Vonage on Wednesday unveiled a new mobile app for the iPhone and Android smartphones that affords free calling and messaging along with cheap international calling rates. Vonage Mobile allows users to make free “high-definition” voice over IP calls among each other over Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G data connections, and low-cost calls can also be placed through the app to any landline or cell phone globally. The New Jersey-based Telco says its international calling rates are 70% lower than rates from major carriers and 30% lower than Skype. ”Vonage Mobile consolidates the best features of our prior applications, while adding important functionality, better value and improved ease of use,” Vonage CEO Marc Lefar said in a statement. “It combines the best of free high-def voice and messaging along with incredible value for traditional international calls, all while using the existing mobile number and address book for unsurpassed ease of use.” Vonage’s full press release follows below.

Vonage Launches New Mobile App Providing Free Calling and Texting to Other App Users around the World

Savings of more than 70 percent on international calls to those without the app

HOLMDEL, N.J., February 8, 2012 – Vonage Holdings Corp. (NYSE: VG) announced the launch of Vonage Mobile^®, the new iPhone^® and Android^™ app that lets users make free high-definition calls and send free texts to all users of the app, worldwide¹. The app works over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G wireless data networks.

When calling those who have not yet downloaded the app, Vonage Mobile provides ultra low-cost international calling with per-minute rates that are on average 70 percent less than major mobile carriers and 30 percent less than Skype^™2. Users can instantly add calling credit directly from the app through iTunes^® or Android Market^™ in increments of $4.99 and $9.99.

Vonage Mobile uses the phone’s existing mobile number and contact list, eliminating the need for unique user names and duplicate identities for contacts. Users can instantly build a free global calling and texting network using the app’s multi-invite system from their existing contacts.

“Vonage Mobile consolidates the best features of our prior applications, while adding important functionality, better value and improved ease of use,” said Marc Lefar, CEO of Vonage. “It combines the best of free high-def voice and messaging along with incredible value for traditional international calls, all while using the existing mobile number and address book for unsurpassed ease of use.”

In addition, calls to any phone in the United States, Canada or Puerto Rico from anywhere in the world will be free for a limited time³.

Users do NOT need to be a Vonage customer to use the app. However, as an added benefit to all app users, calls to Vonage home or business lines are also free. The Vonage Mobile app can be downloaded to any iPhone or Android device for free; and it also works on the iPad®, iPod Touch® and Android™ Tablets.

For more information on Vonage Mobile, please go to iTunes, Android Market or www.vonagemobile.com.

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Mozilla on Tuesday released the latest version of its Firefox browser. In addition to allowing users to run full-screen apps, Firefox 10 offers the following enhancements:

• The forward button is now hidden until you navigate back.
• Most add-ons are now compatible with new versions of Firefox by default.
• Anti-Aliasing for WebGL is now implemented.
• CSS3 3D-Transforms are now supported.

Mozilla also made some HTML5 changes and noted two bug fixes. The company said that it has fixed a Java-related crash, which Mac OS X users experienced in earlier versions, as well as a crash related to moving bookmarks. Firefox 10 is available immediately as a free download.

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Your prayers have been answered if you’ve been looking for a 4G LTE without having to empty out your wallet. Verizon’s first 4G LTE phone, the HTC ThunderBolt, is now free with a two-year contract through January 26th. The ThunnderBolt was first announced last year during the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show and it’s a bit slower than the high-end smartphones on the market today. It offers a 1 GHz Snapdragon chip instead of the dual-core 1.4GHz processor that’s included in top-of-the-line Android devices. However, it’s also equipped with an 8-megapixel camera, a 4.3-inch display with an 800 x 480-pixel resolution and more. With Mobile World Congress right around the corner it’s tough to commit to a two-year contract with a year-old smartphone, but users on a budget might be happy to forgo the bells and whistles in an effort to save a little cash.

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Nokia’s first Windows Phone-powered smartphone to launch in the United States is already available for free on contract. Nokia and T-Mobile unveiled the Nokia Lumia 710 last month and confirmed that while the handset is certainly not a flagship device, it will play an important role for Nokia as it re-enters the U.S. market. The 710 can’t hold a candle to the Lumia 900 Nokia and AT&T will be launching in March, but at $50, the Lumia 710 is an excellent entry-level smartphone. And at $0 on contract, the price Walmart is currently asking from new customers, the 710 is an unbelievable value. BGR reviewed the Lumia 710 earlier this month and we thought the phone could indeed be a great tool for Nokia and T-Mobile as they tries to convert feature phone users into smartphone customers.

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One of the main advantages of rooting an Android smartphone is the ability to tether a computer or tablet to a phone for free. Whether a user has 2GB, 5GB or unlimited data each month, Android developer Koushik Dutta believes a user should be able to use that data any way he or she pleases. Koush is the popular coder behind ClockworkMod Recovery and ROM Manager, two programs that help load a custom ROM onto a rooted device. The developer has now released ClockworkMod Tether, an application that allows an Android device to tether to a Mac, Linux, or Windows computer without the need for root access. This method should work with any carrier and phone, and it cannot be blocked or detected by carriers, Koush claims. The app is currently in an alpha stage of testing and will stop working on January 7th, but a new version will be released before the current build expires.

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Apple on Monday released the 2012 edition of its “12 Days of Christmas” application for iOS devices. From December 26th through January 6th, Apple is giving away free iTunes content including songs, music videos, apps and books to iOS device owners. New content is accessible through the app each day and free downloads will expire after 24 hours. Monday kicks things off with several Coldplay songs and videos, which can be downloaded for free until new downloads are made available on Tuesday. Apple’s 12 Days of Christmas app is compatible with the iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPad 2 and iPad as well as the third and fourth-generation iPod touch devices, so users of older iOS device models are out of luck this holiday season. The app is currently available in the U.K. with U.S. availability expected at a later point in time.

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Gamefly announced on Tuesday that its “Unlimited PC Play” beta client is now available for free for all Gamefly members. We first heard about Gamefly’s intentions to launch a PC client earlier this year, allowing subscribers to read news, check out reviews and play hundreds of PC games from dozens of top publishers. ”We are thrilled to finally be able to open up the beta so anyone interested in video games can start using the client, and we are hard at work expanding our catalog of  PC titles for our users to play for free in the Unlimited PC Play section,” GameFly co-founder and SVP of Business Development and Content Sean Spector said. “Casual to hardcore gamers can enjoy titles like Assassin’s Creed, Deus Ex or Saints Row 2, to Earthworm Jim, Jewel Quest or World of Goo at no additional cost to their GameFly subscription.” Gamefly’s full press release follows after the break.

GameFly Launches Public Beta for Digital PC Client — Access to Hundreds of Free PC Games for all GameFly Members in “Unlimited PC Play”

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – GameFly, Inc., the leading online video game rental subscription service, has launched the public beta for its new one-stop shop PC client. Available to all gamers for free, the PC client features up-to-the-minute news and vibrant games pages with HD videos and screenshots.  In addition to the ability to manage one’s GameQ, all GameFly members have access to hundreds of PC games they can play anytime, anywhere.  The Unlimited PC Play library will continue to grow with more core, casual, classic and independent games that gamers can download onto any of their PCs to play for no additional cost as long as they are active GameFly subscribers.

“We are thrilled to finally be able to open up the beta so anyone interested in video games can start using the client, and we are hard at work expanding our catalog of  PC titles for our users to play for free in the Unlimited PC Play section,” said Sean Spector, GameFly co-founder and SVP of Business Development and Content. “Casual to hardcore gamers can enjoy titles like Assassin’s Creed, Deus Ex or Saints Row 2, to Earthworm Jim, Jewel Quest or World of Goo at no additional cost to their GameFly subscription.”

GameFly will also begin selling PC games at GameFly.com, and on their leading video game mobile App for iOS and Android. There will be over 1,500 Windows/Mac games for sale, in addition to used console games and new console and PC releases for pre-order.

Current Unlimited PC Play publishers include:

1C

2D BOY

Atari

Bohemia Interactive

Capcom

Iceberg Interactive

Interplay

iWin

Kalypso Media

Layernet

Legacy Interactive

Meridian4

MumboJumbo

Paradox Interactive

PlayFirst

Playrix

SelectSoft

SouthPeak Games

Spicy Horse

Square Enix

Strategy First

Telltale Games

THQ

Ubisoft

Viva Media

Flying home for the holidays and navigating through crowded airports — or facing flight delays, as is often the case — may be a hair less dreadful this year. Skype announced recently that it is sponsoring free Wi-Fi in more than 60 U.S. airports from December 21st until December 27th. To activate the service, simply follow these directions:

1. Sign in to Skype.
2. Go to Tools > Options… > Skype WiFi Access.
3. Tick Enable Skype WiFi Access.
4. Connect to a WiFi public hotspot.
5. In the Skype menu bar, click Tools > Skype WiFi Access.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to select and join a compatible public WiFi network.

Skype’s full press release, which includes a list of every airport where free Wi-Fi will be available, follows after the break.

Make Meaningful Connections on the Go this Holiday Season with Skype

Skype Offers free WiFi to Travelers in over 60 U.S. Airports December 21st thru December 27th

PALO ALTO, CA – DECEMBER 19, 2011 - Skype encourages people everywhere to stay in touch with friends and family near and far, even while on the go. To make this easier, Skype is offering free WiFi in select airports across the U.S. from December 21st thru December 27th to help travelers stay connected even while they are on the road.

“The holidays are all about connecting with those that you love” says Linda Summers, Skype Marketing. “Skype is helping people maintain these meaningful connections this holiday season from wherever they may be. A voice or video call via Skype when you can’t be together for the holidays is the next best thing to being there.”

Travelers passing through or delayed in over 60 airports across the country will be able to log-on to Skype Wi-Fi and connect with a loved one via a video or voice call for free. Skype WiFi is available to travelers on PCs, Macs and iPhones.

Skype WiFi is a great way for people to browse the internet at over one million public WiFi hotspots around the world. You can use Skype Credit as payment so there is no need to buy a day-pass from another service provider. If you’ve downloaded Skype on your computer or iOS device Skype WiFi is easy to use:

1. Sign in to Skype.
2. Go to Tools > Options… > Skype WiFi Access.
3. Tick Enable Skype WiFi Access.
4. Connect to a WiFi public hotspot.
5. In the Skype menu bar, click Tools > Skype WiFi Access.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen to select and join a compatible public WiFi network.

From December 21st thru December 27th free Skype WiFi will be available in the following airports:
ALB - Albany International Airport
ASE - Aspen-Pitkin County Airport
ATL - Atlanta International Airport
AUS - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport
AZO - Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport
BIL - Billings Logan International Airport
BHM - Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport
BNA - Nashville International Airport
BOS - Boston International Airport
BUF - Buffalo Niagara International Airport
BUR - Bob Hope Airport Burbank
BWI - Baltimore/Washington International Airport
CWA - Central Wisconsin Airport
DEN - Denver Int’l Airport – Concourse B Mezzanine
DRO - Durango La Plata County Airport
DSM - Des Moines International Airport
DTW - Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
ELP - El Paso International Airport
EWR - Newark Liberty International Airport
GEG - Spokane Airport
GRR - Gerald R. Ford International Airport
GSO - Piedmont Triad International Airport
HOU - Houston William P Hobby Airport
IAH - George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport
IND - Indianapolis International Airport
JAC - Jackson Hole Airport
JFK - John F. Kennedy International Airport
JNU - Juneau International Airport
LGA - LaGuardia International Airport – Central Terminal
MBS - MBS International Airport Terminal 1
MDW - Chicago Midway Airport
MEM - Memphis International Airport
MIA - Miami International Airport
MKE - General Mitchell International Airport (Milwaukee)
MRY - Monterey Peninsula Airport
MSP - Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport – Lindbergh Terminal
OKC - Oklahoma City Will Rogers World Airport
OMA - Eppley Airfield Omaha Int’l Airport
ORD - Chicago O’Hare International Airport
ORF - Norfolk International Airport
PHF - Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport
PVD - T F Green International Airport
PWM - Portland International Airport
SBN - South Bend Regional Airport
SCF - Scottsdale Airport
SDF - Louisville International Airport
SFO - San Francisco International Airport
SMF - Sacramento International Airport
STL - Lambert St. Louis International Airport
SWF - Stewart International Airport
TOL - Toledo Express Airport
TVC - Traverse City/Cherry Capital Airport

Research In Motion announced on Monday that it will soon offer BlackBerry users 12 free “premium” applications through December 31, 2011 as an apology for its recent BlackBerry service outage. In addition, the company said it will provide its enterprise customers with one month of free technical support. “Our global network supports the communications needs of more than 70 million customers,” RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis said in a statement. “We truly appreciate and value our relationship with our customers. We’ve worked hard to earn their trust over the past 12 years, and we’re committed to providing the high standard of reliability they expect, today and in the future. We are taking immediate and aggressive steps to help prevent something like this from happening again.” The free applications include SIMS 3, Bejeweled, N.O.V.A, Texas Hold’em Poker 2, Bubble Bash 2, Photo Editor Ultimate, DriveSafe.ly Pro, iSpeech Translator Pro, Drive Safe.ly Enterprise, Nobex Radio Premium, Shazam Encore and Vlingo Plus: Virtual Assistant. Read on for the full press release from RIM.

Research In Motion Offers Free Premium Apps to Customers Following Service Interruptions

Waterloo, ON – Research In Motion (RIM) (NASDAQ: RIMM; TSX: RIM) announced today that a selection of premium apps worth a total value of more than US $100 will be offered free of charge to subscribers as an expression of appreciation for their patience during the recent service disruptions. The apps will be made available to customers over the coming weeks on BlackBerry® App World™ and will continue to be available until December 31, 2011.*

“Our global network supports the communications needs of more than 70 million customers,” said RIM Co-CEO Mike Lazaridis. “We truly appreciate and value our relationship with our customers.  We’ve worked hard to earn their trust over the past 12 years, and we’re committed to providing the high standard of reliability they expect, today and in the future.”

The complete selection of premium apps will become available to download at BlackBerry App World over a period of four weeks beginning Wednesday, October 19th.  The selections over this period will include the following (with more to come):

• SIMS 3 – Electronic Arts
• Bejeweled – Electronic Arts
• N.O.V.A. – Gameloft
• Texas Hold’em Poker 2 – Gameloft
• Bubble Bash 2 – Gameloft
• Photo Editor Ultimate – Ice Cold Apps
• DriveSafe.ly Pro – iSpeech.org
• iSpeech Translator Pro – iSpeech.org
• Drive Safe.ly Enterprise – iSpeech.org
• Nobex Radio™ Premium – Nobex
• Shazam Encore – Shazam
• Vlingo Plus: Virtual Assistant – Vlingo

RIM’s enterprise customers will also be offered one month of free Technical Support.  Current customers will be offered a complimentary one month extension of their existing Technical Support contract, and customers who do not currently have a Technical Support contract will be offered a one month trial of RIM’s BlackBerry Technical Support Services – Enhanced Support, free of charge.  Additional details about the program and information about how to register will be available at www.blackberry.com/enterpriseoffer.

“We are grateful to our loyal BlackBerry customers for their patience,” added Lazaridis. “We have apologized to our customers and we will work tirelessly to restore their confidence.  We are taking immediate and aggressive steps to help prevent something like this from happening again.”

Apple will unveil two new iPhone models next month, an all new iPhone 5 and a revamped iPhone 4 that will address the entry-level smartphone market. Deutsche Bank Securities analyst Chris Whitmore on Monday rehashed a research note he distributed this past June, which suggested Apple would unveil an iPhone 5 and an “iPhone 4S” in September. The iPhone 5 would be Apple’s brand new flagship smartphone, and the 4S would be a low-cost version of the current iPhone 4 model priced around $349 unlocked. The analyst’s new note mirrors those sentiments, though Whitmore now offers a few additional details. Read on for more.

Whitmore now sees the iPhone 5 as featuring a completely revamped design highlighted by a unibody aluminum case. The analyst’s description of an aluminum case could align with renders BGR published exclusively earlier this month. Regarding the iPhone 4S, Whitmore says it will be a tweaked version of Apple’s iPhone 4 that will cost between $300 and $350 without a contract. The new low pricing could allow Apple to address the prepaid market with its new low-cost handset, or it could allow carriers to offer the device for free with a postpaid contract.

The analyst’s note also mentions that the iPhone 5 will feature a better camera and a slightly bigger display, as has been rumored numerous times to date. The combination of a high-end redesigned iPhone 5 and an entry-level iPhone 4S is expected to expand Apple’s addressable market dramatically, and Whitmore notes that a low-cost 4S could make Apple’s smartphone an option for more than 1 billion prepaid customers.

Apple is expected to unveil one or more new iPhone models at a press conference on October 4th.

AT&T sent text messages to its customers on Thursday offering 1,000 free rollover minutes. The message specifically said: “There’s no cost or obligation to you. It’s our way of saying thank you. To have your minutes added, reply “YES,” by 9/7/2011.” We received the SMS on an iPhone in the office and confirmed that we did indeed receive 1,000 free rollover minutes. An AT&T spokesperson did not immediately responded to a request for further details on why AT&T issued the offer.

T-Mobile intends to offer cellular signal boosters to customers looking to switch carriers due to poor reception at home, according to T-Mobile watcher TmoNews. The move appears to be part of a new program intended to slow service quality-related cancellations, which are apparently a significant problem for the nation’s No. 4 carrier. Beginning on September 7th, T-Mobile will seemingly begin offering in-home signal boosters “when a customer triggers for cancellation of service due to poor in-home coverage,” according to a purported leaked internal memo to T-Mobile staff. The memo also warns that signal boosters should never be offered to customers as an incentive when closing a sale. In order to take the signal booster, which will be free of charge, customers will need to sign a new 2-year service contract and it is unclear if they will be permitted to test the level of improvement afforded by the booster before signing.

[Via Gizmodo]

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Best Buy announced a one day sale on Monday during which it is offering Apple’s 8GB iPhone 3GS for free with a new or upgraded two-year AT&T contract. The device is available in Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile stores. The iPhone 3GS, which is listed for $49 on Apple’s website, lacks the Retina Display of the iPhone 4, has a slower processor and also doesn’t have a forward-facing camera for Facetime video calls. It offers a 3-megapixel camera, a 3.5-inch 480 x 320-pixel display, support for AT&T’s 3G network, GPS, 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+ EDR and up to 5 hours of talk time on 3G networks. Read on for the announcement from Best Buy.

Best Buy Mobile Offers Free AT&T 8GB iPhone 3GS on Aug. 22

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 21, 2011 — On Monday, Aug. 22, customers will be able to get a free AT&T 8GB iPhone 3GS at Best Buy and Best Buy Mobile specialty stores. This exclusive one-day offer is available in-store only on Monday, Aug. 22 either as new or upgrade with two-year activation.

Best Buy Mobile offers an array of services aimed at improving customers’ experience, including Walk Out Working, Upgrade Checker, Happy 24 and a full array of accessories for customers to protect and personalize their device.

As a thank you to its fans for helping it achieve 1,000 “Likes” on Facebook, id Software is offering its iOS game “Rage” for free this week. Rage made its debut in November 2010 and puts you in the shoes of a “Mutant Bash TV!” game-show contestant. Your job is to make it through the levels killing mutants to make a deal with the show’s host, J.K. Stiles before dying. We played the first-person rail shooter back when it launched and enjoyed the high-resolution graphics on the iPad, and it’s definitely worth the download. And we’re not the only fans: the game has a 4 star review average after 2,987 ratings. Read on for a link to the iTunes download page.

[Via Pocketnow]

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