Line2
Latest
Line2 updated to add MMS support within its network
Line2 has an interesting premise - it lets you add a second phone number to your iPhone and turns your iPad or iPod touch into a VoIP phone. The company announced on Monday that it's sweetening its service by adding picture and location support for iOS devices. If your device runs iOS 5.0 or greater, you can send an MMS from one Line2 number to another Line2 number. As you would expect, the image will automatically appear within the user's Line2 app. Unfortunately, carrier restrictions limit the usefulness of this new MMS feature as most carriers block MMS messages from a Line 2 number to a mobile number. You can send a Line2 picture message to any mobile number, but it will appear as a link the recipient must click if he or she wants to view the image on their phone. [Via Engadget]
Line2 for iOS now offers MMS support within its network, adds location sharing
One of your favorite, dock-worthy iOS apps just got a tad bit better. We're talking 'bout Line2, who's just hit version 8.0.0 and is bringing with it a slew of long-awaited traits. Of these, the most notable is the inclusion of MMS, which now allows users to send out pics to other folks using Line2's service. That said, you can share media with people outside the Line2 network, but due to carrier restrictions, the MMS being sent will only show up as a link on the receiving end. To go alongside that Multimedia Messaging Service, the app's also adding a new location sharing feature (for those who don't mind the occasional stalking). As of now, the fresh goods are exclusive to the iOS crowd, while an update for the Android variant is said to be in the works. As usual, you can grab the app straight from the App Store on your device or via the iTunes link below.
How Line2 accidentally disrupted the phone industry
Last week at CES 2012, I met up with Line2 CEO Peter Sisson; he is a man who's done a lot of butting heads with big companies over what started off as a pretty simple proposition. Line2's basic concept was to create a second line (for business or personal calls) on your iPhone. Sisson's original idea was just to have "two lines on one phone," but making that possible for users has turned out to be quite a headache over the years. The issue, he says, isn't the technology at all. Line2 already has an iOS app out there that provides some pretty impressive services on both the iPhone and the iPad. We've looked at the service before, but it's only gotten better since it went live 18 months ago, now providing the ability to simply place a call (using an interface that's almost identical to the iPhone's regular phone app) over either VOIP or directly through Line2's telephone servers -- in other words, you tell Line2 who to call, and then they call your iPhone while simultaneously ringing the number. They can also answer and screen incoming calls, and all of your interactions are displayed in full conversation style. Especially on the iPad, the contacts and conversation menus look really impressive, and provide an excellent overall view of who you've talked to, about what, and when. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, that service has made plenty of trouble for Sisson to deal with. Besides the obvious issues with trying to run a phone line company through other people's phone lines, he's lately been dealing with Apple and its seemingly ever-changing subscription rules. Line2 currently operates under a subscription system: Because it obviously needs extra infrastructure to operate, users pay a per-month fee for the ability to make and use calls and communications. But though Apple recently enabled subscription charges through iTunes, it also requires a 30% cut of those charges, and for Sisson, that's not always doable. "We don't really have the margin" of profit to give Apple 30% and make money, says Sisson. "We tried initially to do it without them." At first, Sisson tried to operate Line2 without selling subscriptions through iTunes, but Apple's requirements meant that the app itself couldn't mention the subscriptions at all, so all it could show was a login page without any explanation. Users who downloaded it directly from the App Store without any context were obviously confused. And while Line2 does bring in its own audience (most of the users, Sisson says, are businesspeople who use the phone either on the road, or simply as a second line at their desk), that audience of iTunes searchers who were turned off after downloading the app was too big to ignore. So Sisson decided that Line2 would go ahead and deal with Apple's cut, and there is currently an app under submission for the App Store right now that has that built-in. He's hoping that the extra subscriptions generated from those new users will outweigh the cost of doing business with Apple. But he does say that it's been a pain to navigate through Apple's unclear rules, and while the restrictions are one thing, even more annoying has been that even Apple doesn't seem to know where subscriptions can start or end. It's like getting pulled over by a cop while going the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour, says Sisson, and being told, "We're planning to change this road to 35 miles per hour." Fortunately for new Line2 users, part of the new plan is also to go for a more freemium model: The new app, once approved on the App Store, will have some amount of free functionality even before any subscription is purchased. Sisson, again, is hoping that convinces more users who simply find the app on the store to stay and buy the full service. The app should be available as soon as it's ready. As for the future, Sisson promises that "we'll eventually get to video." Video calling isn't a huge priority for him and his company right now, as he's mostly focused on making sure the audio calls are just right before moving on. But that is a feature to be worked on, and they're also looking into using voice controls to both manage calls and browse through the apps, very similar to what Siri already has working with Apple's native phone system. The last feature he expects to implement is something called a "call queue." The idea for that one is that you'll set up a list of numbers that you need to call, and then just hit go on your phone. Line2 will then call those numbers for you, letting you know who you're about to talk to as you go. Finish one call, and the next number on the list gets rung up, so as you drive around town, you can take care of a series of calls without having to dial up a number in between. Sisson's original idea was simple, he says, and the original impetus was just to provide a service he felt that he and others could use. But dealing with all of the disruptions created from just that idea has been more than he ever expected.
Line2 brings phone functionality to iPad for 10 bucks a month (video)
Remember that ridiculous Steven Slater rap video promoting Line2's in-flight texting app? Well, the VoIP company just dusted off the point-and-shoot and hopped back over to YouTube, this time peddling a complete telephony solution for iPad. Launching July 28th, the service will let you place phone calls using a wired headset or the built-in speaker and mic, listen to voicemail, and send texts from a single HD interface. After a one-week trial, you'll pay $10 per month (or $100 per year) for the privilege, though with free number porting and unlimited domestic calling that's a fairly solid deal. Many of us barely use our cell phones to place phone calls anymore, but if you're looking to extend that little-used functionality to your tablet, then Line2 for iPad may be ringing. We haven't had a chance to go hands-on just yet, but click past the break for a comprehensive video demo, complete with in-app email and an iTunes-like contacts carousel. Update: Line2 says the app also supports Bluetooth calling on the iPad 2 with any device that features HFP 1.5. Apple restricts functionality, however, so you'll only be able to use the headset for audio -- you'll still need to place and receive calls directly on the iPad.
Turn an iPod touch into an iPhone with its own packaging
Here's a nice bit of ingenuity. Lifehacker reader Kevin explains how he used a VoIP app (Viber and Line 2 are two nice options) with his iPod's packaging and earbud speakers to create a DIY handset. After smoothing the edges of the plastic backing and wearing a groove to hold the earbud wire, Kevin used a Dremel to place a hole in the back of the plastic, sealing it with a rubber washer to prevent the hole from slicing the wire. Next, he threaded it through and pulled the wire tight to hold it in place. The result is a functional and decidedly geeky iPod touch phone. Well done, Kevin! You'll find additional photos here.
Line2 adds unlimited phone, voicemail and texting to your iDevice for $10 a month
Line2 is a tri-mode calling app for your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad. It uses data, WiFi or even cellular voice connections to make and receive calls -- a first for iPhone. While there's a 30-day free trial, the service ultimately costs $10 per month. But for that fee you get unlimited calls, unlimited texts and a powerful voicemail system. Check out the gallery for some screenshots of the app in action. When you're in a WiFI area, Line2 uses that for calls and texts. When you're in an area with data available, Line2 is smart enough to use the data connection for your calls. This app could save you around $50 a month on your bill, but even more if you drop down to the cheapest iPhone calling plan available. The app itself is quite nice, with all the features of iPhone calling, including merge calls, speaker phone, mute. Plus, you can transfer calls or set up a conference call as easily as you can in Skype. Texting is nicely done with a great interface similar to Apple's. Voicemails are handled as you would expect and you can easily send them to others via email. Personally I like the implementation in Line2 of voicemail and calling features more than Apple's in some ways. The pop-up menu for emailing or forwarding a voicemail, for example, seems more intuitive than Apple's secondary menu. If you're looking for a cheap way to make and receive calls, or you have issues with AT&T's coverage (and who doesn't?) you may want to give Line2 a shot. It just might be what you're looking for. %Gallery-113296%
iPad apps to the rescue
"Whenever there's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Whenever they's a cop beatin' up a guy, I'll be there... I'll be in the way guys yell when they're mad an'-I'll be in the way kids laugh when they're hungry an' they know supper's ready. An' when our folks eat the stuff they raise an' live in the houses they build-why, I'll be there." -- John Steinbeck, Grapes of Wrath The iPad is an overlooked hero. When you need it, the iPad will be there. It will be there to access data or connect back home. It will be there to let others reach out to you, or to let you reach out to others. With the right software, and the right ingenuity, the iPad can metaphorically leap tall buildings and save the day. These are everyday rescues, not life-or-death scenarios. This post isn't about how the iPhone saved one guy's life after the Haiti Earthquakes. Here's how iPad applications can fix your workday with simple, helpful solutions that will free you from the laptop and live "la vida tablet." We've got five real world scenarios, including the iPad apps that will be there for you.
Line2 users shouldn't update to iOS 4.2 [but 4.2.1 may be OK]
Update: Several commenters who have installed the 4.2.1 release candidate build of iOS report that it fixes the sustained-ring issue for Line2 and other VoIP apps. Toktumi is warning all all iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users with the handy VoIP app Line2 installed to avoid upgrading to the coming-any-day-now iOS 4.2. According to an email sent to registered users today, users who run Line2 in the background after upgrading to iOS 4.2 may have trouble with the ringer. Specifically, it will continue to ring even after an incoming call is answered. Line2 adds a second line to your iPhone that works over 3G and Wi-Fi. It also allows for unlimited texting in the U.S. and Canada. International text messages cost US$0.10 each. Tokutumi notes that Apple Developer Support has been made aware of this issue with the 4.2 release candidates. However, as of the most recent iOS gold master build, it's still a problem. Of course, Line2 will continue to work as normal under older versions of the iOS. If you're using this solution, just sit tight and wait for Toktumi to announce an official fix. Thanks Jon & e hewitt!
Pogue-praised Line2 is offline for the moment
The price of fame: earlier this week, David Pogue lavished Toktumi's VoIP app Line2 with a hearty helping of NYT love, saying that the $1 app (which requires a $15 monthly subscription) "has the potential to shake up an entire industry." We first mentioned the service back in February, and while Steve wasn't quite as enthusiastic as David P., he did acknowledge that it's a great tool for small businesses or heavy phone users. As of last night, however, the Line2 service is temporarily offline and the app has been voluntarily pulled from the App Store; as Technologizer reports, the company's servers are being targeted by a DNS attack, and the service quality was degraded to the point where Toktumi execs felt that it was better to avoid a bad initial experience for new users while they resolved the problem. Toktumi is updating users via its Twitter feed as to the anticipated resolution. Seeing an app summarily pulled from the App Store, or rejected on specious grounds, has certainly happened before in the VoIP, audio and telephony space (in fact, just this morning the developers of Snowtape let us know that they're struggling to get their app through approval), so it was understandable that reader Arnoldo was anxious when he sent in an email this morning about the outage. In this case, however, it's not Apple pulling the strings.
Line2 adds a second line to your iPhone for $15 a month
Would you like to add a second line to your iPhone? Perhaps you'd like to add a business number to the phone, but your existing phone is currently tied to your personal mobile number. You could always carry a second phone, but that's an expensive proposition, particularly if you're an iPhone addict. VoIP provider Toktumi has a solution that may work out well for you. They're now selling an app called Line2 (US$0.99) that mimics many of the capabilities of the standard Phone app, complete with a form of visual voice mail. Purchasing the app provides you with one month of free VoIP service. After that point, each month's continued service costs $14.95 for unlimited calls within the US and Canada. The service is purchased in-app, and was a point of confusion for me -- the app listing in the iTunes store shows a "Top In App Purchase" at a cost of $19.99 for a month. Toktumi's website and the promotional video (above) do show the lower monthly rate. While many VoIP solutions require a Wi-Fi connection to work, Line2 works over both 3G and Wi-Fi. The app has many of the features you might want in a business phone, including call waiting and call transfer, the ability to create conference calls with up to 20 participants, and even integration with Toktumi's hosted PBX service. For small businesses that want to present a more professional image to callers, Line2 might be just the right solution. Toktumi notes that the app also works with both the iPod touch (Wi-Fi only) and iPad (Wi-Fi or 3G).
