Today Vonage (NYSE: VG) launched Vonage Mobile, its first mobile calling application for smartphones. Vonage Mobile is a free downloadable application (app) that provides seamless, low-cost international calling while on Wi-Fi or cellular networks*. Once downloaded, the service saves customers more than 50% on calls to dozens of countries versus the rates charged by wireless carriers while providing far more convenience than calling cards. Vonage Mobile will be available for download on the iPhone(R), BlackBerry(R) and iPod touch(R) at www.vonage.com and the iTunes App Store later today.
While the release of this application is not all that shocking, the fact that you can use the networks 3G data to make your calls with Vonage Mobile is. That whole fiasco between Apple, Google, AT&T, and the FCC seems to have worked out in our favor yet again.
Apple has applied for a patent for “provisioning” services on a mobile device based on a custom carrier profile:
Carrier provisioning profiles are distributed to computing devices via an activation service during the provisioning process. The carrier provisioning profiles specify access limitations to certain device resources which may otherwise be available to users of the device.
What this all means for the carriers is that Apple could essentially give them control of approved and unapproved features and applications that come on the iPhone at the point of purchase. So if Verizon (or China) were to carry the iPhone and they see fit to remove Wi-Fi, it can be done. Or say AT&T wants you to use their AT&T Navigation application and no other GPS applications — that too can be done. For Apple this means they free themselves from having to create various versions of firmware for each individual carrier.
Sadly for all of us, this could be a very bad sign of things to come. One of the main reasons we love the iPhone is the fact that Apple does not allow carriers to junk up the device with their own bloatware, common on other devices. Unfortunately that may all be coming to an end.
It’s time for some good old forum action. From the Forums is a great way to see what all of the current hot topics are on the TiPb forums. In order to create any new threads of your own or reply to any of the existing threads, you must be a registered member. Becoming a member is a simple process that will only take a few minutes out of your day, so if you have not already already done so, head on over and register now.
If you are a AT&T customer, we are pretty sure you are well aware that MMS has finally been activated on our IPhones. Well… for most of us that is. Some of you are still having issues getting it working. Stop by the official AT&T MMS threadand let us know how your experience has been so far.
This next thread was started by DBlanco and he thinks the iPhone is a perfect device. While many of you would agree with this there’s an equal amount of you who would disagree. Stop by the thread for yourself and speak your mind. My feeling is, yes the iPhone is a great device but no single device is 100% perfect. There is always room for improvement.
This thread was a started a while back by Erika78 and she wants to know why you decided to leave your previous phone and make the jump to iPhone? With our forums growing by the day this is one of those threads that will never die. Join in on the conversation and let us know why you left your old device.
Have some iPhone tips and tricks that you’d like to share? Perhaps you are in need of some general help? This is the forum you need to visit. That is the place to find answers to your iPhone questions along with all the tips and tricks you can imagine.
Are you still on the hunt for the right GPS navigation application? SygicMobile Maps [$59.00 - US iTunes Link] has just gotten a much needed update and we are happy to report is has polished this GPS app nicely. Gone is the lag we experienced along with the addition of some other much anticipated features.
Now with text-to-speech – voice guidance announcing the name of the next street or road
Choose addresses straight from your iPhone contacts and navigate to.
Music playback fades out smoothly so you can better hear the voice instructions.
Improved GPS lock, now faster than ever.
Smoother position display as you follow your route.
Increased font size of street names and information bars for improved readability.
No disclaimer warning message after completion of phone call.
So if you currently have this application, update now! If not and you’re still on the lookout for a good GPS app, Sygic Mobile Maps is definitely worth a look.
When you wake up Friday morning, don’t expect to see MMS working on your iPhone immediately as AT&T will be systematically activating groups throughout the day, starting at 10 AM Eastern time. Also don’t forget that to enable MMS on your iPhone you must first connect to iTunes and download and install an updated carrier file.
That is, if AT&T’s network holds up as millions of iPhone users rush to test the new service. That very thought has AT&T feeling extremely nervous right about now, according to MacRumors:
“early testing has been a little rocky, with AT&T seeing a fairly significant test outage yesterday that has them rushing to beef up their MMSC messaging servers. Estimates among those working on the project are that traffic on AT&T’s wireless network will be about 40% higher all day on Friday as iPhone users fire pictures and video at one another.”
Not that any of you AT&T customers really need the reminder. Regardless, the wait is almost over folks, AT&T is finally flipping the MMS switch for all of their iPhone customers this Friday, September 25th.
Sure, this day marked in your calendars but would any of you like to take bets on whether or not the network will buckle when you have every single iPhone owner sending picture after picture all day long? Don’t be too upset when the person you are sending the image to tells you they have not gotten it yet. That’s more than likely to happen unless AT&T really used this extra time wisely and beefed up their network like they claimed in preparation for the flood gates they are about to open…
Still, according to some of our readers, it seems as if AT&T is currently sending out text messages reminding you of this day that so many of you cherish.
“Picture &video message(MMS) will be available for iphone on 9/25. While we prepare your account for MMS capability, the current ” view my message” experience will be turned off but your ability to send and receive text messages will not be affected.”
Porn and iPhone, it is out there and every once in a while you may even find porn in there. In an Apple Retail Store on one of the iPhone and iPod Touch demos, that is.
That’s exactly what happened just the other day as a mother found her 10 year old girl mesmerized by some X-rated content on one of the Apple Store demo devices:
“I called to complain and was told matter of factly by staff this happens a lot as people come in and download it for a laugh, I don’t find it funny and all my friends think it’s disgusting, but Apple say there is nothing they can do to stop it.”
Apple does a fantastic job of keeping smut out of iTunes and their App Store, surely they can figure something out for their real-world stores.
We all new AT&T’s MicroCell was coming, and we all knew the pricing was likely to be (what’s a more insane word for insane than insane?). Now Sascha Segan from Gearlog has word on the Charlotte, North Carolina launch, and just what those insanely insane prices are:
According to an AT&T rep in Charlotte, the MicroCell costs $150 and service is free (heck, you’re saving AT&T money by using it) unless you sign up for AT&T’s “unlimited talk” option, which gives you unlimited minutes of calling over your microcell. That costs an extortionate $20/month, though it also gets you a rebate on your device.
It uses GPS to verify your location during setup, so don’t try to use it out of AT&T coverage zones or internationally (you know, where the pricing may actually be worth it).
Is it just us or is this like going to MacDonald’s, not getting fries in your combo meal, and then being told if you really want them, bring your own potatoes and for a couple bucks extra they’ll let you cut and fry them up yourself?
Update: Engadget Mobile just got word from AT&T that the MicroCell and it’s pricing structure are only in “public trial” at the moment in Charlotte, North Carolina. So sit tight folks as AT&T has “no other announcements to make at this time”.
So you say you have horrible AT&T coverage in your home and you are about to leave your beloved carrier? Hold that thought for just one moment as AT&T’s 3G MicroCell website just went live with a launch right around the corner. We all knew this was coming when Apple released the carrier file that added MicroCell support for our iPhones. Unfortunately, unless you have AT&T internet or landline service you must pay more, rumored to be $19.99 a month for unlimited use, to have the service you should already expect to have.
This is a great option for those of you stuck with a garbage signal in your home or office but without a doubt this should be a free solution as you already pay good money for the AT&T service. Even Sprint has been known to give their MicroCell away for free to customers who have no other choice but to ditch the carrier for another because of subpar service. Is it possible for AT&T to be just as forgiving?
If you decide to give this a try please let us know how it goes!
Poor battery life and iPhone are a few words that get mixed together all too often it seems. While some will say it’s fine, others will say it’s pitiful. As many of you know, battery life will fluctuate greatly between users and their individual usage patterns but TiPb wants to provide you with some simple tips and tricks on conditioning your battery to provide a maximum life and squeezing as much usage out of each charge as possible.
The battery in an iPhone is a lithium-based battery which is most common in consumer portable devices. A lithium-ion battery provides 300-500 discharge/charge cycles in its lifetime and the following tips are just a few ways to efficiently gain longer battery lifespans while extending overall battery life of your iPhone.
Be sure to go through at least one charge cycle per month (charging the battery to 100% and then completely running it down).
Avoid heat – do not leave your iPhone in a hot car or in direct sunlight.
Optimization of your settings. Yes, some of these are no brainers but can be effective. Simple things like:
turning off Location Services,
turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use,
fetching new data less frequently,
setting the brightness of your screen below 50%,
turning of the EQ while listening to music,
turning off 3G while not surfing the internet (Yes, we said it…)
All of these add up to better battery life.
After you’ve tried some of the above tips and you are still not happy or your battery life is just horrid all together, you may want to try restoring your iPhone and do not restore from a backup file but rather restore as a new iPhone. All too often we hear about horrible battery life striking many of you after updating your iPhone to the latest software. If this is the case, 9 times out of 10 a separate restore as a new iPhone will clear up your battery issue.
Have some battery saving tips you’d like to share? Leave them in the comments for others to take advantage of!
