Make free calls from your mobile phone - Says Fring

Alright people, here’s yet another way to cut down your mobile bill. Fring, a start-up, has come up with what could be called the mobile version of Skype. This way, you can make phone calls and send text messages free of cost from your mobile phone.

Fring is based on peer-to-peer internet technology, just like Skype. It uses peer-to-peer internet technology to activate a call from a mobile phone to another over the internet. Both the caller and the receiver need to have the Fring application in their mobile phone in order to be able to use this service. You can also chat with your friends right on your mobile phone via text messages just like you do with instant messengers. And all this, is free of cost.

You will not be charged for the air time and you will not be charged for the text messages you send via Fringe. You will just have to pay the normal data charges every month. Fring supports online communities like Yahoo, AIM, Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, Twitter, and ICQ. The service is also available in six different languages apart from English, making it accessible for non-English speakers.

The only downside is, not everyone can download and use Fring. You need to have a Symbian 8 or 9 or Windows Mobile 5 or 6 to be able to use this. So far, Fring enjoys success with users from over 160 countries.

Categories: All things mobile phones.

0 comments.

Two articles, mobile advertising, expert opinion, and a little rant

First, I read this article a few days back. I thought of coming up with a rebuttal immediately, but then I was too tired to do that. Thankfully, a few days later, Allen Wastler has come up with another article which makes a little sense.

Now, if you notice, in the first article, he had assumed that mobile phone ads, especially location based advertising, will be annoying for everyone. He mentioned that there is an opt-in facility available for mobile advertising – meaning you get ads only if you want to. But immediately he went on to add that he was not sure whether it would stay that way or people would be compelled to get ads on their mobile phone, even against their choice. Now – THAT – got my goat and other domesticated animals.

In this latest article, he has expressed his surprise for the fact that he didn’t get as many voices against mobile advertising as he expected. While a few of them have expressed their opinion against mobile advertising, an equal number of them have also said that they don’t mind getting ads if they were to get something in return – like subsidized mobile bill or some kind of value added service from the carriers.

This is precisely what I’ve been trying to tell people around the world ever since I started this blog. I’ll say it once again. Repeat it with me.

1. There is an opt-in facility available as far as mobile advertising is concerned. In other words, you get ads on your mobile phone only when you want to.

2. You get lots in return for getting advertisements on your mobile phone. Ever heard of Sugar Mama? Virgin gives free talk time to people who get ads on their mobile phone. Blyk offers free talk time and free text messages for people who get mobile ads. Talkster allows you to make international calls free of cost, thanks to ads. The list is just endless.

3. If you feel that you can manage your mobile bill all by yourself and don’t need any sort of freebies from the advertiser or the carrier, fair enough. You just don’t have to get ads on your mobile phone. It’s as simple. Nobody is pointing a gun at your head. So, stop screaming.

When I thought of starting a Rant section in this blog, I was wondering what to write in this section. But there are people who help me keep this section alive. Thanks guys.

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising, Rant.

2 comments.

Free mobile calls could be the future?

I always thought it was a possibility and my faith has been reinforced. I’m talking about the possibility of free mobile phone calls and going by the development in mobile advertising industry, it could soon become reality.

Vodafone recently launched Free4me portal, which you can access through its multimedia menu Vodafone Live. What’s so special about this portal? Well; all the services, I mean every single service, in the portal are free. That’s right, it won’t cost you a single penny. Everything is ad-funded and if you agree to get ads on your mobile phone, you can use the services free of cost. The ads could come in the form of banner ads, SMS or text messages, and MMS.

As of now, the portal has mobile TV shows, competitions, club guides, and other services for customers. Vodafone is planning to add a lot more to the portal in the form of music videos, celebrity interviews, live shows, and video footage from TV shows.

Experts predict that by 2012, free mobile calls could become reality, thanks to mobile advertising. Who knows? May be twenty years from now, our kids won’t even know that something called mobile bill existed.

Categories: Cell Phone Advertising.

0 comments.

No need for Blackberry - Get emails on your handset now

If you’re a Blackberry user and thought it was most essential to keep you connected all the time, it’s time to change your opinion. Thanks to two brand new innovative services, you can get emails on an ordinary mobile phone, there is simply no need for a Blackberry. Surprised? Read on.

The first one comes from a UK company called Work Out of Office. The service is called Always On Mail and it’s available at ₤65 a year. All you need to do is, go to their website, choose your handset, download the appropriate software for the same, and enter your POP3 account details. That’s it; you’re good to go. You can get emails on the go.

The second service is even better, as it’s a free one. Momail has a cutting-edge mobile mailing service and most importantly, it’s free for all. The reason behind their magnanimity is simple. They want to build a massive subscriber base and then market other services/products from which they can make money. Though the basic email service is free, if you want extended storage capacity or backup facility, you’ll have to pay a fee.

Now, if you’re concerned that your data charges will go through the roof, don’t be. The emails will be compressed and reduced in size to a great extent. So, you’ll use only a small amount of data every month which will ensure your mobile bill stays under control.

I seriously believe this is one helluva news for mobile users. I wonder what kind of impact this will have on Blackberry users and most importantly, Blackberry manufacturers. Interesting days ahead. Meanwhile, why don’t you share your opinion on this?

Categories: All things mobile phones.

3 comments.