Telus joins the fun, gets itself an iPhone this November

Not that we're surprised, but Bell isn't the only Canadian carrier stealing the iPhone exclusivity limelight from Rogers. Telus is proudly proclaiming on its home page that it, too, will have the iPhone 3GS in November. No word on prices, but we doubt the companies will stray too far from the current trends. Now that the playing field's a bit more even, may the best carrier (or the one with the best advertising, at least) win!

Filed under: Cellphones

Telus joins the fun, gets itself an iPhone this November originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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U.S. Chamber of Commerce Reacts to Apple’s Withdrawal Over Climate Change Policies

Dow Jones Newswires reports that U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Tom Donohue responded to Apple CEO Steve Jobs today after the company announced its withdrawal from the organization over the Chamber of Commerce's stance on pending climate ch...

DoubleTwist Launches iTunes-Like Desktop Application for Amazon MP3 Store

doubleTwist, the company run by famed digital rights management hacker Jon Lech Johansen ("DVD Jon"), today released a revamped doubleTwist for Mac application, adding a number of new features to its iTunes competitor. The most notable enhancement i...

What AT&T Allowing VoIP over 3G Means for Google Voice, SlingPlayer

What does AT&T’s announcement today, regarding a change of policy to allow VoIP applications like Skype to operate over the 3G network mean for Google Voice in the App Store and SlingPlayer over 3G?

Nothing.

Not to rain on our many commenters and emailers parades, but AT&T’s VoIP policy has nothing to do with either of those apps because:

1. Google Voice was rejected/is still under review by Apple, not by AT&T. All parties have clearly stated AT&T has played and is playing absolutely no roll in keeping Google Voice out of the App Store. That ball is still firmly in Apple’s court, and it will take movement from them, and them alone, to bring it to the App Store when — and if — they decide to pull the trigger.

2. SlingPlayer sends your home TV video over 3G, and clearly has nothing to do with VoIP. AT&T has a distinct and separate policy forbidding the use of apps like SlingPlayer on their 3G network. Unless and until AT&T changes that second, specific policy as well, no SlingPlayer over 3G for you. (And seriously, given AT&T is dropping 30% of calls in NYC as well, does anyone think their network could survive even more traffic at this point?)

So there you go. You’re getting VoIP from AT&T and Apple, no more, no less. Scratch that off the list, and if they’ve given an inch, and you hunger for a mile, keep the armor on and re-focus your battle on the next two (or more) targets.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

What AT&T Allowing VoIP over 3G Means for Google Voice, SlingPlayer

Apple and Skype React to AT&T’s Announcement of Support for iPhone VoIP Services

Following AT&T's announcement that it will now allow iPhone Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services over its mobile network, Apple and VoIP provider Skype have issued public statements reacting to today's announcement.

The Associa...

Pocket Sherpa for iPhone has promise

Filed under: iPhone, App Store, iPod touch, App Review

PocketSherpa [itunes link] is an interesting idea for a travel app, but it should be used with caution.

When you download the free app, you'll be asked to sign up with an email address and a password. When that is done you can click on any place in the world, and have a good chance of getting a contact there you can ask questions of and get some really good local advice. I tried some out of the way places (at least for me) and found lots of people offering good information. In Bristol, U.K. for example, there were 24 people offering advice and 20 people offering to show me around.

There were contacts in Newfoundland, and in the Sudan. The developers claim 25,000 travel guides, and 30,000 experts at more than 7,000 destinations.

There is also a list of newspapers, so you can read the local news before you go, but the list is not extensive and has a North American bias.

The app supports a public Q&A list for many of the locations, so you can get a feel for where you are going without initiating the messaging function.

I'm also worried about the security of the searchers and the local guides. While you can keep your communications to just email, many of the experts are offering goods and services like driving you around. There is no way for those people to be vetted, and by the same token an unscrupulous user could do harm to one of the experts.

PocketSherpa is a really good idea, but I think there are some red flags about the creators being a broker for physical people-to-people encounters.

It's free, so take a look at it and see if it fulfills your needs, but also see if you agree that you would need to be really cautious with direct physical contact.

Pocket Sherpa for iPhone has promise originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Pocket Sherpa for iPhone has promise originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple to Amend iPhone SDK Agreement to Get VoIP over AT&T 3G Apps Into the App Store ASAP

Apple has now weighed in with regards to AT&T’s announcement today that they would be changing their policy and allowing VoIP (Voice over IP) to operate over their 3G network (something they’d previously asked Apple not to allow). When reached for comment, Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris told TiPb:

We’re very happy that AT&T is now supporting VoIP applications. We will be amending our developer agreement to get VoIP apps on the App Store and in customers’ hands as soon as possible.

Hopefully this means users on other carriers, liberated by AT&T along with the rest of us, will now also get VoIP over 3G apps. If any international carriers do decide to ban VoIP themselves at this point — yeah, we don’t see that going over well at all.

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Apple to Amend iPhone SDK Agreement to Get VoIP over AT&T 3G Apps Into the App Store ASAP

New Verizon Ad Directly Attacks AT&T Coverage, Claims 5 Times Better 3G Coverage

Business Insider: AT&T to allow VoIP on its 3G network

Filed under: Wireless, Apple, iPhone, App Store

Business Insider is reporting that AT&T has given Apple the go-ahead to enable Voice over IP (VoIP) apps such as Skype on its 3G network. In the past, VoIP apps required a Wi-Fi connection.

The announcement was made in advance of the annual conference sponsored by CTIA - The Wireless Association. AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega is scheduled to give a keynote at the conference tomororw and could use the event to further elaborate on their intentions.

The announcement is most likely a response to recent events at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which is proposing new rules that would prohibit carriers from blocking apps on their networks.

A public announcement by AT&T stating that they will allow apps such as Skype on their network would remove any doubt that it's the company that is doing the blocking, and put the spotlight firmly on Apple to explain why they're not approving VoIP apps. As noted yesterday, VoIP provider Vonage has made its app available in the App Store, although ratings after the first day probably make them wish they hadn't...

It should be noted that the announcement will likely have no bearing on the fate of Google Voice, which was rejected by Apple on the grounds that it duplicates functionality already found in the iPhone. The Google Voice app allows users to control their Google Voice account, send SMS messages and check voicemails, but does not provide any VoIP functionality.

Business Insider: AT&T to allow VoIP on its 3G network originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Business Insider: AT&T to allow VoIP on its 3G network originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Skype Comments on AT&T Policy Change Allowing VoIP over 3G Network

Following up on a rumor earlier today that AT&T would be announcing a new, friendlier policy towards Skype and Google Voice, Skype President Josh Silverman posted on the official Skype blog, saying “Good move, AT&T”:

All of us at Skype applaud today’s announcement by AT&T (in an FCC filing to be published shortly) that it’ll open up its 3G network to Internet calling applications such as Skype. It’s the right step for AT&T, Apple, millions of mobile Skype users and the Internet itself.

Silverman reveals that 10% of all iPhone and iPod touch devices have downloaded the Skype app (which makes roughly 5 million installs, if our math is right), and while they give AT&T the requisite kudos, Silverman states that it’s the government and industry regulation that should ensure open networks — in line with the FCC’s recent move to establish “net neutrality“.

Of course, AT&T announcements and Skype enthusiasm are one thing, let’s see how long it takes to get Skype 3G into the App Store.

(And, of course, that still leaves Google Voice)

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Skype Comments on AT&T Policy Change Allowing VoIP over 3G Network

AT&T now allowing iPhone VoIP calls over 3G

AT&T's restrictive network policies might have been behind some of the more notable iPhone app rejections in the past, but at least one major class of applications just got the green light, as Ma Bell just eased the restriction on iPhone VoIP calls over 3G. We can only assume this is the result of the FCC's renewed push for net neutrality and AT&T's argument that it's doesn't need new regulations to remain open, but -- what does this mean for you? Well, Skype on the road, for starters, but we're guessing a flood of interesting new VoIP apps will hit just as soon as devs can get their apps updated and submitted. We'll see how pushing all this more data affects AT&T's network going forward -- we're totally starting a SlingPlayer petition drive if things don't totally blow up.

Continue reading AT&T now allowing iPhone VoIP calls over 3G

Filed under: Cellphones

AT&T now allowing iPhone VoIP calls over 3G originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AT&T Allows VoIP iPhone Apps to Work Over 3G Network

Review: Minigore for iPhone

The gameplay in this 3-D shoot-em-up is a little limited. But the impressive details of Minigore make up for lacking features.

AT&T changes tune, allows VoIP over cell network

AT&T Wireless has changed its policy and decided to allow iPhone VoIP applications such as Skype make phone calls over the company's cellular data network.

Palm to open developer doors to webOS in December

Smartphone maker Palm has soft-launched a program to sell independently developed webOS applications.

AT&T to allow Skype and other voice networks to operate on its network?

MacRumors (and various other blogs) now are reporting that AT&T is planning to support Skype, Google Voice, and other voice related software on their network, something they previously hinted they would never do. A quote from the original article in the Washington Post: “One source close to the thinking of AT&T executives said the company has been [...]

Canadian iPhone exclusivity to end soon

AppleInsider is reporting a rather curious (and interesting) trend; exclusivity starting to end for the iPhone in various parts of the world. Now that includes Canada. An excerpt from the report: — Apple’s exclusive carrier contracts for the iPhone in each country continue to fall, as a new report has claimed that two new carriers in Canada will [...]

Dear iHackers — Less Nerdfight, More Jailbreak, Okay?

Seems like Geohot, the original iPhone hacker, was set to announce “one jailbreak to rule them all”, or a simple, clean way to jailbreak all current iPhone and iPod devices, when another hacker team, Chronic, announced the same exploit and plans for a tool of their own, dubbed greenpois0n. Geohot responded on Twitter and his blog that, in light of their disclosing the exploit he felt a) they were taking credit for his work and b) Apple would patch it fast enough that it wasn’t worth doing any more.

Hackers, guys, boobalas: as much as the jailbreak community gives all of you all due respect and admiration, get over each other. You don’t owe anybody anything, not even the 3.1OTB (out the box)-hungry community who’s benefitted greatly from your work over the years, but you don’t need to spite the community over each other either. Apple’s the one you have the cat-and-mouse game with, right?

Just do the awesome Jailbreak voodoo that you do so well.

[via nfrederick on the TiPb Jailbreak Forums]

This is a story by the iPhone Blog. This feed is sponsored by The iPhone Blog Store.

Dear iHackers — Less Nerdfight, More Jailbreak, Okay?

O2 struggles with iPhone supply; Orange, Vodafone prep sales

O2, which is losing its exclusive rights to the iPhone in the UK, is struggling to supply customers with the smartphone due to lack of available supplies.

Geohot Planning to Release Tool to Jailbreak Any iPhone and iPod Touch Running Any Version of iPhone OS?