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Tuesday 13 January 2009

New fring: promises, promises... imvocal is promising too

fring instant messaging, VoIP, chat, SIP, Skype, GMail
fring

Multi-network instant messenger program, GMail notifier, VoIP application, Skype client, and Facebook tool fring is updated.

So what's new? Not much. Apparently some bugs were fixed, but fring doesn't tell which bugs. The really new thing in fring is invisible.

The official announcement from fring itself has this to say about it: "...support for future add-ons (sorry, can't tell you what they are ;) )."

So they promised future add-ons, but they won't say which. They also promised a fring version that works with Nokia's touch screen phone 5800 XpressMusic, a.k.a. the Nokia Tube. But they didn't promise it will be ready soon.

The size of the installer has gone down by a quarter of a megabyte. Once installed on your phone, the new fring occupies a little less space, and it's somewhat less hungry for RAM too, although it still consumes memory aplenty.

fring site with all info and download details
straight to the fring download page (tip: you don't need to enter a real email address in the "get fring via PC" box)

If you don't like fring, here are some alternatives:

Nimbuzz for instant messaging, Skype, and other VoIP services
Talkonaut for instant messaging and VoIP, but not for Skype


imvocal

A tip for users of fring, Nimbuzz, Talkonaut, and any other program that can handle voice calls through MSN, GoogleTalk, Yahoo, or AIM: you can sign up with imvocal for a free phone number that connects to your instant messenger, which an be running on your phone or your computer. There are six country codes to choose from (and there's no need to use your own country), and the list will probably get longer. The service is free, but incoming calls are limited to ten minutes a piece.

imvocal


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The big question to me is how are the calls routed. In my understanding, Fring makes the calls directly over the data connection, but Nimbuzz requires the use of a local dial in number? Is that so? And now I mean calling to gtalk or Skype. Is there any other software that would do the Skype calls over data connection?

android underground said...

Nimbuzz can handle dial in numbers and Wi-Fi and 2G and 3G.

Fring does data only. Nimbuzz lets you choose.

Sound is better on Nimbuzz, but with some firewalled routers fring can connect where Nimbuzz can't.

I have both programs on my phone and I just use what works best with whatever connection method I have around. I don't believe in brand loyalty. ;)