Sunday, March 31, 2013

Camera samples from WP8-powered Nokia Lumia 520 surface

Camera samples of the upcoming Nokia Lumia 520 have leaked on Flickr. By the time it hits the market, the Nokia Lumia 520 will be the most affordable Windows Phone 8 handset from the Finnish company (it’s expected in April). It will be cheaper than the already quite affordable Lumia 620 and, from the looks of it, will offer just about the same camera.

Thanks to Flickr user thai_qv, we have our first look at the image quality. Here are a few camera samples (note they appear full res but may have been downscaled by Flickr or before uploading):



Nokia Lumia 520 camera samples

For more, you can hit up the Flickr account with the rest of them.

Also, you can check out our thoughts on the Lumia 520 for more info on the new baby brother of the WP8 Lumia family.

The photos look very good for the 520 camera with F/2.4 aperture and 1/4” sensor, but then again the Lumia 620 had a pretty good camera too. Keep in mind these shots are coming from an unofficial source and may not have been taken with final hardware.

Source | Via
Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/camera_samples_from_wp8_powered_nokia_lumia_520_surface-news-5785.php

Saturday, March 30, 2013

HTC One with 64GB will be an AT&T exclusive in the US

It looks like prospective HTC One buyers in the United States might not be able to choose a carrier if they want to enjoy the smartphone with 64GB of built-in memory. The aforementioned version will be sold exclusively by AT&T Wireless.

AT&T delivered the word quietly via an HTC One promo video, uploaded on its official YouTube channel. See it below.

There is no information on pricing or availability of the 64GB HTC One in the United States yet. All reports however, point at an April release

.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_with_64gb_will_be_an_at_t_exclusive_in_the_us-news-5784.php

Did HTC DROID DNA get quietly retired by Verizon Wireless?

It appears that Verizon Wireless has quietly ceased offering the HTC DROID DNA - the wireless provider's current Android top dog. The smartphone is no longer available for purchase from the carrier's online store and has been dubbed as retired by Verizon's sales reps.



According to a statement from Verizon "HTC halted production in efforts to push out an upcoming project on the horizon". The "upcoming project" part probably refers to a smartphone which will be closely related to the HTC One.

If the reports turn out to be the case, the HTC DROID DNA will go down in the record books as one of the company’s shortest-lived Android flagships. The HTC Butterfly's US relative was launched less than five months ago.

Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/did_htc_droid_dna_get_quietly_retired_by_verizon_wireless_-news-5783.php

JB ROM in testing for Xperia P, flash at your own risk

If you own an Xperia P and are eager to flash it to Jelly Bean, now is the time. An Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean ROM with Firmware 6.2.A.0.399 has leaked. It's meant for internal testing on developer Xperia P units but has been found to work on production units.


Sony Xperia P on Jelly Bean

The ROM isn't final yet and there are things missing or not working on it. Therefore, we advise you to flash at your own risk and MAKE A BACKUP. Also a prerequisite is that you need to either be running a stock ICS ROM or a ROM based on stock AOSP one in order to flash this one. Your bootloader will also need to be unlocked.

Other than that - copy the ROM into your memory, reboot into recovery and flash away.

There's no information yet on when an official release will hit the Xperia P.

Thanks, Ben Ling for sending this in!

Source
Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/jb_rom_in_testing_for_xperia_p_flash_at_your_own_risk-news-5782.php

Lenovo 'in talks' to buy NEC mobile, could scupper its interest in BlackBerry

Lenovo 'in talks' to buy NEC mobile, could scupper its interest in BlackBerry
Just like Everton FC, NEC was big in the 80s

Lenovo's efforts to enter the smartphone industry seem to have taken another twist, with the company reportedly interested in acquiring floundering NEC's mobile division.

Reuters reported on Friday that the two companies are in talks over a potential takeover, following two straight years of losses for the Japanese company's mobile offerings.

Lenovo has been vocal about its desires to pick up a smartphone property to complement its booming PC and tablet business.

High ranking officials at the company have recently been talking up potential interest in buying up BlackBerry, but purchase of NEC would surely kill such talk.

Deal or no deal?

In response to media reports on Friday, NEC issued a statement claiming nothing had been decided, but did not deny talks were ongoing.

"Amid the rapidly changing market we are considering a number of ways to bolster the competitiveness of our mobile phone business, but nothing has been decided," the company said.

Former Everton FC kit sponsor NEC has struggled to gain traction internationally with its range of handsets, while competition from Samsung and Apple has hindered its efforts domestically.

Lenovo hasn't yet commented on the reports.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/lenovo-in-talks-to-buy-nec-mobile-could-scupper-blackberry-buyout-talk-1141666

US Cellular and Verizon to also offer the Samsung Galaxy S4

US Cellular and Verizon will be the joining AT&T in carrying the upcoming Galaxy S4. The former has even put up a preorder page for the smartphone, so that those who are interested can sign-up for instant updates on its availability.

Samsung's flagship is also going to land on Verizon's LTE network, as FCC's kindly informs, utilizing the 700MHz and AWS frequencies. Additionally, the Galaxy S4 for Verizon will also sport a 3G radio, meaning it's going to be usable outside US borders, too.

As you know, the US is getting the Snapdragon 600 variant of the Galaxy S4, so don't get your hopes up on an Exynos 5 Octa version being offered by any of the aforementioned carriers.

The CDMA version of the Galaxy S4 isn't yet clear on neither availability, nor pricing for the carrier duo, but we suspect it should be some time at the end of April. That's when the international version of Samsung's latest and greatest is bound to become available.

Source, Source (2) | Via, Via (2)


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/us_cellular_and_verizon_to_also_offer_the_samsung_galaxy_s4-news-5781.php

Selected Apple iMessage users hit by DDoS attack, forcing iOS app crash

Selected Apple iMessage users hit by DDoS attack, forcing iOS app crash
iMessage proving vulnerable to attack

A group of iOS developers and hackers are reporting they've become the target of a malicious attack which overwhelms the Apple iMessage application with spam texts.

The attack, which appears to be confined to those directly targeted, sends messages (claiming to be from Anonymous) in such a large volume that the recipient is constantly receiving notifications.

The next level is to send a single 'Zaglo text' so large in size that the iOS iMessage app cannot cope with the load and crashes.

As Apple's iMessage app does not limit how fast texts can be sent, and does not allow users to block senders, there's no mechanism in place to prevent their instant delivery.

Motivation?

This constitues a new kind of DDoS attack, the kind of which we've seen hackers and online activists use to bring down government websites in the past couple of years.

The iMessage pranksters' motivation isn't totally clear at present, but The Next Web reports that the attack originated from a Twitter account "involved in selling UDIDs, provisioning profiles and more that facilitate in the installation of pirated App Store apps which are re-signed and distributed."

The report suggests that the attack was conducted using AppleScript to set up and send the overwhelming number of messages using the OS X iMessage client, something one victim said was extremely easy to do.

iOS developer Paul Grant told The Next Web: "What's happening is a simple flood: Apple doesn't seem to limit how fast messages can be sent, so the attacker is able to send thousands of messages very quickly."

Apple has been notified of the issue, but is yet to comment.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/selected-apple-imessage-users-hit-by-ddos-attack-forcing-ios-app-crash-1141657

Friday, March 29, 2013

Apple reportedly pushing hard for iRadio launch as soon as June

Apple reportedly pushing hard for iRadio launch as soon as June
Apple iRadio could launch this summer

Apple could launch its long-rumored iRadio service as soon as this summer, finally giving iTunes a streaming music app to take on Pandora and Spotify.

"iRadio is coming. There's no doubt about it anymore," an unnamed music industry source told The Verge.

The report says that Apple is pushing hard for a summertime launch of the streaming music app after making "significant progress" in talks with two top labels, Universal and Warner.

Another Apple rumor from today pins the iPhone 5S launch event to June 20, so the company's apparent push to have an iRadio app present at the event would make sense.

iRadio app negotiations

Apple has reportedly low-balled record labels in negotiations, and the record labels have, in turn, allegedly rebuffed the Apple and its ability to launch iRadio.

The initial offer from Apple is said to have been as low as 6 cents per 100 songs streamed when the Copyright Royalty Board's fair rate for non-broadcast companies is 21 cents per 100 songs.

To give some perspective, Pandora pays 12 cents per 100 songs streamed, while Spotify pays 35 cents per 100 songs streamed.

Whether or not Apple secures a much better deal than all of the other music streaming services out there, the unprofitable Pandora and Spotify are going to be seeking reduced licensing fees.

This will especially be the case if Apple's iRadio app takes on the internet radio spectrum.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/apple-reportedly-pushing-hard-for-iradio-summer-launch-1141613

New benchmark could point to LG Optimus G2 complete with Snapdragon 800

New benchmark could point to LG Optimus G2 complete with Snapdragon 800
LG's Optimus G2 may go beast mode on the competition

We've already been hearing word about LG's Optimus G follow-up for quite some time, though the rumor mill hadn't been as busy following CES 2013.

An early benchmark revealed some startling specs for a new LG smarpthone, and the Korean manufacturer even teased a possible CES reveal back in January.

The phone many believe to be the Optimus G2 supposedly features Android 4.2: Jelly Bean, a 5-inch full HD display, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, 13MP camera and a 3,000mAh battery.

On top of all that, the processor inside could be an ultra-powerful quad-core Qualcomm CPU, the likes of which would blow away the Snapdragon 600 found in the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S4.

If a brand-new benchmarking is to be believed, the 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 will be the chip, and the Optimus G2 could be a super-power phone for LG.

Gotta go to T-Mo

According to GLBenchmark, the Optimus G2 (under the codename LG-D801) will feature the MSM8974 processor, also known as the Snapdragon 800.

The Optimus G2 benchmarked here is set to arrive at T-Mobile, and will work on the carrier's 4G LTE network, and included a 1794 x 1080 resolution display.

The earlier benchmark from December 2012 was for a device on AT&T, but that doesn't mean the details about either phone are wrong.

The first Optimus G never made it outside of Asia, but seeing the benchmarks pop up for two other global carriers, as well as the success of LG's Nexus 4, bodes well for people in other countries hoping to get their hands on the high-powered device.

Neither LG or either of the carriers has officially announced any plans for the Optimus G2, but with benchmarks like these, it's only a matter of time.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/new-benchmark-could-point-to-lg-optimus-g2-complete-with-snapdragon-800-1141604

Apple reportedly in talks with developers to launch proprietary game controller

Apple reportedly in talks with developers to launch proprietary game controller
Apple's iOS controller may finally be a reality (credit: Patently Apple)

Though there are plenty of gaming controllers already available for the iPad 4 and iPhone 5, none of them have come from Apple itself.

While patents have popped up in the past, Apple hasn't seen fit to develop its own gamepad for iOS gaming, and since 2007, has allowed third-party companies to rule the roost.

However, sources speaking with PocketGamer revealed that might not be the case for much longer, as Apple was reportedly testing the controller waters in secret at GDC.

Nobody saw the device as of yet, but the anonymous developers who sat in with Apple at the event claimed the Cupertino company was seeking day one support for the mysterious controller.

Button-mashing bandwagon

To this point, Apple has seemingly been satisfied with the touch-based controls its iOS devices use for gaming.

However, a recent influx of controllers and consoles from companies like Ouya and GameStick, as well as Samsung's own Galaxy S4 Game Pad may have forced Apple to be reactionary for once.

PocketGamer's sources said Apple was at GDC under a fictitious name, and didn't bring any hardware along to show off thanks to frequent leaks.

The controller is believed to make a showing at Apple's April event, which is typically home to the annual iPad announcement.

It would certainly make sense to reveal a new controller alongside the iPad 5, but there's also a chance this purported joystick could be part of a larger plan, like the oft-rumored Apple iTV.

Whatever Apple's plans are, the company clearly believes the controller is a secret to be guarded as closely as the next iOS device.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/apple-reportedly-in-talks-with-developers-to-launch-proprietary-game-controller-1141596

Try not to break your HTC One. It's harder to fix than the iPhone

Try not to break your HTC One. It's harder to fix than the iPhone
Don't try this at home (credit: iFixit)

We enjoy iFixit's now-standard teardowns of new tech offerings. Breaking devices down to their bare bones has often served up some useful tidbits on processor configurations, built in RAM and so forth.

Now the site has given the stunning new HTC One handset the controlled destruction treatment and is offering the following advice: Whatever you do don't break this thing, because you ain't fixin' it.

Following its somewhat arduous endeavours to turn the gorgeous aluminium-bodied handset into a pile of components, the site has awarded the new flagship handset a repairability score of just one. Out of ten.

That's comparable to the equally irreparable Microsoft Surface tablet, while the iPhone, notorious for its stubborn attitude towards non-professional repair-folk notched up an impressive 7 on the iFixit scale.

Possibily impossible

The site claimed opening the device without damaging the rear case was "possibly impossible," which in-turn made replacing a broken screen "nearly impossible."

iFixit also concluded, following its arduous 18-step teardown, that "the battery is buried beneath the motherboard and adhered to the midframe, hindering its replacement."

It also found that the motherboard and most of the other important components are shielded by copper, which is also a you-know-what when it comes to piecing a device back together.

The site did say that the "solid external construction improves durability," but if you run into problems, it looks like its replace or bust for the HTC One. Make sure you keep the receipt!


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/try-not-to-break-your-htc-one-it-s-harder-to-fix-than-the-iphone-1141569

BBC 'forces' takedown of Microsoft man's unofficial Windows Phone app

BBC 'forces' takedown of Microsoft man's unofficial Windows Phone app
Lawrence Gripper's BBC News app is coming down

An popular, unofficial BBC News application for Windows Phone, created by a Microsoft employee, will be removed from the Windows Store, with reports citing legal pressure from the Beeb.

In the absence of an official offering, Lawrence Gripper's free BBC News Mobile app, which pulls in feeds from the website, had admirably plugged the gap, earning an average rating of above four stars.

The app brought Live Tile support, allowed users to read or listen in-app or on the BBC website and served it all up in within a fine user interface that encouraged over half a million downloads in the past two years.

Well-known developer Gripper, who created the app and a subsequent Windows Phone 8 update as a "labour of love" before joining Microsoft, broke the news on his personal blog "with great sadness."

No further comment

Gripper, who is now a technical account director at Redmond, wrote: "[The apps] have been a labor of love for me since the launch of Windows Phone in 2010 and it is with great sadness today that I removed both applications from the store.

"I do not wish to comment any further on the matter except to thank the over half a million people who downloaded the application and all those who have supported, tested, rated and emailed over the years."

While the developer remained diplomatic about the real reason for the app's demise, The Verge reports that it was indeed pressure from the tax-payer funded BBC which resulted in the takedown.

The app does use the BBC's logo, but so do plenty of other unofficial offerings on the Windows Store, none of which have been as well received as Gripper's, which is still temporarily available for download.

Who knows? Perhaps it is worried that the official app won't be able to live up to the third-party offering? That's if it ever decides to grace Windows Phone fans with its presence.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/beeb-forces-takedown-of-microsoft-man-s-unofficial-windows-phone-bbc-news-app-1141554

Galaxy S4 mini confirmed by Samsung SVP

The Samsung Galaxy S4 has leaked a few times before but this slip comes from Lee Keon Hyok, Senior Vice President at Samsung Electronics who talked to BusinessWeek.

Apparently, “the Galaxy S 4 doesn’t come out until late April. It’s fast, has a big, bright screen, and will probably be another huge hit for Samsung, as will the S4 mini that will go on sale soon after”.

That’s not a lot to go on, but at least it confirms the Galaxy S4 mini exists and we’re not looking at a random Galaxy model (most look quite similar).

KnowYourMobile has gotten hold of some unconfirmed info on the upcoming diminutive smartphone. The main camera will have an 8MP sensor that will capture HD video (possibly 1080p) and there will be a front-facing camera of unknown resolution.

According to the site the Galaxy S4 mini’s chipset (the Exynos 5210?) will pack just 1GB of RAM. The internal storage options are 8GB, 16GB and 32G with a microSD card slot. The estimated price for the Galaxy S4 mini is £300 / $450.

Keep in mind that KnowYourMobile’s data should be taken with a pinch of salt. Even Lee Keon Hyok’s comments should not be taken for granted.

Source 1Source 2 | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s4_mini_confirmed_by_samsung_svp-news-5780.php

Samsung Exynos 5 Octa does support LTE, so why isn't it in our Galaxy S4?

Samsung Exynos 5 Octa does support LTE, so why isn't it in our Galaxy S4?
Western variants of the S4 will 'only' pack a quad-core processor

At its Galaxy S4 launch event a couple of weeks back, Samsung somewhat glossed over the new handset's octo-core processor, despite it being a world-first for a smartphone. We would soon find out why.

In the aftermath of the Broadway extravaganza, the company revealed that the US and UK, would miss out on the Exynos 5 Octa S4 and would have to settle for quad-core - albeit much improved quad-core.

Most observers had assumed it was to ensure Brits and Yanks, among others, had a faster phone, but also access to the faster internet too, as the LTE version of the device runs the Qualcomm Snapdragon E50.

However, in a post on its @SamsungExynos Twitter feed late on Thursday, the company confirmed that the new Exynos 5 does support LTE on all frequencies.

The tweet reads: "Update: The Exynos 5 Octa supports LTE and all 20 bands." So what gives, Samsung?

Supply shortage?

Confirmation that LTE support is not a factor seems to suggest that its a supply issue preventing the Exynos 5 Octa going global on the S4 handset.

This remains unconfirmed but, if true, it would represent somewhat of a failure on Samsung's part to get all their ducks in row before the Galaxy S4 goes on sale on April 26.

It does mean that an eight-core Galaxy S4 variant could potentially be rolled out once Samsung amps-up production of the phone, but Samsung is staying mum on that too.

The perceived benefits of the Octa 5 processor are efficiency rather than speed. The tech is built on ARM's big.LITTLE framework, meaning there are four cores for handling the power-sapping and four for handling the phone's mundane tasks, which will result in smoother performance and better battery life.

Octa-core? Quad-core? Does it matter to you? Let us know in the comments below.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-exynos-5-octa-does-support-lte-so-why-isn-t-it-in-our-galaxy-s4--1141548

Could Facebook's new home for Android come on an HTC phone?

Could Facebook's new home for Android come on an HTC phone?
Home is where the News Feed is?

We're beginning to think Facebook must really like having people come visit, or at least we gather that by the number of events the company has been hosting at its headquarters lately.

Thursday the social network sent out media invites to "come see our new home on Android" during an event at 10 a.m. PDT April 4, a few weeks after it unveiled its new News Feed and just a couple of months since we got our first look at Graph Search.

This event promises to be quite different however, particularly as it's focusing on mobile, and a specific system at that.

What's more, this could be more than just a run of the mill app revamp: We could be in for something worth sharing in a status update.

Will we see a Facebook phone?

Sources speaking with TechCrunch say the event will reveal a modified version of Android with heavy Facebook functionality baked into the home screen.

What's more, this retooled OS may be housed in an HTC handset.

While not a complete rewrite, the OS is said to be a "flavor" of Android with extra Facebook spices included. Alternately, TechCrunch sources have heard the Facebook/Android mishmash referred to as an "application layer," one that leans heavily on native Facebook apps like Messenger and includes convenient social sharing functionality from wherever users find themselves on the device.

Yet another rumor calls the whole endeavor "Facebook Home," the marquee feature of which will be a home screen that bears the markings of Facebook through and through.

All of this bleeds into a report from 9to5Google intimating that Facebook and HTC are working on a joint advertising promo. AllThingsD meanwhile reported in 2011 that the two companies were breathlessly working with one another to build a deeply FB-integrated smartphone.

What all this means is that we could indeed see a Facebook phone come to life next week...or not. These are just rumors for now, so take all of the above with a hefty few shakes of salt. However, with the whole "where there's smoke, there's fire" credo, we could see something hardware related creep out of Menlo Park next Thursday.

TechRadar will be at the Facebook's event live to bring you all the latest, so tune back in for more on Facebook's Android aspirations.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/could-facebook-s-new-home-for-android-come-on-an-htc-phone--1141529

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Updated Nexus 4 design adds nubs around the rear edge

Google has quietly released an updated version of the Nexus 4 smartphone that feature some physically small but practically significant additions.



The updated Nexus 4 now features tiny nubs around the back edge of the device, which gently lift the phone off the glass back. The glass back of the phone may look very nice but it also made the phone very slippery when placed on a flat surface. The nubs raise the phone off the glass, thus making it less prone to sliding around and also protecting the glass from scratches.

Another advantage of these nubs is that they improve the performance of the loudspeaker. The loudspeaker on the Nexus 4 is placed on the back and gets blocked when you place it on a flat surface but this redesign lets it breathe better, which improves its performance a bit.

Another change is that the lens surround on the back is now smaller but it's inconsequential and doesn't affect the camera performance in any way.



The updated device is now shipping to customers. If you buy the phone now you are likely to get one of these instead of the old ones. Unfortunately, there is no way to check without opening the package.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/updated_nexus_4_design_adds_nubs_around_the_rear_edge-news-5777.php

Facebook will hold and Android related event on April 4

Facebook sent out invitations for an announcement next week, on April 4. Carrying the slogan "Come see our new home on Android", the press invite gives more than a subtle hint that Google's mobile OS will play a leading role.

A likely product to be revealed at the San Francisco Bay Area event is a previously rumored, Facebook phone running Android. HTC is the social networking giant's likely partner in the venture, as the companies have already worked closely together in the past.

The event will take place on April 4 at 1PM ET. We will be covering it as it unfolds, so be sure to tune in to find out all about Facebook's announcement.

Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/facebook_will_hold_and_android_related_event_on_april_4-news-5776.php

Samsung confirms LTE support on the Exynos 5 Octa processor

Through its Twitter account, Samsung confirmed that the Exynos 5 Octa processor is indeed fully capable of connecting to an LTE network. The Korean giant's latest silicon supports all LTE bands.

This announcement essentially confirms that LTE connectivity was not a factor in Samsung's decision to offer the its Galaxy S4 flasghip with Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 and Exynos 5 Octa processor options. Instead, it is the latter's short supply, which leads to the current arrangement.

The LTE capability of the Samsung Exynos 5 Octa doesn't guarantee that every Samsung Galaxy S4 sporting the chipset will be capable of 4G connectivity. Samsung is yet to comment further on this matter.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_confirms_lte_support_on_the_exynos_5_octa_processor-news-5775.php

Samsung Q1 2013 smartphone sales could be out of this galaxy

Samsung Q1 2013 smartphone sales could be out of this galaxy
The Samsung Galaxy S4 should give Samsung more to boast about next quarter too

Samsung is estimated to have another record-breaking quarter thanks to its smartphone sales during the first three months of 2013.

Normally, impressive sales wouldn't be all-too-surprising for the world's No. 1 smartphone manufacturer.

However, the great feat here is that Samsung managed to top its high-sales Q4 2012 with even more impressive numbers in the low-demand season of Q1 2013.

Breaking down the sales figures, Samsung is expected to have moved 25 million smartphones each month of this year.

With those kind of sales, the South Korean company will exceed 70 million units sold in Q 2013, according to the Yonhap News Agency citing Hong Kong's Counterpoint Research.

Samsung smartphone market share rises

Another boost to Samsung, as indicated by the report, is that it has taken control of 35 percent of the smartphone market share in the first two months of 2013.

Previously, the smartphone leader accounted for 32 percent, going by fourth quarter 2012 statistics.

Samsung's 3 percent increase in the smartphone market share hasn't been at the expense of Apple and LG Electronics, though, said the report.

Apple went from 17 percent to 21 percent, and LG increased its market share by a fraction, from 4 percent to 4.3 percent.

Chinese manufacturers ZTE and Huawei are sitting just ahead of LG, controlling 4.6 percent and 4.4 percent of the smartphone market, respectively.

Galaxy 4 sales to help

Samsung, keeping its record-breaking sales up in a historically negative couple of months, should be able to continue the sales trend in Q2 2013.

That's when the highly anticipated Samsung Galaxy S4 goes on sale throughout the world.

U.K. retailers are listing the unlocked Galaxy S4 at £529.98 ($805, AU$773) with an April 26 release date.

In the U.S., AT&T announced Galaxy S4's pricing and pre-order date as $249.99 (£165, AU$240) with a two-year agreement and April 16 release date.

If this new Samsung smartphone sells as well as the Galaxy S3, then the manufacturer could be in for more than one record-breaking quarter throught the year.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-q1-2013-smartphone-sales-could-be-out-of-this-galaxy-1141499

BlackBerry Q10 hits O2's 'coming soon' page, promising a May release

BlackBerry Q10 hits O2's 'coming soon' page, promising a May release
Spring is in the air for BlackBerry

BlackBerry traditionalists, who turned their noses up at the all-touchscreen Z10 smartphone, will be able to grab the Bold-alike Q10 from O2 in May, the network has confirmed.

The handset which is the first running BB10 to offer a physical keyboard arrived on O2's 'coming soon' page on Thursday, promising an arrival sometime in may, but offered no concrete on-sale date.

BlackBerry, which has been focusing solely on marketing the Z10 since both phones were announced back in January, is also yet to confirm an official release date for the handset in the UK.

Last month, the company announced that the Q10 would begin rolling out in global markets from April, while retailer Phones-Unlocked.com recently began offering a SIM-free handset for delivery on April 26.

BlackBerry bouncing back

BlackBerry fans wishing to snap up the handset as soon as it becomes available can be "kept in the loop" by registering their interest on the O2 site.

The BlackBerry Q10 boasts a 3.1-inch Super AMOLED HD touchscreen, sitting above the full qwerty keyboard.

It's also 4G ready, has built-in NFC, an 8-megapixel camera, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage and a 2100mAh battery.

Earlier on Thursday, BlackBerry announced that the Z10 had already shifted 1 million units, helping the struggling company to a surprise profitable quarter. Can the Q10 help the surge to bring the good times back to Waterloo?


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-q10-hits-o2-s-coming-soon-page-promising-a-may-release-1141477

Windows Phone has an app problem, but don't tell that to Microsoft

Windows Phone has an app problem, but don't tell that to Microsoft
135,000 apps and games and counting

Since its launch in October 2012, Windows Phone 8 has been a question mark in the mobile OS world. Microsoft still trails Android and iOS significantly in mobile system market share, and stats show it's behind even BlackBerry.

But there are signs of hope for Microsoft's mobile ambitions - this week the company announced that Windows Phones outsold iPhones in seven countries during the fourth quarter of 2012. Granted, those nations included India, South Africa and Russia and not major markets like the U.S., but still, sales are sales.

Aside from the lag time in boosting numbers following the release of a whole new OS, a lack of competitive apps is no doubt holding Windows Phone back. Whereas Apple has 689,000 apps for the iPhone, the Windows Phone Store owns around 135,000 apps and games. There's still no Instagram, and the Store finally picked up Temple Run Wednesday, though, as Wired noted, not the up-to-date Temple Run 2 or Temple Run: Oz titles.

Curious about Windows Phone plan for success, we sat down with Casey McGee, senior marketing manager at Microsoft, and Larry Lieberman, senior product manager, Windows Phone developer program, at GDC this week to get a read on the OS, what it's done right and how it plans to get where it wants to go.

Dev first approach

Both made much of Microsoft's developer-focused approach to games - we were at a game dev conference, after all - and noted that by allowing game devs to code natively while also giving them middleware like Unity and Marmalade to work with has fostered a robust creation environment.

"Larry and I are a little bit biased because of what we do for a living, but to us it really looks like we're the only ones that created a product with developers in mind," McGee said.

"I don't think anybody took the approach we did where we started over between Windows Mobile and Windows Phone and from day one we said, 'We need to create an amazing developer experience.'"

Developer interest accelerated with Windows Phone 8 as the platform became more open, the pair said. An internal promotion system has also translated to better app sales. While devs are happy making cash off their products, Lieberman said customers are benefiting from the dev-based approach too.

"The No. 1 guidance for Windows Phone since the very beginning has been to create an outstanding end-user experience," he said. "And apps are part of that outstanding user experience.

"We had to bring our developer expertise to the table in order to create that ecosystem that generates those apps, that generates that innovation that people expect and need because it's that long tail, right?

"On other platforms, an app gets installed and it's just an icon somewhere," Lieberman continued. "Most apps get installed and never get used again on other platforms. What we're trying to do is expose apps in contextually relevant ways."

He pointed to Lenses as a prime example of this contextual relevance - users can click on the Lens button to access apps that aren't only readily accessible, they make sense for what users want to use and when.

Clicking Lenses will take users to a set of apps that leverage a Windows Phone 8 handset's camera viewfinder, plus offer a path to the market place for more viewfinder-friendly apps.

It's not a two OS world

Lieberman and McGee aren't blind to the reality of the mobile OS hierarchy - "We understand the reality of the world today," Lieberman acknowledged - but both believe Windows Phone has a better-than-average chance to stake out a healthy place in the mobile ecosystem.

"We have said that our stated goal is to create a vibrant, differentiated third ecosystem in and of itself," McGee said. "And by that we mean something that is self-sustaining, something that is different from what is out there today.

"We went into a market where there [were] two very different ecosystems. You see what Apple is doing, you see what Google is doing. There are very different approaches, and we didn't think that either was quite right. We saw an opportunity for a third, and that's what we've done."

Market share is one indicator of success, he continued, but for Microsoft the hope seems to be generating a robust ecosystem, not claiming the top spot.

"Are you growing in more countries in sales? Are you growing the number of quality apps that people are looking for? Are you increasing customer satisfaction? Are you getting more partnerships, more innovation?" McGee asked. "All of those things are happening for Windows Phone."

Microsoft isn't content to play third fiddle, mind you, but Lieberman admitted the system has some catching up to do even if it is providing a differentiated OS option.

"What we've done is delivered something very different from what other folks have," he said. "We have a whole differentiated offering that gives people an interaction model that they can't get on any other platform."

Personalizing is key to the Windows Phone plot, he explained, as is the ability to access information users want faster than on other platforms.

"By far we're the most personal phone."

For all its plusses, there is still an glaring line drawn by OSes that have come before.

"From a time-based perspective, we launched our phone in 2010 and competitors had really shifted the paradigm around 2007, so there's a time delta there," Lieberman continued.

"[However], I think we have clearly defined ourselves as a third player in the ecosystem right now."

Never 100%

Pandora launched for Windows Phone 8 last week, fulfilling a promise made by Microsoft to bring the music app to life back in October.

Getting the app is a score for the platform, and it's able to take advantage of the filter features of Kids Corner to keep objectionable content out of youngsters' ears, but the absence of a major app like Instagram isn't helping Microsoft much.

Though he avoided specifics, McGee hinted that it and other popular applications could one day find themselves on Windows Phone.

"It's a work in progress," he said. "We're adding hundreds of titles every day. We find the majority of Windows Phone customers are buying the apps they're looking for, and they've gotten a great experience on Windows Phone.

"There are additional apps that we would love to add, and we're talking with a lot of folks."

Microsoft has a decent cache of exclusive content, he added, giving Windows Phone users experiences completely unique to the OS. And of course, nobody's perfect.

"At this point we feel that we've got just over 90 percent of the apps that people look for on both competing platforms," McGee said. "Those that we don't have, we've got our eye on. We'd love to bring those over as quickly as we can.

"But nobody has 100 percent of anybody. Nobody has every app that we've got. Apple doesn't have all the apps that Google has and vice versa. So it's important to calibrate for what's right for the platform.

"But taken as a whole, we feel we've got a good percentage of the sigfnificnat apps on other platforms as well as apps that behave better and differently on Windows Phone that you can't get anywhere else."


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/windows-phone-has-an-app-problem-but-don-t-tell-that-to-microsoft-1141442

ASUS Padfone Infinity pre-order books are now open in Taiwan

Asus began taking pre-orders for its Padfone Infinity Android smartphone and tablet docking device combo in Taiwan. The devices will hit the shelves in April in two different color schemes - gray and pink.

The ASUS Padfone Infinity is priced at TWD 20,990 ($702; €547) for a device with 32GB of built-in memory, and TWS 22,990 ($769; €599) for a 64GB version. The tablet dock adds TWD 5,000 ($167; €130) to the bottom line.

The ASUS Padfone Infinity is one of the leggiest smartphones announced so far this year. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 chipset with quad-core CPU, to go with a 5" 1080p display, 13MP camera, and Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. The tablet dock on the other hand, adds 10.1" Full HD display, front-facing camera, and a 5,000mAh battery.

Source (translated) | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/asus_padfone_infinity_preorder_books_are_now_open_in_taiwan-news-5774.php

Samsung Galaxy S4 UK pre-orders start, US to follow on April 16

The Samsung Galaxy S4 (both the I9505 and I9500) can be pre-ordered in the UK starting today, with shipments expected to begin on Friday, April 26.

You can get the Galaxy S4 with pretty much every carrier in the UK as well as contract-free from Amazon and Carphone Warehouse. Off-contract the device will set you back £629.95 from Carphone Warehouse and Amazon. There is a lower £530 option too from MobilePhonesDirect but you'll have to wait 33 working days, which puts it well beyond the April 26 date of the others.



Then you can go for a monthly agreement and a subsidized price. Everything Everywhere (EE) has the device listed as low as £19.99 on a £56 a month contract and for £269.99 for on its £31 a month plan - that's with unlimited texts and calls included.

Three UK offers the Galaxy S4 for free on £35 and £37 per month two-year deals.

O2 offers the Galaxy S4 on a variety of contracts ranging between £33 and £52. Getting one of the pricier plans allows you to get the smartphone for free.

You can go with T-Mobile - the Galaxy S4 can be yours for as low as 19 quid but with a £61 monthly contract.

Orange has the Galaxy S4 for as low as £20 upfront with 8 gigs of monthly data.

Finally Vodafone offers the Samsung flagship for free on a £42 monthly agreement.

Phones4U gives UK users a nice breakdown by network if you want a better overview.

Our American readers will also be glad to find out that the Samsung Galaxy S4 pricing and pre-order plans for AT&T were revealed. The carrier has confirmed that the smartphone will cost $250 with a new contract on its networks and you will be able to pre-order it from April 16.

Via | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s4_preorders_hit_all_major_uk_carriers-news-5772.php

HTC One hits multiple UK stores and carriers

The HTC One Android flagship is finally available in UK stores after its launch got delayed. It’s available from multiple retailers and e-tailers and on several carriers.

Carphone Warehouse offers perhaps the biggest choice of carriers – EE, Vodafone, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Three, Talkmobile. If you want the phone for free, plans start at £33 on a 24 month contract.

Dial-a-Phone offers the One on contract with Vodafone, Orange and T-Mobile, with monthly taxes starting at £28 with an 18-month contract.

Phones4U also offers HTC One on contract with Vodafone and Orange, but also EE. Contracts for EE start at £41.

Three UK also carries the phone on contract - £34 / month for 24 months – or on a pre-paid plan for £480 (that’s cheaper than the earlier pricing of £510). Three will ship the HTC One on Tuesday, April 2.

Clove UK will be shipping the Silver HTC One on April 3 and on the Black one on the 10th (that’s for those who pre-ordered). The SIM-free price is set at £510, and if you offer now your unit will be shipped in late April.

Amazon UK expects to ship both color versions on April 12 on a £524 price. Vodafone’s own site says the HTC One is in high demand and units will be available in three to four weeks.

Thanks to Androidian for the tip!


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_one_hits_multiple_uk_stores_and_carriers-news-5770.php

BlackBerry may be back in black, but it's shed a chunk followers

BlackBerry may be back in black, but it's shed a chunk followers
Back in Black(Berry)

BlackBerry looks like it's managed to finally turn its ship around as the Canadian firm returns to profitability, but it's come at a cost.

According to the firm's financial results for the fourth quarter (Dec-Mar) it has seen revenue fall 2 per cent on the previous quarter and 36 per cent year-on-year, although the dramatic cost cutting measures which have been brought in has seen BlackBerry turn a profit.

The results also note that BlackBerry subscribers now stand at 76 million, which means the firm has lost customers as it was apparently nearing the 80 million mark towards the back end of September 2012.

Handset question marks

During the fourth quarter BlackBerry managed to ship 6 million smartphones, of which 1 million were handsets running the firm's new BlackBerry 10 software.

BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins claimed demand has been greater for the flagship BlackBerry Z10 than for any of its previous handsets, but it's worth remembering that shipping isn't the same as sales, so the actual number of BB10 handsets in people's hands could be much lower than that 1 million mark.

And spare a thought for the BlackBerry PlayBook. It's still bumbling along and a whole 370,000 were shipped during Q4 - although it remains to be seen if they are still sitting in warehouses.

Lazaridis Leaves

As part of the earnings announcements it was also noted that co-founder and former CEO Mike Lazaridis will leave BlackBerry on May 1, relinquishing his position as vice-chairman to focus on a new venture.

While Lazaridis may no longer be in charge, his decision to leave will prompt some to assume he's jumping off a sinking ship and possibly looking to distance himself before things get even worse - although there's been absolutely no mention of that from Lazaridis himself.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/blackberry-may-be-back-in-black-but-it-s-shed-a-chunk-followers-1141329

iPhone 5S release date, news and rumours

iPhone 5S release date, news and rumours
Could the 5S be just around the corner?

The iPhone 5 may only be around six months old, but we're already hearing information about a successor. In keeping with Apple's naming convention this should end up being called the iPhone 5S.

The early arrival of the iPad 4 and the iPad mini - just eight months after the release of the iPad 3 in March - has meant that Apple still has the ability to surprise and we could well see an iPhone 5S appear earlier than expected.

Nevertheless, it's more likely that the iPhone 5S will hit stores in the latter part of 2013, following the trend set by the iPhone 5 and 4S. It's even possible that Apple will skip the iPhone 5S and hop right on to the iPhone 6, though there is little suggestion that this would be the case.

And, as for the software, we're expecting that to be revised too. Some developers contacted The Next Web in early January to say they had seen a new iPhone6.1 identifer in logs - a device running iOS 7.

Apple's past 'S' models have featured the same shell as the core model, though with different features and slightly different tech specs.

The iPhone 5S isn't expected to differentiate itself from the iPhone 5 too drastically, though a better camera and slightly faster processor will surely be part of the package.

One analyst has claimed Apple could use the iPhone 5S to increase its margin for iPhones as a result of falling profitability.

One thing is for sure, with the release of such super handsets as the Samsung Galaxy S4, Sony Xperia Z and HTC One, the next iPhone will have to seriously up its game.

iPhone 5S release date

That means the iPhone 5S release date could be as early Spring 2013. However, we believe it's still likely that we'll see another iPhone later in 2013.

But that's not what everybody thinks: many sources claim that full commercial production of the rumored iPhone 5S has begun already. That's borne out by further rumors suggesting a March manufacturing start date, followed by a mid-year release - probably in June, a date backed up by Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster and others. A cheap iPhone could also appear later, possibly in September.

Digitimes reckoned in 2012 that the iPhone 5S release date would be a little later, citing predicted sales targets of relevant component manufacturers. "Apple is expected to introduce its next-generation iPad and iPhone series around the middle of 2013... Component orders placed by Apple, which climbed to high levels prior to the iPhone 5 rollout, will rise again between March and April, the observers indicated."

iMore rumours in early March pointed to the 5S being out in August 2013, something Digitimes then agreed with in late March 2013. It came up with the startling revelation that the new handset would appear in Q3 2013 (probably September). As our own Kate Solomon puts it, "in other news, night to follow day, Tuesday to follow Monday and bears to continue using largely wooded areas to take care of business".

The International Business Times said in March that production had been delayed to make up ground on the progress made by other handset manufacturers. That wouldn't be at all surprising considering how far behind its rivals the iPhone 5 has fallen - in terms of raw specification, at least.

iPhone 5S display

iPhone 5S or iPhone 6 will include a Super HD screen display and camera according to new reports in December 2012. The China Times says a 'Touch On Display' panel is being developed by Taiwanese supplier Innolux with 10 point multi-touch and a 0.5mm thickness. Apparently the site spoke to sources inside Apple's supply chain.

iPhone 5S casing

According to further rumours, the iPhone 5S might not be the only Apple handset we see this year - rumours abound about cheaper, plastic iPhones, while Apple could be readying an even bigger smartphone to launch in June, apparently called the iPhone Math.

Reports suggest that a cheap iPhone 5S would mean Apple diversifying manufacturers from Foxconn, perhaps leading it to turn to Pegatron. An analyst estimates Pegatron could be responsible for 75 percent of low-cost iPhones.

According to the hit-and-miss China Times wesbite the iPhone Math will carry a sizable 4.8-inch display and an 8MP camera.

The new, larger, lower-cost handset could be aimed at emerging markets such as China.

However, it remains likely that the iPhone 5s will simply use the iPhone 5 shell given Apple's penchant for doing this with the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4S.

iPhone 5S camera

In January 2013 iLounge received information that indicated the handset would sport the same design as the iPhone 5 with the key difference being a beefier camera and larger flash on the back.

That's hardly ground breaking from Apple, with the touted 13MP camera on the 5S hardly bucking the trend considering the Sony Xperia Z already has this and we'd expect the Samsung Galaxy S4 to offer up something similar.

New rumours from January 2013 pointed towards the iPhone 5S having a 13MP camera as well.

Have we already seen the iPhone 5S?

It was reported on 6 December that images of a purported next-generation iPhone have surfaced on French website Nowhereelse.fr, revealing an exterior virtually identical to the current iPhone 5 but with slightly different internals.

iPhone 5S
It appears little will change inside the next iPhone [Image credit: Nowhereelse.fr]

Phones Review suggests that a dual-SIM iPhone 5S could be released, hot on the heels of a rumoured Samsung Galaxy S4.

More parts appeared in photos shown by BGR towards the end of January 2013.

iPhone 5S NFC

Rumours have abounded for years that the iPhone will incorporate NFC at some stage, but this has proved unfounded. Indeed, Apple decided to incorporate Passbook into the iPhone 5 and iOS 6 as a way to provide a similar, if different, feature.

Now, according to the often-wrong China Times, Apple is rumoured to be equipping the 5S with NFC in addition to a fingerprint scanner for added security. We're really not sure about this one, though rumours of fingerprint scanners and NFC support in Apple's devices trace back to last July when Apple bought mobile security firm AuthenTec for $356 million (UK£238 million, UA$346 million).

It's possible, then.

iPhone 5S wireless charging

According to CP Tech, Apple filed a patent application last month for Wireless Power Utilization, a wireless charging system with near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR). That means we'll get wireless charging at last.

Needless to say, TechRadar will be keeping a close eye on all the iPhone 5S rumors and will bring you the latest developments as they emerge - on this very page.

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster believes the 5S will also have a feature originally destined for iPhone 6: a fingerprint reader.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5s-release-date-news-and-rumours-1111911

All aboard the Galaxy S4 pre-order train

All aboard the Galaxy S4 pre-order train
If you want it, come and get it

Retailers and networks now have their pre-order pages live for the Samsung Galaxy S4, and to no one's surprise it ain't cheap.

On contract you'll need to shell out £41 per month for two years if you want to get the Galaxy S4 free, while it will set you back around £530 SIM-free.

We'll keep you updated on all the offers and release date news in our Samsung Galaxy S4 release date: when can I get it article.

Blips are TechRadar's new news nuggets that you'll find percolating through the homepage - or you can see them all by hitting the blip keyword below.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/all-aboard-the-galaxy-s4-pre-order-train-1141257

Octa-core Galaxy S4 benchmarks surface, live up to expectations

So far, we've only got to evaluate the performance of the I9505 Galaxy S4, which is powered by the Snapdragon 600 chipset. SamMobile on the other hand were lucky enough to fiddle with the Exynos 5 Octa variant of the Galaxy S4 and make it sweat in some synthetic benchmark tests.

The tests in question are AnTuTu and Quadrant, both being all-round suites that gauge pretty much every component of the device - CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, etc. As you'd imagine the quad Cortex-A15s don't disappoint and posted amazing scores beating every device we have seen so far.

AnTuTu

Higher is better

  • Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
    23607
  • Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
    23607
  • HTC One
    22678
  • Sony Xperia Z
    20794
  • LG Optimus G Pro
    20056
  • HTC Butterfly
    19513
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    15547
  • Oppo Find 5
    15167

What we noticed from a screenshot of the AnTuTu benchmark was that the frequency of the CPU is reported as 1.8GHz. Samsung announced the Octa 5 Exynos variation of the Galaxy S4 is running at 1.6GHz for the Cortex-A15 cores and 1.2GHz for the Cortex-A7 cores. It could be possible that the market version of the device to arrive a bit more beefed than what Samsung's initial announcement suggested.

Quadrant

Higher is better

  • Samsung I9500 Galaxy S4
    12726
  • LG Optimus G Pro
    12105
  • Samsung I9505 Galaxy S4
    12028
  • HTC One
    11746
  • Sony Xperia Z
    8075
  • HTC One X+
    7632
  • LG Optimus G
    7439
  • Oppo Find 5
    7111
  • HTC One X
    5952
  • Samsung Galaxy Note II
    5916
  • Samsung Galaxy S III
    5450
  • Meizu MX 4-core
    5170
  • Nexus 4
    4567

In case you're wondering, you can check out in which countries Samsung is going to launch the Exynos 5 Octa and Snapdragon 600 editions of the Galaxy S4.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/galaxy_s4_exynos_5_octa_benchmarks_top_the_charts-news-5769.php

Google Nexus 4 goes on sale in Brazil for R$ 1,699

Google has launched the Nexus 4 smartphone in Brazil. The phone will be sold through Fast Shop and Ponto Frio, unlocked.



Unfortunately, there is no option to purchase the phone through the Google Play Store in Brazil. What's worse is that the phone is priced at R$ 1,699, which is roughly equivalent to US $844, significantly more than the $349 price in the US Play Store.

Still, if you wanted to purchase the phone through official channels, you at least have an option now. Not sure how many people would be interested at that price, though.

Note: The source link says US $1,699 but that's just a translation error.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/google_nexus_4_goes_on_sale_in_brazil_for_r_1699-news-5768.php

EE's 4G roll out: 50% installed

No doubt it's high-fives all round over at the EE office as the UK's first, and only, 4G network celebrates bring its superfast network to 50 towns, meaning it now reaches half of the population.

As EE pushes out 4G in another 13 towns and cities today, it notches the milestone of 50 per cent population coverage - keeping it on track for its goal of 70 per cent of the people covered by the end of this year.

Those lucky new locations are, in no particular order other than alphabetical, Bradford, Bingley, Doncaster, Dudley, Harpenden, Leicester, Lichfield, Loughborough, Luton, Reading, Shipley, St Albans and West Bromwich.

More where that came from

EE plans to bring the number of covered towns and cities to 80 by the time June rolls around - and it will be eager to offer 4G to as many as possible before the likes of Three, O2 and Vodafone get their rival services online towards the end of 2013.

Among the frenzy of back slapping and party popping, the folks over at EE towers still have a job on their hands to win over a large chunk of consumers who simply believe the service is just too gosh darn expensive.

Obviously EE is quick to point out the additional benefits which comes with its service, plus there is a need to recoup the money it splashed on rolling out its LTE service ahead of its rivals, but we're still waiting to see a properly affordable 4G price plan.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ee-s-4g-roll-out-50-installed-1141060

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Free Facebook Messenger VoIP calls land on UK Android app, report claims

Free Facebook Messenger VoIP calls land on UK Android app, report claims
Facebook's VoIP calls experiment seems to have arrived on Android

Facebook has started to roll out an update for UK users of its Android Messenger app to enable free voice calls to friends, reports late on Wednesday claimed.

The Next Web blog has received word from Brit-based Facebook Messenger users who're starting to see the feature, which was only bestowed upon the iPhone version of the app on Monday this week.

The free, IM-centric Messenger app, which stands alone from the main Facebook hub, will showcase an 'i' icon within the chat window once the update has been installed

Hitting that button will provide the opportunity to make the Free Call over both Wi-Fi and 3G.

Free long distance calls

The UK is the third country to receive the feature, following successful roll outs in Canada and the United States.

The major advantage is the ability to make transatlantic calls free of charge when they spot a friend online and will come in handy when an IM chat creates the need for a longer, more vocal conversation.

The extension of the feature to Android phones remains unconfirmed at the time of writing, so we'll update this article if the Facebook drops official word.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/applications/free-facebook-messenger-voip-calls-now-hitting-uk-android-app-report-claims-1141221