FriendCaller Blog

Hey there Android Users! We got a treat for you!

Guess what?  The secret is out in the open  FriendCaller-the first platform independent VoIP app for iOS, and OS Browser, is now thrilled to announce Group Video Calling feature for Android offering FREE Group Video calling for 4 Video and 6 more audio participants, which makes a total of 10 concurrent users communicating altogether.

Hold on, the best part is yet to come!

The unique feature, unlike other Group Video Calling apps for mobile platforms is that, you can see everyone LIVE on the same screen without toggling among the contacts and yes, you can do this all without any charge!

Furthermore, with Push notifications for Android 2.2+ via Android Cloud to Device Messaging (C2DM) from Google Projects, save battery more 8).

Available for over 962 Android devices now, FriendCaller is at the drop of a hat to further increase the number of participants in Group Conferencing feature. Any idea of how many more video participants can communicate together on Android platform?

Android’s App download count has been a hot topic this week, Generally when it comes to counting, 10  billion is a great number by any capacity, yet, when its unfolding the speed at which a thing is growing, its simply incredible!  For Google and the Android Market I think we can move forward and consider it a big number, because earlier this week, Google declared that over 10 billion apps has been downloaded. But the real kicker is that rate of downloads is one billion per month. Incredible! Lets keep our fingers crossed as to where this skyrocketing download will take its place in year 2012 !

To celebrate this event, Google is offering some really cool paid apps for an awesome price of  10-cents on Android Market for 10 days. This 10 cent sale is being done in cooperation with some great Android App developers who contributed to this landmark by making some great apps available at an amazing price of 10 cents. FriendCaller will continue offering 5 million calling minutes and text messages in its Offer Wall, and yes, we are still free to download and use!

So Android lovers, Do you know that with our latest Android version (1.2.0.4) launched just today, you can avail FREE credits by downloading apps from our credit enriched Offer Wall which has 5 Million Calling Minutes and Text/SMS secured for you. The latest release contains much refined an All-in-One Offer Wall loaded with offers of downloading apps, watching videos, and short surveys. A real treat for Android users, indeed! So what are you waiting for? Download the latest version, and earn credits to call and text, making your Android a full featured VoIP device, saving huge on bills!

Intel join hands with Google! Exciting isn’t it? On Tuesday, Intel Corp announced a joint development venture with Google to create and optimize future versions of Android smartphones for Intel’s ‘Atom’ processors. The two technology giants will team up to work on different Android platforms and are all set to release the first Intel-powered Android smartphones in the first half of 2012.

These days, a large number of smartphones and tablets use ARM architectural-based processors built by companies like Texas instruments and Samsung instead of Intel, mainly because of the power efficiency factor. Intel teaming itself with Google at this stage when the sales of PCs are slowing down is a smart move. With Android dominating the smartphones’ market, taking the lead from Apple iOS, Microsoft and RIM, Intel would definitely get the long-term benefit out of this mobile partnership.

Now, who will be the manufacturer of these devices? None of the companies mentioned it but Google’s recent acquisition of Motorola Mobility hardware definitely leaves a big hint here. Whatever the case maybe, this partnership offers a great opportunity for Intel in order to make a much-needed breakthrough entry into the booming smartphones’ market.

Earlier versions of Android such as Android 2.2 (Froyo) are already been ported to Intel. Now, with this recent collaboration of the two companies to improvise all the future Android versions, Intel and Google are certainly taking their relationship to the next level, providing developers a wide range of opportunities to expand their expertise.

Yet another episode of the patent war series between Samsung and Apple has made the headlines! This time, Samsung takes the battle to France. Back in April 21, South Korea’s Samsung Electronics filed a lawsuit in Seoul District Court against Apple over five patent infringements. Later on, two separate lawsuits were filed by Samsung against Apple in Japan and German Courts inciting two and three patent infringements respectively.

Overall, there are 19 ongoing lawsuits between Samsung and Apple. The recent addition to this patent lawsuits showdown is filed by Samsung against Apple for infringement of three of its mobile phone technology patents in iPhone and iPad tablets.

Apparently, this patent war is getting a bit over the top now. After suing HTC, Apple continued with its aggressive patent-building strategy. Last month, Rechtbank’s-Gravenhage (a Dutch court in the city of The Hague) imposed a EU-wide ban on Samsung’s Galaxy S, Galaxy S II and Ace smart series. Initially, the court banned the release of Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 all over Europe as well but later on, the decision was narrowed to Germany only.

Do you know that Samsung is already enjoying the top position in the mobile phones market according to a recent report by comScore? As reported by Samsung, the sales of its Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 have been on the rise since it’s launch in France back in mid-August. The complaint was filed  in July and the first hearing of this latest patent lawsuit by French court is due in December.

What does Google has to say about this recent episode of patent war between Samsung and Apple? Since Android market is still going strong, we are yet to see whether it will leave any effect on Android if Samsung or Apple loses their respective lawsuits.

The cold war between Apple and Samsung does not seem to end anywhere in near future.  Even though, Apple has pouched more enforceable decisions in this series of patent wars, but Samsung is also not going to settle down for anything less here!

Yes! Shocking but true. With Google taking the lead and Apple being the top manufacturer today in the Smartphone market, it’s getting more and more difficult for RIM’s BlackBerry to keep holding the grounds. Recent stats gathered by comScore shows that in July 2011, approximately 82.2 million people in the U.S own an Android or iPhone, thus showing a 10% increase as compared to April 2011.

Wow! In just 2 months time, the Smartphone market for Google and Apple has surely become gigantic. But for RIM BlackBerry smartphones, the stats are not that much promising. According to comScore, Google is ruling the market with 41.8% market share (gone up from 36.4% in April), while Apple lands on the second slot with 27% market share (gone up from 26%).

Now, where does RIM’s BlackBerry fit in? Well, frankly not anywhere near to Google and Apple. The market shares for BlackBerry smartphone dropped from 25.7% to 21.7% in a short span of just 3 months. Moreover, no new versions are coming up and the apps for BlackBerry have become stagnant with no latest updates at all. Pretty disturbing scenario for BlackBerry developers who have experienced this downfall in the past as well.

The data collected by comScore shows a clear downfall of RIM’s Blackberry in the smartphone market, how? According to the facts stated in the report, approximately 234 million Americans aged 13 or above own a mobile phone, not necessarily a smartphone. Samsung gets the lead here with a 25.5% share of U.S mobile subscribers as compared to LG and Motorola with 20.9% and 14.1% respectively. Apple gets the forth position with 9.5% of the total market. RIM lands on the 5^th spot with 7.6% market share. Not that impressive!

What will be the future of mobile market in the coming years? Well, it’s hard to predict. That’s why giving up on BlackBerry according to these facts and figures didn’t appeal us much. So, we are hopeful and our FriendCaller for BlackBerry app will soon be launched with all the latest VoIP features.

 Although there’s a rumor about Windows Phone taking over iOS by 2015, but this seems dubious to us even if it’s Nokia Windows Phone 7. As for now, Android and iPhone continue to dominate the Smartphone market. Let’s wait and watch what the future unfolds!