In which, iPhone apps are built.

It turns out that creating new GUI iPhone apps is both harder and easier than you expect.

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If AT&T Ran the Highway System...

Drivers would have to prepay their tolls, based on the estimated number of miles they expected to drive. Those who drove fewer miles than estimated would get no refund; those who drove more would be charged for the overage at a higher rate. The AT&T-approved Apple iCar would be limited to a top speed of 30 mph. Sales people in AT&T car showrooms w

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Cell phones light up operating room during blackout

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - The light from the cell phone screens allowed surgeons to complete an emergency appendix operation during a blackout in a city in central Argentina, reports said on Saturday.

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Today iPhone Gets Bejeweled by PopCap For Free!

Many folks waited in line, in the United States, to get their fingerprints on an iPhone. Today, it all becomes worth while for casual gamers and their sleak black Apple designed mobile phone product. PopCap Games announces Bejeweled for the iPhone...

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Iphone Without AT&T

DVD Jon finds a way to use the iphones ipod and wifi features without giving away any personal information or money to AT&T!

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Reliance launches intl calling cards

Mumbai, July 23 (IANS) Reliance Communications (RCOM), one of India's leading telecom players, Monday launched Passport Outroamer calling cards, which enable Indians travelling abroad to make calls to any international destination from a mobile phone, landline or payphone at lower rates.

The calling card enables savings of up to 90 percent as compared to international roaming.

V.K. Aggarwal, president, global voice business at RCOM said: 'The Reliance Passport Outroamer calling card is the beginning of a series of initiatives to offer cost effective solutions for outbound travellers to stay in touch with family, friends and business associates.'

It can be used to make calls from the US, Canada, Britain, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia at attractive tariff plans with rates starting as low as Rs.5.50 per minute.


'The product is in line with the global focus of Reliance Communications and is an effective way for us to tap the international voice market in order to further enhance our leadership position,' Aggarwal added.


The card also has value added services like Voice Portal that allows users to stay updated with the latest happenings in India.


RCOM also launched the Reliance Passport Advantage - an inroamer service for people travelling to India. By using this service, traveller can save up to 75 percent over other international roaming services.


The service is presently available for travellers coming into the country from the US. It will be extended to other countries later.
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Telstra farewells Say G'day cards

TELSTRA has walked away from the international calling card market as the big telco streamlines in line with its five-year transformation plan.

The carrier has agreed to sell the business unit behind its Say G'day and Super Buzz international pre-paid calling cards to call card specialist Telecorp.

"Telstra's decision to sell the brands is part of its strategy to streamline its product offerings and reduce complexity in the business," Telstra spokesman Peter Taylor said.

Telstra would review its operations to find other opportunities to simplify its business, he said. "Each product and area of our business is being looked at on its merits and long-term strategic fit. Where rationalisation opportunities exist we will take advantage of them."

Telecorp, which trades as Gotalk in Australia and New Zealand, declined to reveal how much it paid for the business but it's understood that Telstra agreed to sell the for less than $10 million.

Telstra would continue to sell its PhoneAway and Phonecard cards, which could be used to place calls overseas but they were not aimed at the international call market, Gotalk chief executive Steve Picton said.

Analyst Paul Budde said the sale indicated niche markets were declining in importance for Telstra.

"This has become a niche market application. It has declined in importance for Telstra as a whole, but for a smaller company this is still a very lucrative market with plenty of opportunities," Mr Budde said.

"It's our core business so we believe the business is probably worth more in our hands," Mr Picton said.

Gotalk said its business turned over $150 million a year. The acquisition could push its share of Australia's call card market above 60 per cent.

Calling cards started losing their appeal for consumers as low-cost pre-paid mobile and internet telephony services entered the market.
Author: Andrew Colley
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Guangzhou Global Telecom inks agreement with China Unicom

Jul. 17, 2007 (China Knowledge) – Guangzhou Global Telecom has announced that its Zhengzhou Branch has signed an agreement with China Unicom's< CHU ><762 >< CUNCF > Zhengzhou Branch. Guangzhou Global telecom is a mainland mobile phone handset and pre paid calling cards distributor and provider of mobile handset value-added services.

Consumers to choose direct dialing long distance option

The Peruvian government has given the public from July 2 until Oct 31 to freely choose a long distance operator to make domestic and international long distance calls through direct dialing, local news service Agencia Andina reported.
Though telecoms legislation has always allowed customers to freely choose their operator and set up direct dialing using the 0 prefix for domestic long distance and 00 for international calls, most long distance operators have offered their services through a four-digit dialing code or calling cards.

Incumbent Telefónica del Perú (TdP) has been the main operator offering direct dialing through the 0 and 00 prefixes. For that reason, most of the general public believed that direct dialing was only possible through TdP.

The four-month period will include an educational program informing consumers about their right to set up direct dialing contracts with any of the 15 existing long distance companies operating in the country.


Once the period ends, anyone who has not set up a direct calling contract will only be able to make long distance calls using four-digit prefixes provided by the operator or calling cards.


According to local telephony regulator Osiptel, the measure will enable the entry of new operators into the market. Clients that set up direct dialing contracts before October 31 will be allowed to change operator every two-months if they want.


According to Liliana Ruiz, a former director of Osiptel and current president of telecoms consultancy Alterna Perú, this measure is aimed at promoting competition in the long distance telephony segment.


"I think it is very important the regulator has taken charge of the selection process so the user receives the appropriate information," Ruiz told BNamericas.


Ruiz said that among operators offering four-digit prefix and calling card dialing include Impsat Perú, Sitel, Movistar, Gamacom, TdP, Infoductos y Telecomunicaciones del Perú, Nextel, Americatel, Convergia, Telmex (NYSE: TMX), IDT, LD Telecom, Perusat and LA&C Sistemas.

By Juan Pedro Tomás
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AT&T Helps Military Families Connect for Independence Day with Free Phone Calls and Support from the USO

AT&T Donates 10,000 Additional Prepaid Phone Cards to U.S. Military Members and Honors Military Members and Veterans for the July Fourth Holiday

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) has announced the donation of 10,000 prepaid phone cards, which is the third installation toward more than 50,000 prepaid phone cards that AT&T will give away in 2007. The total 2007 donation is valued at more than $450,000. With the help of the USO, the cards will be distributed to military personnel who are stationed overseas. This donation builds on more than 85 years of AT&T support for U.S. military families and a 20-year partnership with the USO.

The latest donation marks 30,000 phone cards donated thus far this year via direct handouts with the USO. This set of 10,000 phone cards will be distributed on overseas military bases during USO entertainment tours that are slated for the weeks following Independence Day. According to AT&T, this donation is in honor of U.S. families, whether they are on active duty or have a loved one who is actively serving.

In the coming weeks, the USO will help AT&T distribute the phone cards to troops who are serving throughout Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, South Korea, Japan and Europe. Each donated phone card will provide 20 free minutes of talk time from Iraq to the U.S.

"As we celebrate one of the most patriotic holidays of the year, we salute U.S. military families everywhere,” said Carmen Nava, AT&T senior vice president-Distribution. "We also hope this donation will help ease some of the challenges posed by distance, time zones and ongoing military duties — and bring loved ones closer together."

The donation builds on AT&T’s work to help keep military families connected. Since January 2006, AT&T has donated nearly 200,000 prepaid phone cards — valued at nearly $1.8 million — to U.S. military members and their families. In the past 20 years, AT&T has contributed tens of millions of dollars to the USO in support of Operation USO Care Package, Operation Phone Home® and USO entertainment tours. AT&T also has helped the USO enhance troop morale through funding regional operations in Europe, Southwest Asia and the Pacific.

“USO is the way Americans support the nation’s troops,” said Ned Powell, USO president and CEO. “This kind of generosity by our worldwide strategic partners such as AT&T and the American people makes our work possible.”

Since 1941, the USO has provided morale, welfare and recreation-type programs and services to enhance the quality of life for military personnel and their families around the world. The USO currently operates more than 130 centers, including 10 mobile canteens, and offers free Internet and e-mail access, prepaid phone cards, entertainment and lounge areas, libraries, travel assistance, educational programs and refreshments. USO entertainment tours bring volunteer celebrities to entertain and lift the morale of troops and to express the gratitude and support of the American people.

For more than 85 years, AT&T has remained dedicated to supporting active military personnel, their families and veterans through charitable contributions, sponsorships, the hiring of military veterans and maintaining policies that support reservists when called to duty. Since 2000, AT&T has donated nearly $8 million in free prepaid phone cards to military members and has provided nearly $6 million in grants that support military members and related nonprofit organizations. The company also has built 70 calling centers in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan that help keep military members in touch with their families.
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Pre-paid phone cards wanted for soldiers

Cell Phones for Soldiers is a nonprofit organization that was started by two Norwell, Mass., teenagers to help buy pre-paid calling cards to send to servicemen and women overseas.

The Nashua representative hopes Mailbag readers will help answer the call for phones!

Help them call home

“Cell Phones for Soldiers has raised close to $1 million and has sent more than 75,000 pre-paid calling cards to our service people since the organization was started in April 2004,” writes Nashua-area representative Pat H. of Nashua (LTR 2,093). “In addition to calling cards, Cell Phones for Soldiers is now sending video phones to units in the Middle East and to their home base, as well, so families are able to see each other as they talk. The phone and service are provided free to service people and their families.
“The program will accept any model or make of phone; it doesn’t need to be working. The phones will be recycled . . . to purchase cards or unlimited free video phone calls. You may drop off phones and attached batteries, as well as accessories.”
Author: Chris' Mailbag
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Experts: VOIP Just Another Way to Hack

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is an exciting development for many consumers because it brings together two great drivers: reduced costs and improved features. Unfortunately, the same benefits that draw users to the new technology benefit those who would prey on the users, so VoIP introduces yet another network gateway that must be guarded.
Author: Curtis Franklin Jr.
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BlackBerry gets free international calls

EQO service uses local minutes and data instead
Internet phone service specialist EQO has added BlackBerry to the list of around 400 handsets that it says can now make local-rate or free international calls - without using Wi-Fi or VOIP to the handset. Users also get cheap text messaging and free access to all the popular IM services, the company said.

EQO's service uses a combination of voice and data connectivity - the client sets up a data connection to EQO's servers, but uses it only for signalling and messaging. National calls are routed normally, but when it detects an international call request, the client instead makes a local call to the server which then forwards it over VOIP to the destination country.

If the call is to another EQO user, the system signals the recipient and if they accept the call, their client software dials in - also using local minutes - making the international leg free.

"You can download the software and use our service in 28 countries, but you can call to 230 countries where we have agreements to break calls out. For example, it's 1.2p a minute to call the US," said Simon Edelstyn, EQO's European head.

As yet, the service has no roaming capability - the software is tied to a local number in the country where it was downloaded. There's also no email or Wi-Fi support, although those could be added, according to Edelstyn.

"This is an international calling service, not a roaming or traveller service," he said, adding that the advantage is that there's no need to use calling cards or dial a local access number yourself.

He said that the company already had a generic Java client which runs on hundreds of handsets, but that the BlackBerry version was its first native client. Symbian and Windows Mobile equivalents are due next month.

A native client will integrate better with other services on the handset, "but the service is working well at the moment with the Java client," he added.

The system does shift some of the calling cost from voice to data, so it relies on users having a decent data tariff. Edelstyn claimed that, assuming 10 IM sessions and 10 calls a day, plus daily log-ins, EQO shouldn't consume much more than 4MB a month.

The client has its own phonebook, separate from the normal one, and in effect it runs as an independent telephony service on the handset.

"There is no disadvantage to having the client running all the time," Edelstyn said, pointing out that while it automatically re-routes calls, it still uses local minutes and data - and could even generate more revenue-per-user for the mobile network if it shifts international calling away from using prepaid cards at home.

Of course, the mobile networks might beg to differ, because having the EQO client constantly running takes up a data channel and could increase cell congestion. However, EQO is hardly the only service that wants an always-on data channel, so this is a bullet that the networks are just going to have to bite, sooner or later.®
Author: Bryan Betts
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