Jun 03

Fring New Strategy-Synergy |

By Harel Shattenstein & Idan Gafni
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We are just a few days away from the Palm Pre launch, the “Synergy” mobile device and Fring the VOIP and IM mobile application is proving that synergy can be achieved by using its mobile application.
So what is that “Synergy” and should we be more worried about it?!

Plam Pre tactic is that all features of the mobile devices can “sing” together and make our lives easier.
one picture is batter than thousand words, in this case a quick preview of the “Palm Synergy”

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItmmptNkJi4[/youtube]

Palm was not the first company that thought that mobile applications should work together, Apple thought the same when an address became a hyperlink to Google Maps, Google hooked up all her services to that mission to its mobile OS, the Andriod. Symbian also provided developers the tools to integrate to the core of the OS but only with special API and it is much easier when you own the device and the OS (like in Palm and Apple) where the hardware / software / working space is designed by the same company.
But still the contact list, our basic friend list, did not draw Apple and Google attention, until INQ came.
INQ was the first to acknowledge that our address book is no longer living inside the mobile device, it is out there, in social networks.
The contact list is now sync with your Facbook friends and you can choose to send them an sms, a Facebook message or just do it the old way and give them a call.

Apps like Cellity are trying to become your alternative contact list, but they have less power than Fring.
Today Fring has launched its version for the online address book,   a step which holds a huge potential.
First, due to the great success of Fring and the huge number of users its built up a mini social network, moreover with its open API approach it open the door for more services to ride on the platform.
So as for now Fring would like you to stop using your classic address book and use Fring, and it is worth it.
You can save money using VOIP calls, or using the IM option, or again just give your friend a simple GSM call.
On the other hand Fring will become an inherent part of your mobile device meaning messenger, icq, fring im, facebook and others become part of your contact list giving you room to do a lot of cool stuff.

Privacy issues will rise, they must, but however I think it is worth giving it a try.
Using a Nokia E61 device the app is not stable and it resets a lot but on e71 it looks more stable, you must remember it is a beta version.

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Nov 27

Mobile IM News Roundup – Fring & Nimbuzz |

By Harel Shattenstein & Idan Gafni
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For years the IMPS (Instant Messaging Presence Services) was moving nowhere. With 3G connectivity, and open OS we see more and more services that offer a rich IM experience. So is the IM market ready to grow and become a mainstream service?
Two of the major players in this field provided information that supports this assumption.
Fring posted in its blog about the layoffs in the company (about 20%) because of the global economic slowdown but also mentioned that the number of users is rapidly increased and there are 400,000 new users every month. The company also hinted that some “very exciting product announcements” are planned.

On the other hand, Nimbuzz launched its iPhone version which offers a landscape mode and announced that Nimbuzz will support Facebook chat and Myspace chat in all their clients.

Taking into account the news that Nimbuzz added 17 SIP partners and that it raised 15 million dollars, the company, its condition looks great.
Although we are glad for the developments in this market we really do not agree with CNet’s estimation that mobile IM will surpass SMS. Mobile IM is still not a native client and it takes a great effort to shift the usage patterns of users. There is a good attraction point in IM with the ability to integrate with web based services and offer added functionality (like basic graphics and VoIP talks, PTT, send files etc). The operators want the users to continue using SMS as it offers a strong viable business model. Mobile IM may cannibalize in SMS traffic but it can never generate this amount of revenues based on the current business model.

related posts: Exclusive: Ebuddy Brings Facebok Chat To Mobile

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Nov 18

Fring: Ads Are Coming! |

By Harel Shattenstein
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Fring has announced that an ad trial is now running on some of the users around the world.
Fring,  a free IM and VOIP client, did not seem to clock-in  much revenues, although the application is very popular.
The ads are banners at the end of the chat window as show in the picture:

The announcement is truly good news to Fring’s Business plan and business model, moreover it is an ultimate test for  the mobile advertising market.
Ads that will be displayed on millions of Fring clients, to users that come from different backgrounds, different languages, different geographies, different age groups Etc.
So how do you create an advertisement campaign on such a personal device to such a varied audience?!
Will the users click on the banners and actually perform or initiate transactions?!
Will they use the integrated VoIP engine to create calls to the advertiser?!

One thing is for sure, the mobile advertising market will have much to learn from this move, and Fring will be the first to know.

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Aug 10

The olympics now on Fring |

By Harel Shattenstein
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Fring, an Israeli VoIP and IM client developer, is announcing the fringOlympics,
a twitter like service which sends updates directly to the Fring application using Fring add-ons.
Currently all the add-ons were developed inhouse whereas the release of Fring API meant to attract third-party developers. All in one, the current “Olympics move” isn’t an ordinary news updates.
The updates are sent from 6 people including a coach and an athlete that are participating at the Beijing Olympics.
The so-called “fringsters” are:

• Alexander Rusakov – Gold medal contender these games! This Russian trampoline champion is going to be fringing away when not focusing on the gold medal he is tipped to win!
• Oleg Zaporozhchenko Jr. – The Russian Olympics team coach & international category judge!
• Fei Wen – A Malaysian Olympic volunteer and the onsite fring coordinator
• Tania Teoh – A Malaysian Olympic volunteer and an avid fan of lots of sports including swimming, volleyball, badminton and more!
• Udi Moshel – Israeli sports enthusiast… will be keeping us all updated with sports and social updates across the board from the fields and other online circuits!
• Agus Jose – A Spanish sports and travel devotee will micro-blog about both with the added insight only a professional psychologist can offer!

To enable updates from your preferred “Fringster”:- restart fring -> click Options -> settings- > manage add-ons.
The Russians will begin their updates on August 13th while the others on August 15th.
Enjoy the Olympics.


credit: fring

FringOlympics

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