Send Us Tips!

Blackberry Messenger arriving on Android on June 27 [update - probably not]

4

by Aditya Thawardas on
tagged , , ,

blackberry_messenger_android

 

According to T-Mobile UK, Blackberry Messenger is slated to arrive on Android and iOS on June 27. When Blackberry first announced that they would be making their popular messaging client available on other devices, the only time frame they gave for a release was “this summer.” Once released, the app will be free, and contain features like group messaging, voice chat, and screen share. The only problem for Blackberry is that there are dozens of other very popular, feature-filled messaging apps out there right now that they will have to compete with.

Through the tweet we also got our first look at the UI of the app, and I’m quite disappointed. Compare the screenshot above to Google Hangouts, which is supposed to be a competitor to BBM.  This doesn’t even look like Android. The font is archaic, the text is sized oddly, and all in all it is extremely bland, though we’ll have to see what the official release looks like before completely making a decision. Let us know, do you have plans to use BBM once it’s launched for Android?

Update:

The Tweet has been pulled. Apparently the rep was tweeting about a rumored date, not an official date.

Source: @TMobileUK

WhatsApp says no deal with Google is in the works

1

by Jeff Causey on
tagged , ,

whatsapp

Yesterday we reported on rumors that Google may be looking to purchase the popular messaging app WhatsApp. According to WhatsApp business guy Neeraj Arora, sales talks with Google are not being held. Arora says there are no plans, or even discussions, at this time around Google buying WhatsApp for approximately $1 billion. Other than denying the rumors, Arora provided no other information. Next week WhatsApp CEO Jan Koum is schedule to speak at a conference in New York City. Hopefully he will be able to share some new information about the future direction and plans of the company in light of these recent rumors as well as last December’s rumored buyout by Facebook.

source: AllThingsD

Verizon Messages update enables all devices for messages

0

by Jeff Causey on
tagged , ,

verizon_message_google_play_banner

Verizon released an update to their Verizon Messages app today to help make messaging easier for their customers. The new update introduces an integrated messaging service that lets users send and receive messages from their phone, tablet or the web using their wireless phone number. The new update also adds an auto reply function and Verizon will save messages in the cloud for up to 90 days. » Read the rest

Unified messaging feature to make possible debut in Chrome OS

1

by Jared Peters on
tagged , , ,

chrome-os-messaging

We’ve seen Google push more and more for complete desktop and mobile integration through it’s popular browser, Chrome. Now, we’ve got a sneak peek at some brand new features to be debuted in Chrome OS, including some new notifications and an unnamed icon sitting pretty in the task bar. The notifications appear to pull from both Google+ and Google Voice, cleanly keeping everything in one place. As far as that mysterious icon goes, we don’t have much information on it, but since Google has a plethora of different communication apps in their portfolio, it isn’t too much of a stretch to assume it’s going to tie all of those together, or consolidate them. Personally, I think getting an application to text via your PC built into Android natively would be a great addition.

source: The Verge

Three flaws Google needs to fix to make stock Android even better

23

by Alexon Enfiedjian on
tagged , , , , ,

Our favorite little green robot has made a lot of progress over the last four years. From humble (and ugly) beginnings with Android 1.0 to the smooth and sleek styles of Jelly Bean 4.2, we have seen some tremendous growth and progress of our favorite mobile operating system. Google has worked hard at ironing out the kinks and improving the user interface with some exciting new features. The result has been a much smoother, better, faster, prettier operating system, but it has surprisingly left some simple yet important features out in the cold. Here are three features (or lack thereof) that I believe are major oversights in Google’s current OS.

» Read the rest

Quick Look At Today’s Free Amazon App: IM+ Pro (Video)

0

by Harold Williams on
tagged , , ,

Up today free from the Amazon Appstore is IM+ Pro, an all-in-one messaging app. IM+ is normally a large $10 to purchase  and will let you connect to pretty much every messaging account that’s out there. This app also supports push mode for longer battery life and the ability to receive incoming messages even if you exit IM+. I’m not normally a fan of the all-in-one messaging apps on my phone as I prefer to only keep Google Talk logged in if someone needs me. I like the simplicity of Google Talk and its fast interface. I will say that IM+ is very clean, fast, and super easy to get started adding your accounts. The one feature that seems to be missing it the ability to collapse you buddies list by category. With multiple accounts logged in, this could lead to a lot of scrolling to find the contact you need. That aside, I’m going to give this one a shot as today it’s completely free.

This app will normally cost you a large $9.99, so grab it while it’s free from the Amazon Appstore. If not using the Appstore, you can grab the download here by entering your email address or phone number in the upper right hand corner for a download link.  Be sure to have the “unknown sources” box checked off under Settings —>Applications on your Android device. Check out the video after the break and let us know what you think.

» Read the rest

AT&T Changes Individual Messaging Packages; Will Offer Only Unlimited Plan Beginning August 21st

0

by Justin Routhier on
tagged , , , ,

Complete with a hint of irony, AT&T has confirmed they will limit their individual messaging choices to include only their unlimited plan beginning August 21st.
The aptly named Messaging Unlimited Plan goes for $20 and will leave you with few other options beyond pay-per-message, which would cost you twenty cents each (thirty cents for MMS).

So you can say good-bye to the $10 bundle for good, unless you’re a current customer that is. “Current customers can keep their texting plans even if switching handsets,” an AT&T spokesperson confirmed in addition to releasing an official statement. Also, no worries for those with Family Unlimited Messaging, no changes have been made there, so you can continue to text all you like with this $30 plan.

Hit the break for AT&T’s official statement.

“We regularly evaluate our offers and are making some adjustments to our messaging lineup. Starting August 21, we’re streamlining our text messaging plans for new customers and will offer an unlimited plan for individuals for $20 per month and an unlimited plan for families of up to five lines for $30 per month. The vast majority of our messaging customers prefer unlimited plans and with text messaging growth stronger than ever, that number continues to climb among new customers. Existing customers don’t have to change any messaging plan they have today, even when changing handsets.”

[via engadget]

Kik releases mobile SDK, developers can easily bring user-to-user sharing to their apps with a chance to win $5,000 [Video]

0

by Robert Nazarian on
tagged , , , , ,

Yesterday Kik released its beta version of its mobile SDK, which will let developers easily add user-to-user sharing to their applications via Kik Messenger.

Kik sees this as a way to make applications more compelling or to actually boost adoption. A user could receive a Kik content message, but if they don’t have the app, they will be taken directly to a download page to install it.

Kik says it will only take 10 minutes to add this type of functionality. To celebrate this release, Kik will be awarding $5,000 to the 3 developers who write and launch the best apps utilizing the SDK before August 8th.

Hit the break for a very cool video of an app called, Sketchee, that utilizes this.

» Read the rest

Android App Go SMS Updated to v2.19

1

by Adam Johnson on
tagged , , , , ,

image

For those that like to spice up the stock android messaging application, you can find many different flavors out there in the Android Market. Just to name a few, Handcent SMS, ChompSMS, and Go SMS. All of which have their own unique messaging experience. Our own Joe Sirianni wrote on Go SMS eariler this month in his personal app review.

Today Go SMS has been updated to 2.19. Check out the screenie below for the details!

image

Yahoo! to bring Video Messaging to Android

3

by Dustin Karnes on
tagged , , , , , ,

We recently reported on Yahoo!’s release of individual apps for a few of their services. Now, it looks like Yahoo has another trick or two up their sleeves, one of which is video messaging. According to an interview with Reuters, VP of Yahoo! Mobile David Katz signaled that the video service would be coming to Android devices.

While Yahoo is already the proud owner of the Yahoo! Messenger app, it currently only has support for IM. With a new update to the app, we are likely looking at free video chats between Yahoo! users. Katz said the app would allow for not only device-to-device video conferencing, but for video messages between devices and desktop machines as well, and the feature could possibly come bundled with support to use Yahoo! video messenger over 3G.

Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments!

[via Reuters]

12