Fring, an Israeli startup that has a great VOIP/Chat service for mobile phones (see our February coverage), is launching an iPhone version of the service sometime in the next 24 hours, we’ve heard. This is not a browser-based chat app like FlickIM or Mundu. It should be a fully functional downloadable version of the application that allows users to access the fring, Skype, MSN Messenger, Google Talk, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo and AIM services. That means they’ll be using the Jailbreak installer, which severely limits the number of iPhone users who will download and use it. But Fring may also be the first really killer application that can get non-early adopter users to consider using Jailbreak. The ability to make VOIP calls over the data plan in itself is probably worth it (although it may only work over Wifi, not the Edge network). This is most likely a test run in preparation for the official iPhone app store that will launch this summer. It’s also a risky strategy – some developers I’ve spoken with are avoiding Jailbreak because they don’t want to anger Apple and have their official applications banned down the road. Fring is doing very well even without the iPhone. The service, which is about a year old, gets 100,000 new active users per month. We’ll update when Fring actually launches the application. Update: It launched. Read about it here. Download it here. CrunchBase Information fring Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More
There is no reason why mobile IM and VoIP software should be any different than PC-based versions. Case in point: Today, mobile VoIP startup Fring is adding some new features to its mobile application, including file-swapping. Fring uses your cell phone’s data plan or WiFi connection to make free Internet calls. Like Skype, it charges a small fee to connect to landline and mobile phones that don’t have the Fring client. It also lets you IM and talk to people on Skype, MSN, ICQ, Twitter, Google Talk, Yahoo, AIM and any SIP network (like Gizmo). Fring’s IM now indicates when the person you are chatting with is typing. The big new feature, though, is file swapping. You can send music, videos, or documents from your cell phone to other Fring users or anyone on MSN Messenger through 3G GSM and Edge mobile data networks as well as over WiFi. The app is available in seven languages (English, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian, French and Chinese), and works on any Nokia series 60, Windows Mobile, or Sony Ericsson smartphone. CEO Avi Schecter says he is adding about 100,000 registered users per month. Fring is based in Israel and raised $12 million last August in a B round from North Bridge Venture Partners, VenFin, Pitango, Veritas, and Yossi Vardi. CrunchBase Information Fring Information provided by CrunchBase → Read More
While the consumer “landline replacement” VOIP battles continue to wage (the cable companies now control over 70% of that market, and Vonage is still fighting), a number of nimble software-only startups are experimenting with their own services. All of them allow users to call normal, non-VOIP telephones at greatly reduced costs. These savings can be captured whether or not the parties to a phone conversation are using VOIP-enabled phones, since transmissions can jump from PSTN to VOIP and vice-versa at certain junctions. For example, a cellular call to your buddy across the country might start on PSTN, quickly jump to VOIP for long distance travel, and jump back to PSTN near its destination. The key is to use VOIP to strip out some or most of the cost of the call, allowing these startups to offer very low cost calling to consumers. These aren’t free calls, though – any time a normal phone line is used for at least part of the call, particularly the termination, the teleco’s get a toll. Making sense of all of the new VOIP startups is daunting, so we’re categorizing them by use cases. For a comparison of features, prices, and more companies, check out this chart. I’m Cheap and I Have a Computer By far the cheapest way to go with calling is to get a desktop client. VoIP clients on your desktop allow users to make calls from one computer to another across the VoIP network. For an added fee, you can connect to a standard phone on the PSTN phone network for calls to or from your computer. Most of you will know this as Skype-in and Skype-out. The most well known desktop client has been Skype, with over 100 million users. The big guys – Yahoo, Microsoft, and Google – also have their own VoIP desktop clients. Since the VoIP offerings have been built into their IM clients, combined they comprise a potential market of over 340 million subscribers. A younger startup, the Gizmo Project, launched in July of last year. They have a reported 2 million downloads of their application. The application functions like Skype, supporting IM and VoIP calls. The Gizmo Project has the unique distinction of not only offering IM and VoIP calls, but also free calls to the standard phone network if you promote their product to a friend and stay an “active user“. Hullo and Nimbuzz → Read More
Israeli-based VOIP start-up Fring has closed an estimated $12 million second round, led by US VC fund North Bridge Venture Partners. VenFin and previous investors Pitango, Veritas and Yossi Vardi also participated. If the investment estimate is accurate, it would be one of the larger rounds for a VOIP company. Fring is a mobile application for Windows and Symbian phones that uses VOIP to make cheap/free mobile calls and instant message. Unlike Jajah, but like Truphone, Fring sends calls and chats over Wi-Fi internet access or your 3G or GPRS Internet data plan. Like Skype, users are charged a nominal fee to call standard phone lines. However, calls made to other internet phones are free. Fring connects to standard phones, other SIP based VOIP clients, and chat applications (Skype, MSN Messenger, ICQ, Google Talk, and even Twitter). Fring has received a lot of praise from Crunchgear and TechCrunch, mostly due to its multi chat integration and free calls. However, call quality was an issue and the 3G phones Fring works on can be expensive. You should also see our previous coverage of other VOIP carriers. → Read More
Fring is getting ready to announce that the free VoIP service will be coming to Windows Mobile devices, but I felt like spilling the beans and letting you all know first. Let the Fringing begin! Fring → Read More
As our sister site at Crunchgear is reporting, Fring is getting about to announce that their free VoIP service will be able for Windows Mobile devices, including Windows Mobile series 5.0 and 6.0 handsets and PDAs. Watch their own blog for more details. Fring → Read More
No, Fring isn’t some sort of new fangled slang all the rap kids are saying. Fring, dear readers, is a mobile VoIP application for mobile phones that utilize your mobile internet connection. So if you have an unlimited data plan then you can really take advantage of this application and lower your mobile phone bill every month. → Read More
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