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Skype translations now work with calls to phone lines
Skype's live translations are no longer limited to fellow internet callers. If you're part of the Windows Insider Program, you now have access to a Skype Preview release for PCs that will translate calls to conventional phones, whether they're cellphones or landlines. If you need to contact a hotel where no one speaks your native tongue, you might have a chance of holding a conversation. The recipients get a notice that Skype is recording and translating the call, so they have an opportunity to hang up if they're particularly concerned about their privacy.
Researcher warns of backdoor in GCHQ-developed encryption
The UK government's spy agency stands accused of developing and promoting an encryption standard for voice calls which includes a backdoor, allowing it to conduct "undetectable mass surveillance." The protection is designed for internal software used by the British government, but because it's open-source one security researcher is worried it'll also be adopted by commercial companies. If that happens, the flaw could be exploited by GCHQ and, potentially, hackers to monitor the conversations not just of government employees, but the wider public. Dr Steven Murdoch, a Principal Research Fellow at University College London's Information Security Research Group, is concerned specifically about the way GCHQ's standard handles encryption keys. MIKEY-SAKKE, the security protocol behind the Secure Chorus encryption standard, relies on a set of master keys generated at the service provider level. These are used to protect each call session, but Murdoch says the master private key can also be used to decrypt users' conversations, past and present. "The existence of a master private key that can decrypt all calls past and present without detection, on a computer permanently available, creates a huge security risk, and an irresistible target for attackers. Also calls which cross different network providers (e.g. between different companies) would be decrypted at a gateway computer, creating another location where calls could be eavesdropped." Such a flaw, Murdoch believes, can be classified as "key escrow." That means a service provider would be able to comply with a British government request for "content," or what was said, during a particular individual or group's conversations. This ability to decrypt is in stark contrast to end-to-end encryption, which puts both public and private keys in the hands of the user. That way, even if a warrant is served, the company is unable to deliver the data in a readable format. A number of apps now offer this protection, including Apple's iMessage. Murdoch says he isn't surprised by the backdoor given GCHQ's responsibility to both monitor and protect the government's communications: "GCHQ designs the encryption technology used by government to prevent unauthorised parties having access to classified information. But GCHQ also wants the ability to examine how this encryption technology is used to investigate suspected leaks whether to companies, the press, or foreign intelligence agencies." The worry now is that the MIKEY-SAKKE protocol will be adopted by companies offering secure voice calls to the public. After all, "government-grade security" sounds like a pretty safe bet. GCHQ, however, is refuting Murdoch's claims. A spokesperson for CESG, GCHQ's Information Security arm (which developed the standard) told Engadget: "We do not recognise the claims made in this paper. The MIKEY-SAKKE protocol enables development of secure, scalable, enterprise grade products."
Skype's latest iOS update makes sharing content easier
Skype released an update for iOS on Tuesday that makes sharing content during calls easier. Version 6.8 allows users to send links, web pages or camera roll photos to whoever they're calling with a single click of the share button. Simply select the content you want to send, swipe right until you see the More button and then select Skype from the Activities section to initiate a call.
Snowden's favorite secure chat services unite in one Android app
Want to keep your text and voice chats truly private, the way NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden does? You'll want to try Open Whisper Systems' Signal for Android, then. The newly launched, Snowden-approved app merges OWS' existing RedPhone and TextSecure products into a single client -- you can communicate over an end-to-end encrypted connection without having to switch apps as you switch formats. The code is open source, too, so you can verify that there aren't any government back doors. It's really just an amalgam of features you've seen before, but it could make a big difference if you're determined to keep your conversations away from prying eyes.
Verizon asks for permission to offer WiFi calling
Earlier this month, AT&T applied to the FCC for permission to offer native WiFi calling and now just a few weeks later, Verizon is following suit. The network has delivered a request to Tom Wheeler and his crew in the hope that it will be allowed to offer the feature to its users. If regulators give an official thumbs-up, we wouldn't be surprised if the first crop of iOS 9-toting iPhone users don't get the offering pretty quickly. After all, AT&T contacted the FCC on October 6th and started rolling it out to customers on October 8th.
Skype gets shareable conversation links for easy invites
Need to invite someone to join a Skype session? Well, that task just got a lot easier. The video-chatting app added a new feature that lets you invite folks to join a conversation with a shareable link. All you have to do is nab the URL, send it to the person and they can click it to join. What's more, the invitee doesn't need a Skype account to do so. Clicking on a shared link can employ Skype on the web as a guest, but it'll still offer access to messaging and both video and voice calls. If you're familiar with sharing links to Dropbox or OneDrive files, you have an idea of how this works. It sounds like a simple addition, but it's sure to save time, and allow people who aren't using the app to easily participate as needed.
WhatsApp's voice calls arrive on iOS
When its calling feature hit Android gadgets a couple weeks ago, WhatsApp founder Brian Acton said the tool would make its way to iOS soon enough. Well, today's the day. WhatsApp calling is rolling out to folks wielding Apple devices, allowing you to chat with friends and family around the world. If you'll recall, the feature uses WiFi rather than a data connection, so you won't have to worry about international rate hikes. While the new version of the app is already available at iTunes, the release notes warn that the calling feature is rolling out slowly, so it may not be available for you immediately.
Comcast job ad hints at wireless ambitions
There's not much you can learn from a Comcast job ad, but that won't prevent speculation about its entry into the mobile business. The company has posted an advert asking for warm bodies executives to lead the company's push into the "wireless ecosystem." According to the pitch to would-be employees, the job centers around making Kabletown's existing triple-play offerings more mobile friendly, as well as evaluating "potential entries into the wireless ecosystem." Comcast may already have an MVNO agreement with Verizon and Sprint, but FierceCable feels that it's at least plausible that its long-rumored WiFi calling service may finally be coming.
T-Mobile add-on gives you unlimited international calls for $5 per month
Calling people outside the US isn't as expensive as it used to be, but the charges can still add up; even the better deals at big American wireless carriers have you paying both a monthly rate and by the minute. T-Mobile thinks it can shake things up a bit. It just revamped its Stateside International Talk plan to offer unlimited international calling to as many as 70 countries at flat rates. You'll pay a relatively modest $5 extra per month if you only need to reach landlines, and $10 per month if your foreign friends use cellphones. And importantly, this covers every line on your account -- your kids can speak to family overseas without racking up huge bills. There are some catches (only "30+" countries qualify for unlimited mobile-to-mobile), but this could still be a solid deal if you frequently chat with people around the globe. [Image credit: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty Images]
You'll soon be able to make Skype calls in your browser
Microsoft has just announced that you'll soon be able to make video and voice Skype calls from just about any computer with a web browser. Skype for Web (beta) calls will work on Chrome, Safari, Firefox and of course, Internet Explorer, with the addition of a "small plugin," at least for now. Microsoft said that it'll eventually work natively on browsers without plugins or downloads once WebRTC is more widely implemented. That'll be especially handy for users with no access to the dedicated app who may want to chat with or message friends from, say, an internet cafe in a foreign country.
How to get phone calls on your Mac in Yosemite
Chris Breen has a quick writeup on how to set your iPhone to route calls through your Mac (or use your Mac to make calls). Some important things to know: Your iPhone and Mac must be on the same WiFi network and you'll need iOS 8 and Yosemite installed on any target machines, plus an actual iPhone*. If you have iOS 8 on an iPad you may have already seen how you can take an incoming call via that device, but you'll need to configure your Mac to do this too. *As reader Hal Sherman points out, you'll need a Mac with native Bluetooth 4.0 LE as well -- a dongle won't do. In FaceTime preferences on iOS and Mac, you must enable "iPhone Cellular Calls". Then you can click the Audio tab in FaceTime on the Mac to initiate calls, even to your Android-using friends. That's pretty cool, right? While we're talking FaceTime on the Mac, did you know you can also set your Mac to route calls through Skype? The Default for calls setting allows it (at the bottom of the preferences/settings) but only on the Mac.
Google Hangouts gets a facelift, adds Google voice and VoIP calling
Google Voice and Hangouts have coexisted for a while, and while Google has pushed Hangouts as its primary messaging and chat platform, news on Voice has slowed to a trickle. Now, as TechCrunch reports, Google is revamping its Hangouts app to include Google Voice functionality and giving the app a new look at the same time. The new Google Hangouts app features the same chat functionality as before, along with free VoIP calling to numbers in the U.S. and Canada, and of course no-cost calls to other Hangouts contacts worldwide. Calls to certain international numbers will see a rate drop as well -- you can check the current prices on Google's calling rates table. Those with a Google Voice number will now get calls directly in Hangouts, and Android users will see voice and text messages appear as regular text chat in the Hangouts app. This last bit of functionality won't be available on iOS right away, but it's on the way. The app update is currently rolling out, so be sure to tap that update button as soon as it's available on your device.
Google search results now let you call stores from your PC
While it's easy to call a store if you find it through a Google search on your phone, it's a bit more of a hassle on your computer -- you frequently have to copy the number into your voice app of choice. However, Google is removing even that minor inconvenience. The company's search results now include a Hangouts calling option that gets you in touch with any location right through your desktop web browser; if you see a big set of digits, one click will start the conversation. As with Google's other internet calling services, you can reach out to any American or Canadian number for free. This isn't the biggest time-saver in the world, to be sure, but you may appreciate it the next time you're phoning in a reservation at your favorite eatery.
AT&T's high-quality LTE calls arrive on May 23rd, but only on one phone
Right in sync with rumors, AT&T has launched its high-quality LTE voice calling in a handful of places across the US. If you live in the right parts of Illinois, Indiana, Minneapolis and Wisconsin, you'll get pristine-sounding phone conversations starting on May 23rd. There's no public roadmap for other regions, but AT&T is promising news on a "market-to-market" basis. Just don't expect a wide selection of phones at first. The only phone that will support voice over LTE from day one is the fairly ho-hum Galaxy S4 Mini -- if you just bought a Galaxy S5 or some other hot new device, you'll still have to wait patiently for word of an update. Many smartphones are capable of handling the technology, however, so don't be surprised if your next heart-to-heart chat sounds much clearer than usual. [Image credit: Getty Images]
You may be able to make in-flight calls next year, but not on Delta
In a company-wide memo sent to 80,000 Delta employees this morning, CEO Richard Anderson put his foot down on the issue of in-flight passenger calls. His definitive statement, "Delta will not allow cellular calls or internet-based voice communications onboard Delta or Delta Connection flights," will apply regardless of updated regulations from the FCC. That agency is considering lifting the ban on in-flight calls come 2014, but the Department of Transportation may follow up with its own ruling to maintain the phone-free environment many of us have come to enjoy at 30,000 feet. Meanwhile, powerful in-flight internet services, like JetBlue's recently launched Fly-Fi, take communications a step further, enabling VoIP and video chat services with performance that makes using these tools more than a novelty. Delta, for its part, will support non-voice cell services pending FCC and FAA approval: "if the FCC lifts its ban on cellular use in flight, Delta will move quickly to enable customers to use text, email and other silent data transmission services gate to gate." (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
Microsoft wants to give callers email-like 'important' flag
If you get a lot of work-related email, there's a good chance that you've seen the misuse of priority tags -- potluck dinners are suddenly as vital as company-wide meetings. It's with a sense of dread, then, that we learned that Microsoft has applied for a patent on prioritizing phone calls. The approach would let callers choose an urgency level that flashes alerts, sends messages and otherwise signals that a call can't wait. It would simultaneously foil telemarketers and other cold callers by requiring a passcode or encrypted authentication. If granted, the patent could be useful for on-call workers and worried parents. That said, we won't mind if Microsoft declines to use it; we don't need high-priority calls to refill the office coffee pot.
Huawei unveils mid-range MediaPad 7 Vogue tablet that can place calls
You can't toss a stone without hitting a 7-inch tablet nowadays, so Huawei's just announced the MediaPad 7 Vogue with a not-too-common feature: voice calling. If you don't mind a large object plastered to your head, the 3G version of the slate (there's also a WiFi-only model) will let you place network calls just like the ASUS FonePad or Samsung's Galaxy Note 8.0. Otherwise, it's packing decidedly middling specs, like a 1,024 x 600 IPS screen, quad-core Huawei 1.2GHz Cortex-A9 CPU, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of storage, 3-megapixel rear camera and a microSD expansion slot. It'll launch in China this month, though there's no word yet on pricing or whether fans will be able to score it elsewhere. Check after the break for PR and another image of the tab.
Boost Mobile now offers unlimited calling to Mexico for $15 per month
We've seen US-based wireless operators offer low-cost calling to Mexico before -- and frankly, creations like Google Voice and Skype have made it cheaper than ever to make a cross-border voice call -- but it's not everyday that you see an MVNO launch a dedicated calling plan to MX. That said, Boost Mobile is today introducing a $15 per month add-on that allows its users to phone up every single landline and mobile number in the country immediately south of America, assuming that it's added on to a monthly unlimited plan. Curiously, the offer is only designed to stand through June 6th, and the company isn't mentioning what that sum will rise to after said date. For those who indulge, that $15 also includes limitless calling to landlines in over 45 nations (including Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Argentina and Colombia), unlimited calling to Canada, unlimited international text messaging worldwide from the United States and reduced calling rates to over 200 other destinations. Of course, this is assuming you still communicate via voice, which may or may not be true at this stage.
Imo's iPad app augmented with free voice calling, enhanced photo sharing
When Imo crammed free voice calling into its iPhone application, it neglected to port the functionality to its large-screened counterpart. Now, the iPad version of Imo.im is catching up -- adding VoIP support over 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi to other Imo users across iOS and Android. The latest version of the instant messaging aggregator boasts revamped photo tools too, featuring group photo sharing and real-time image uploads. These tweaks accompany a slew of design changes, including a color-coded status indicator bar and similar hue-based notifications for contact availability. Standard stuff, really, but that shouldn't stop iPad-toting chatterboxes from heading to the source link and giving the app a whirl.
Orange begins first HD Voice calls between countries, decides clarity knows no borders
Orange was one of the vanguards of high-quality cellphone calls, having kicked off HD Voice with a Moldovian launch back in 2009. The premium chatter has always stopped at the border, however -- even two Orange customers couldn't see the improvement if they were in different countries. The carrier is bridging that gap with claims that it's the first to support improved voice on the international level: starting today, Moldovans and Romanians on Orange can give each other a ring and expect the extra-smooth calling they're used to from local conversations. We don't yet know if and when other countries will hop on the bandwagon. We've reached out, but it's possible that any upgraded links between other countries will come only from case-by-case negotiations. Those in Bucharest might want to track down any relatives in Chișinău for a quick chat in the meantime.
