FriendCaller Blog

Not long ago we blogged about the Android’s lack of updating apps, like sometimes skipping updates and the missing feature of updating all apps in one go. Our support team faced several complaints from Android users like why FriendCaller’s features are claimed but not provided. Each time we have to convince our Android users to manually update the app, as we all knew that Android’s capability of updating apps is not so friendly. Sometimes the OS looks for updates on a regular basis but most of the times even after several updates by the developers, the OS fails to look for an available update from developers.

Android's 2.2 Update All apps feature

Looks like the problem have been solved now. We are happy to welcome the latest release of Android 2.2 which solved our app updating issue. Android 2.2 users can now navigate to their downloads and select the option Allow Automatic Updating check-box for any particular app they want to update automatically. This new feature is far more better than what the previous version of Android OS offered, where a user had to navigate to the Downloads and then check whether there was any update available for a particular app or not.

The best part is that the new 2.2 version of Android OS allows the user to update all the apps in one go by simply clicking the Update All button in Downloads. iPhone users have been a bit proud uptil now because of the iPhone having the Update all button since the beginning, and Android not. But, now it seems that Android users can enjoy more freedom in updating apps and can prevent the tedious task of updating each app manually and separately.

Now is the time when Google should start focusing to pimp its Android Marketplace which lacks a lot what Apple’s App Store has to offer currently.

To learn more about the new features of Android 2.2, watch the video below:

Demo View of Cisco XD Virtual Office

An engineering group at Cisco around Renat Zakirov designed a magnificent 3D virtual office environment delivering a fine example of how employers and employees can experience working virtually just as they are working in reality. The Cisco XD is a new trend of human network which introduces a technological breakthrough between rendering engines and Cisco products and services to create a stunning graphical interface in 3D.

At Cisco XD one can setup a complete 3D virtual office in a matter of minutes by using the superb drag and drop feature of furniture, fixtures and also Cisco equipment. The interface is so stunning and easy to use, that anyone can setup an office without referring any manual or help guide.

SIP Phone menu in Cisco XD

Currently on Cisco XD there is a Demo office setup for realtime experience. Cisco XD supports SIP compatible phones that can instantly place calls to phone and mobile networks. Also for a LIVE experience one can navigate to the Cisco XD website at www.ciscoxd.com and can setup a virtual SIP phone now. The best part is that Cisco XD is using the unmatched VoIP breakthrough technology from C2Call, FriendCaller Java based Instant VoIP telephone that works on a web browser as a webphone without any software installation, and can also be used on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Android, facebook and  as a desktop version.

FriendCaller VoIP iPhone app integrated with Cisco SIP Phone

Calling the Virtual Office SIP Phone via FriendCaller browser phone

Following is a video released by Cisco showing a LIVE demonstration about how the Cisco XD has utilized the FriendCaller VoIP technology to call the phones installed in the virtual office for free.

Images: CiscoXD

Chrome for Mac went out its beta status and joined the stable status of its Windows brother according to Google.

So it is a good time to check how Chrome is doing with our FriendCaller VoIP website.
We have seen a steadily increase of visitors and users using the Chrome family accessing our www.FriendCaller.com website.
The share of accesses to our site from visitor using Chrome was already 8% in November 2009, bypassing Safari in December and now in May 2010 it has with 11% share established a solid third place behind Internet Explorer.
The Chrome version for MAC lacked Java VM support for a while but now it is executing our Java VoIP technology amazingly fast.
However, seems to be that JavaFX is not yet supported on Chrome for MAC.
However, we are confident tat this will be fixed soon and we are looking forward to many more visits from Chrome users!

According to a recent press relase by the npdgroup, the android operating system continued to shake up the U.S. mobile phone market in the first quarter (Q1) of 2010. npdgroup’s research revealed that the RIM’s OS (Blackberry) stands 36 percent, and Android OS moved into the second position at 28 percent, leaving behind the Apple’s OS on 3rd position at 21 percent.

“As in the past, carrier distribution and promotion have played a crucial role in determining smartphone market share,” said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for npdgroup. “In order to compete with the iPhone, Verizon Wireless has expanded its buy-one-get-one offer beyond RIM devices to now include all of their smartphones.”

The strong selling of Droid, Droid Eris, and the Blackberry Curve via such promotions helped Verizon Wireless’s smartphone sales on par with AT&T in Q1 of 2010.

“Recent previews of BlackBerry 6, the recently announced acquisition of Palm by HP, and the pending release of Windows Phone 7 demonstrates the industry’s willingness to make investments to address consumer demand for smartphones and other mobile devices,” Rubin said. “Carriers continue to offer attractive pricing for devices, but will need to present other data-plan options to attract more customers in the future.”

Its time for Apple to shift to a multioperator strategy in U.S., and take control of the smartphones market share. Not to forget that recent lawsuit papers filed against Android by Apple revealed Apple’s 5 year contract with AT&T which is now going to end in early 2011.

“One million iPads in 28 days—that’s less than half of the 74 days it took to achieve this milestone with iPhone,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “Demand continues to exceed supply and we’re working hard to get this magical product into the hands of even more customers.”

iPad users have already downloaded over 12 million apps from the App store. Developers have created over 5,000 exciting new apps just for the iPad alone. The iPad also supports the 200,000 apps already available on App Store.

Due to the large screen, extreme graphics, and multi-touch interface, the price of the apps for iPad has been recorded to be higher than the price of the same apps on iPhone or iPod Touch, but still many developers try to keep a strong customer relationship and welcomes new iPad customers, by keeping their app prices reasonable or same as that available on iPhone or iPod Touch.

FriendCaller has proved itself as a strong step towards mobile VoIP freedom, and its VoIP app for iPad remains free of cost to download from the App Store, enabling iPad users to make free calls over the FriendCaller network and cheap long distance calls abroad.