Fring Released For Android

Fring, the social networking and VoIP app for smartphones, has just been released on Android.  The service allows users to make free calls using Skype, MSN, GoogleTalk or any SIP provider. From the website: fring™ is a mobile internet community and communication service that allows friends to connect, share experiences and enhance their online communities together. Using your handset′s internet connection, you can interact with friends on all your favourite social networks including S...

Dell Anounces Android-Based Mini 3 Smartphone – To Be Available Only In Brazil and China

Not a lot of information here, but it looks like Dell is releasing its Mini 3 smartphone in Brazil through the national carrier Claro (42 million subscribers and in China through China Mobile (500 million subscribers). The phone definitely runs Android 2.0, but it looks like it will be running China Mobile's Android-based Ophone platform in China. No word on specs yet, but we'll let you know as soon as those are released.

Clearwire Raises $1.56 Billion From Investors

Clearwire, the 4G Wi-Max Network now in development announced today that it has raised an additional $1.56 billion from its key investors Sprint, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Intel, Eagle River Holdings and Bright House Networks. They are purchasing new Clearwire shares priced at $7.33 each in the following amounts: Sprint $1.176 billion. Comcast $196 million. Time Warner Cable $103 million. Intel $50 million. Eagle River $20 million. And Bright House $19 million. Notably ...

Google Rumored To Acquire Gizmo5

The Washington Post is reporting that Google is rumored to be acquiring VoIP company Gizmo5 in an important move that, if true, will result in serious improvements to both Google Voice and Google Talk. You may have heard of Gizmo5 in relation to Skype founders Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis' recent IP lawsuit with their former company.  In that lawsuit, Skype settled with the founders regarding charges that royalties were not being properly being paid to Joltid, which owned crucial back...

iPhone App Developer Caught Snooping on Phone Numbers

Vampires Live, Zombies Live and Rockstars Live developer Storm8 has been caught storing users’ cell phone numbers on their servers.  This is a pretty troubling development and food for thought for iPhone owners using third party apps. One lawsuit from a user is already underway. The company is defending itself by saying the situation was caused by a "bug" in its software. Let's hope publicity on this situation will make sure it never happens again.  We're still waiting to hear Apple's public s...

Google Voice May Go Global Pretty Soon!

image from Download Squad Businessweek analyzed documents submitted by Google to the FCC regarding its Google Voice service and found tantalizing hints that the company is planning to roll out the mobile-connected Internet calling service globally. In the document, Google says it has already signed contracts with a number of "international service providers for inputs to Google Voice." To date, none of these services have been launched yet.  Contracts already signed is a pretty good sign, thou...

Ebay Settles Lawsuit With Skype Founders; Spinoff Of Company Moving Forward

Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, the founders of Skype who sold the company to Ebay in 2005 for $2.6 billion had recently been holding up the resale of the company with lawsuits charging that IP central to the internet telephony service was owned by another of their companies, Joltid - and that Skype owed Joltid licensing fees. These lawsuits were settled today by Ebay, who agreed with Zennström and Friis to give them a 14 percent stake in their old company, which will now completely own the...