FriendCaller Blog

Internet Tethering: ON!

Taiwan, or better Taipei (known as the capital of the PC component makers around the world), is certainly not an Apple country. All our Apple needs are managed from Singapore; as whenever there is a new product, ordering it from Singapore takes less time to acquire than ordering the very same product (manufactured in Taiwanese factories) in Taiwan. However, slowly Apple products are getting more and more popular in Taiwan and iPhones can now be seen here occasionally.

A few days back, in one of our stories of Apple’s multi-operator strategy, we discussed why Apple need to adopt a multi-operator strategy in US. Similarly, here in Taiwan also after a long time, Apple finally signed contract with a second operator, Far EasTone, which is Taiwan’s third-largest mobile telecom operator.

I’m also using Far EasTone for a while now, because they offer a high quality 3G network and innovative products.  And not recently, after an Operator Setting Update, Internet tethering become available. YES! So, now it’s Chunghwa’s call to step in to the mainstream. Not to forget, Chungwa is the the national flagship operator.

With Far EasTone Unlimited 3G with Internet tethering and nationwide hotspot access now cost as little as USD 20 monthly only. Browsing the Internet, chatting and unlimited free VoIP calls are now very affordable.

Internet tethering will provide a boost as well for the iPad sales. Instead of buying the more expensive 3G plans, analysts recommend to go for the low cost Wi-Fi and use tethering to go online. Simply perfect!

This is another small, yet an important step towards the mobile Internet freedom.

Ever since using the HTC Tattoo and Motorola Milestone to test our FriendCaller Android version it becomes more clear to me: iPhone and iPad lack of multitasking for third party apps like our VoIP apps is a killer. I love my iPhone and over time you just get used to these shortcomings, only when using a different device that can run app as a service in the background it become apparent again what we missing out. The Android phones manage incoming calls while running pass very elegant, no rude interruptions.

Is the nature of my job talking to people for hours a day through FriendCaller and I really like the top quality audio components Apple Inc. is using, FriendCaller apps have a real natural and warm voice quality, a big step from the early VoIP service with these harsh digital sounds. But using the iPhone, you never know when an incoming call will kill my free FriendCaller VoIP call. The only solution is to use a iPod touch. It has the same audio engine and yes, no incoming cell calls!

But now with free 3G calls through the iPhone it becomes even more urgent, now I can talk to my friends for free wherever I go, no search for WiFi hotspots anymore but the same time, as long as FriendCaller VoIP app can not run in the background you have a build in service interruption risk.

We learned to love our iPhone despite lack of background apps, a lot of love will be lost if the iPad will be launched without it! QZKZWM5C4VDK

Screenshot of FriendCaller from Android

Our FriendCaller Android version is soon to be released, very exciting since FriendCaller can run as a service in the background so the Android Phone can be reached at any time through free VoIP calls. So it’s time to prepare some marketing materials.

Yesterday I was trying to find out how to take a screenshot on Android, and finally, I miss my iPhone, first time since I have been using my HTC Tattoo. I found some on the Android Market and also Googled to find a few apps, but on both the screenshot apps seemed to be outdated and no more download links were available.

Tobias, our Android developer saved my day:

1) Load down the Android SDK, unpack the ZIP file and find in the tools folder the DDMS program. Click to install DDMS. NO need to install the complete SDK.

2) On your phone, go to settings > applications > Development and enable USB debugging

3) Connect the phone to your PC and start DDMS, select your phone and select in the DDMS menu “Screen capture”

That’s all: WYSIWYG! (What you see is what you get!)

As a VoIP app developer we are appreciating Apple Inc.’s step toward mobile VoIP freedom. Gradually, Apple opened up to VoIP (and did we ever mentioned that we were in the iTunes App store one week before Skype?) and recently to VoIP over cellular data networks like 3G/UMTS/HSDPA. They introduced Push Notification and inApp purchase too which were very user friendly but there is still one element missing: to make iPhone a full featured mobile VoIP device. We are referring to Multitasking; i.e. allowing app to run as a service in the background.

Now we have a brand new version upcoming which makes FriendCaller as an always running program. Unfortunately, not on the iPhone yet but on the Android phones. And have you ever wondered what a difference this will make?

Now, one does not have to worry anymore about launching FriendCaller each time to make/receive a call. FriendCaller now can just run in the background and the user can be called any time instantly. He/She will be notified by a phone ring directly as it should be in a normal call scenario. At the moment on the iPhone a user gets an instant message prompting to open FriendCaller, but on Android our FriendCaller version now works like magic. A small feature utilized, but a huge step forward towards user friendliness.

Our Android beta version is coming soon, please contact us at info@c2call.com, or leave a comment below, if you would like to enjoy the true mobile VoIP freedom as an early Beta tester

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Thanks to the quick response from the iTunes Connect Support team: FriendCaller apps are back on iTunes and can be found by searching for FriendCaller.

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