On 19th April, T-Mobile launched the Bobsled service which uses VoIP technology and meant to be a communication device for facebook users to chat live with their friends. Facebook users can use this Bobsled service to leave voice messages which interestingly will show up on their wall. Interestingly, Bobsled is an app that does not need to be downloaded and installed. When a Facebook user registers, he/she gets a phone icon on his/her wall on which he can click to place calls to other Facebook friends, using earphones and a microphone. The best part is that these calls are free. In the future, T-Mobile said it plans to expand the service to include video chatting and also allow people to use the service to call cell phones and landline phones.

Bobsled taken off Facebook

Unfortunately, no sooner as it was launched, Bobsled service was taken off by T-Mobile. T-Mobile states that it is suspending the Bobsled chat service because it believes the Facebook’s current design does not clearly shows that the service is from T-Mobile. From the statement T-Mobile released, it is afraid that the Bobsled service is misconstrued by users as a facebook app rather than one produced by T-Mobile. What else can we say in this world run by commercials

Recently we reported that Skype has a privacy issue for those using it on Android. Now Skype has reported that they have released a new version of Skype for Android that fixes the privacy vulnerability. This was mentioned by Skype’s Adrian Asher:

After a period of developing and testing we have released a new version of the Skype for Android application onto the Android Market, containing a fix to the vulnerability reported to us. Please update to this version as soon as possible in order to help protect your information.

Also, Skype for Android update ensures that VoIP calls are now supported over 3G in the US. This is unlike previous versions of the android app that had limited 3G voice calls via Skype to WiFi connections. Now Skype has the ability to be accessed from the carriers.

Rebtel has introduced their own texting service that allows SMS through local numbers over the internet. Rebtel calls this Text-over-IP or ToIP for short. This facility allows companies that provide SMS solutions to businesses to pass on savings to their customers.

In addition, Rebtel also announced that it has reduced rates on international text messages from the U.S. This is also for people who don’t own smartphones. Rebtel ToIP for feature phones, which is a complement to the SMS service in their smartphone offerings, is up to 92.5% less expensive than the going rate offered by Sprint, and up to 93% cheaper than AT&T and Verizon, the two largest mobile telecom carriers in the U.S.

How Rebtel’s Text-over-IP Service Works

Just like Rebtel innovative method invented for making free and low cost international voice calls,

Rebtel ToIP uses local numbers similar to how calls are made. By using local numbers instead of long international numbers, users can send text messages to one another as often as they like for a fraction of what the carriers charge.

Sending SMS via rebtel

1. Go to www.rebtel.com and enter your mobile phone number and the other person’s mobile number.
2. Rebtel creates a local number where you live and sends it in a text message (SMS) to your phone.
3. Save the number in your Rebtel phone’s address book and use it at any time to send a text message or call your loved one abroad and save at least 50% from regular operators costs.

To learn more about how existing U.S. Rebtel customers can now send international text messages using the same local numbers previously created for them to make voice calls, please visit: www.rebtel.com/en/Services/international-online-texting-and-sms/. Group and PUSH messaging providers interested in the service or more information can send an email to sales(at)rebtel(dot)com.

Just when we thought that Vonage has run out of steam, they have come back with another attempt to make their voip services competitive. Vonage’s latest service plan is named as World Premium Unlimited which offers unlimited calling to mobile phones in 42 countries and landlines in 80 countries for a monthly subscription $54.99 inclusive of plus taxes and fees. This plan also provides for unlimited local and long distance service in the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. However, Vonage requires callers to UK, Mexico, and Brazil, will have to use a touch tone phone that is wired to the internet by way of a Vonage adapter. That is a little disadvantage but at such low price, targetted users will definitely save a lot in the long term.

Skype for Android has a security flaw that exposes ten of millions of its users’ personal data as reported by Android Police.

Android Police has discovered a way for a hacker to use a rogue app to access personal information stored by Skype. This data include users personal names, their phone number, email addresses and contact list. Basically, the app has an SQLite3 database where information is stored, but the files are unencrypted without enforced permissions, letting an app find them. Android Police created an app called Skypwned to demonstrate the extent of the problem. This video explain how it is done;

Android Police explains, “I quickly came up with an exploit, and I was in shock at just how much information I could harvest. Everything was available to the rogue app I created, without the need for root or any special permissions.”

Skype is obviously disturbed by this and is investigating the issue.