‘App News’ Archives
Author: nadine Published: May 1st, 2013
Apple new patent allows the iPhone to determine if a call or text is best.
AppleInsider reports, “Apple’s U.S. Patent No. 8,433,805 for a “Method and system for facilitating contacting people using electronic devices,” describes a technique in which an inititing user can be automatically informed of the most appropriate way to contact another person. In the various embodiments that follow, a “contactee” can also manually select which method of communication is best for a given time, for example via email when in a business meeting.
“The patent aims to solve the problem of missed connections due to circumstances where another mode of communication would have been preferable. As an example, a “contactor” wants to communicate with another user, but the contactee may not answer a phone call because they are driving. In this situation, a text message or email would have been preferable. Apple’s patent looks to automatically, and dynamically, notify a contactor of which communications method is most appropriate.”
So does this mean your wife can’t call you when you’re busy? The site explains, “Priorities can also be assigned. Groups can be placed in a number of tiers, each of which carries special contact rules. A user’s boss and spouse may be in Tier 1, while friends are in Tier 2, and co-workers in Tier 3.”
Sadly, it wasn’t mentioned when this new feature will make to iPhones or if it will ever see the light of day.
Do you want to see this new feature? Share your thoughts through a comment on our Facebook page.
Tags: App, apple, feature, iOS, iphone, patent, U.S. Patent No. 8433805
Category App News |
Author: nadine Published: April 30th, 2013
According to Informa, 17.6 billion SMS were sent daily compared to the 19 billion messages sent via chat apps such as WhatsApp and Viber. This means that chat apps, for the first time, are more popular than text messaging.
Speaking to the BBC, Informa’s Pamela Clark-Dickson said that a few network operators were “seeing a decline in their messaging revenues.”
The BBC says, “According to separate estimates by research firm Ovum, more than $23bn (£15bn) of SMS revenue was lost in 2012 due to popularity of chat apps.”
The site adds, “Informa said that it expected the messaging on chat apps to grow even further in the coming years.
“It has projected that nearly 50 billion messages will be sent per day using these apps by 2014, compared with just over 21 billion traditional SMSs.”
Clark-Dickson says, however, “There is a lot of life still in SMS,” explaining that emerging markets will still rely on SMS.
She added, “They don’t have mobile data plans, so there is an awfully big base of mobile phone users who are going to still find that SMS is the best messaging experience for them for a while.”
She also says that businesses are starting to explore SMS more, since it allows them to make use of the cheaper mobile phone than the more expensive smartphone.
She says, “There are a few things that, I think, will keep the SMS alive for a few years yet.”
Informa is expecting revenues generated by SMS to grow to $127 billion in 2016, from $115 billion in 2012.
Do you use chat apps more on your Apple iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S4, or do you still rely on SMS? Let us know through a comment on our Facebook page.
Tags: chat apps, Informa, Pamela Clark-Dickson, SMS, text, text messaging, Viber, WhatsApp
Category App News |
Author: nadine Published: April 30th, 2013
Knox was supposed to be a new security feature that would make the Samsung Galaxy S4 ideal for business. Sadly, it will be delayed.
The New York Times reports, “In February, Samsung Electronics introduced Knox, a version of Android with security features to make the company’s phones more suitable for businesses, expected for release this spring. But the company has delayed the release of the software until summer, according to two people briefed on the company’s plans.
“Samsung initially said Knox would launch on the Galaxy S4, which is to arrive in AT&T stores on Saturday. But two people working with Samsung on Knox, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak about their relationships with the company, said Samsung had decided to delay the release because it needed more time to test the software internally and with carriers. Samsung informed one of these people that Knox would be out around July.
“Knox is expected to ship on some Samsung Galaxy devices. Analysts say the software puts Samsung, the leading manufacturer of Android devices, in a position to replace BlackBerry as the phone for professionals.”
Samsung confirmed the news. In a statement sent to the news site, the Korean tech giant said, “All the Knox framework components come standard on the device, with full-feature activation by solution providers and distribution channels to become available at a later date.”
Bummed Knox for the Samsung Galaxy S4 will be delayed? Let us know through a comment on our Facebook page.
Tags: Galaxy S4, Knox, S4, samsung, Samsung Galaxy S4, Samsung Knox, security, security featrue
Category App News |
