article also said the 3G handheld would be available in June.

[via DigitalBurn]

Popularity: 70% [?]

Google has released a new version of its Reader for Apple’s iPhone. To get the new beta version, direct your Safari browser over to http://www.google.com/reader/i.

Google is looking for feedback so let them know what you think.

Popularity: 71% [?]

Apple has confirmed that it is sold out of its iPhone in both the UK and the United States. The iPhone manufacturer has reported that its iPhone is out of stock online but may still be available at some Apple and partner retail stores.

Speculation is that Apple is trying to empty its shelves to make way for the new 3G iPhone expected to make its appearance next month.

[via Associated Press]

Popularity: 63% [?]

AT&T, Apple’s exclusive wireless carrier in the States, is listing a new model of iPhone on its website, the iPhone Black. The new and unannounced model shows when ordering a device online.

Photos have been circulating that the new 3G iPhone would have a black backing and this would fall right in line with those rumors if it were true.

See below for screenshots taken from the AT&T website.

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Popularity: 80% [?]

The latest beta release 5.0 firmware for the iPhone is showing that users will be able to disable 3G to help conserve their battery. The settings screen shows that users can switch 3G off to revert back to GPRS/EDGE connection.

[via MacRumors]

Popularity: 75% [?]

Schmap this! Schmap, a local search and mapping application, is now available for Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch. The search service lets iPhone users easily search for a local Starbucks or find an Italian restaurant when visiting a new city right from their smartphone.

Schmap’s app not only lets users browse city guides or search locally, but the iPhone specific service has a ‘Rotate n Map’ feature that lets users get a map instantly of their search with a quick sideways turn of their iPhone.

To get this cool Schmap map app, just direct your iPhone’s browser to www.schmap.com.

See our photo gallery below.

(more…)

Popularity: 71% [?]