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AT&T's clearer LTE calls are now available in 13 more states
While AT&T's introduction of Voice over LTE in May was good news, you couldn't exactly call it a massive launch when just four states got those clearer phone calls. The situation is much better as 2014 draws to a close, though. The carrier has switched on VoLTE (aka HD Voice) in both the District of Columbia as well as certain areas in 13 other states, ranging from Washington to Texas. The company isn't saying just which cities are getting the improved service, but it's a big step forward for a fledgling technology -- if you subscribe to AT&T, you're now that much more likely to have a pristine-sounding conversation. Now if only American providers could get their LTE calls crossing networks. [Image credit: AP Photo/Richard Drew]
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]
Vodafone's WorldTraveller makes roaming cheaper in eight expensive countries
Vodafone's decided to do away with itemised roaming charges in eight far-away countries, today announcing that customers will be able to use their existing voice, text and data allowances in the USA, India, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, Ghana, Qatar and South Africa for £5 per day. This WorldTraveller add-on complements Vodafone's existing EuroTraveller offering, which covers allowances in numerous European countries for £2 per day (£3 after August 31st). However, both bundles fall noticeably short of Three's Feel at Home service, which offers free roaming in 16 countries, although Vodafone does cast a wider net than its rival. To opt-in, pay monthly customers can dial 5555 when they touchdown in any supported country, and they'll only be charged for days they use the phone.
Europe's next roaming charge cut comes into force on July 1st
From July, anyone travelling in any of the EU member countries with their smartphone will enjoy a few less numbers on their bill. As part of new roaming caps coming into effect next week, the European Commission has cut the price of data downloads by 55 percent. This means the most you'll pay for a megabyte is 20 cents instead of 45. As promised by the Commission's VP Neelie Kroes, the new price caps will also drop call charges by 21 percent to 19 cents per minute, while receiving calls will be reduced to 5 cents per minute. Text message costs are down 25 percent to 6 cents, but it's the lower cost of data roaming that's the banner announcement, meaning smartphone owners can safely sneak in a quick tweet or Instagram upload while they're making their way across Europe. Some customers, like those on Three in the UK, can bypass charges completely by way of free roaming plans, but for those who find themselves in an unsupported country, the new rates could lighten possible bill shocks in the future.
EE and Three will soon change the way you make calls and send texts
Mobile dead spots can be a right headache, whether you get them at home, at work or a place you visit often. Luckily, EE and Three may soon be able to help. Earlier today, the two operators confirmed they're going to let customers make high-quality calls and send text messages, even when there's only a WiFi connection available. The good news is that if you're an EE customer, you won't notice a thing, even though the company is exercising its technological prowess silently in the background.
EE opens its broadband packages to all
After initially limiting connections to mobile customers, EE is throwing its broadband packages open to everyone. With BT and Virgin Media firmly in its sights, the company has slashed the cost of its internet bundles, allowing customers to sign up for a 17Mbps connection for just £2.50 a month. Don't expect them to stay that low, though, as EE will hike prices after the 12-month promotion expires. Once it does, the £2.50 and £7.50 tiers rise to £9.95 and £12.95 respectively. Getting fibre broadband is also cheaper for a time, starting at £5 for a 38Mbps connection, but increases sharply to £19.95 after just three months.
iOS 8 returns a wonderful feature to the iPhone
On March 10, 2014 Apple released iOS 7.1, and with it made phone calls a little less fun to receive. Suddenly this. Became this. Even if the change didn't hinder functionality, it was an odd case of Apple implementing a solution in search of a problem. If you travel a lot, seeing a full screen photo of a loved one when they called was a nice aspect of iOS. Suddenly this feature was gone for seemingly no reason. Thankfully this odd change will be fixed in iOS 8. Although the feature hasn't been announced yet, Apple has been displaying the feature in its advertising of iOS 8, as seen in the picture below. There are lots of reasons to be excited about the impending release of iOS 8. HealthKit and the connected home services are sure to be game changers for many users. However, don't be surprised to see a large number of iPhone owners rejoicing when they finally get their full incoming-call photos back this fall.
Three extends free roaming to France and four other countries
Not content with offering free roaming to customers travelling in the US and other far-away locales, Three has extended its Feel At Home service to five countries a little closer to home. From July 1st, Three customers can enjoy data, text and calls at no extra charge when they visit France, Switzerland, Israel, Finland or Norway. That takes the operator's total tally up to 16 countries and throws shade on rival roaming plans, which have come down in price but still require customers to add travel bolt-ons to their existing tariff. Calls to non-UK numbers will incur a charge but Three makes Feel At Home available to anyone on its network -- perfect for uploading Instagram selfies from the beach or sharing Vines by the side of the pool.
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]
Tumblr goes retro by letting you post with a phone call (update: more feature revival than retro)
Forget trying to be retro-cool by replacing your digital music with vinyl -- that's so 2013. Tumblr believes that this year's trendsetters will use its throwback dial-a-post service instead. You can now make an audio post on the social network by calling a toll-free number; all you have to do beforehand is link your phone's digits to your account. Will Tumblr's new feature be a gimmick for most users? Absolutely. However, there's definitely an appeal if you're on a spotty data connection or want to get around online censorship. And besides, it's probably your first opportunity in years to dial the internet. Update: As it turns out, the phone-in feature is itself a bit retro. Tumblr had implemented call-based posting a few years ago -- the company is just drawing attention to its sadly neglected option.
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)
UK mobile phone users to get free 0800 calls by mid-2015
Ofcom, the UK's communication regulator, has toyed with the idea of making freephone numbers free to call from mobiles for over two years, but now it's finally looking to put that plan into action. In an effort to clear up confusion over call charges, the regulator announced it intends to bring mobile freephone calls in line with landlines, letting everyone in the UK call 0800, 0808 and 116 numbers for no charge. It's been a long time coming: Ofcom actually began conducting research into call charges in November 2011, but the new guidance comes with a few extra cost-cutting measures when it goes into effect. By June 2015, Ofcom will introduce caps on premium rate calls and clarify the cost of calls to 0845 numbers, encouraging transparency and giving people a clear of idea of how much they'll be debited when they pick up the phone.
Viber now lets you make calls to any phone number
Viber's quest to become the VoIP app du jour has taken another leap forward with the news that, with Version 4.1 its iOS and Android apps, you're now entitled to make calls to any mobile or landline number. The service, entitled Viber Out, was previously made available during the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan to help affected users contact their families, but has now rolled out to all, giving you a cheaper alternative (depending on where you're calling) to Microsoft's Skype Out service. To make things as easy as possible, Viber Out will connect itself to your phone number, letting recipients identify your call. It also allows balance top-ups via its mobile and desktop apps to help you keep on top of call costs. Viber says the updated iOS and Android apps will go live today, with Windows Phone support following soon, ensuring Microsoft has some real competition on its own turf.
Google Hangouts for iOS can call US & Canada for free, receive Google Voice calls
The Google Hangouts app for iOS is getting a major update this evening that gives it all new calling features on Apple's mobile hardware. Users can call phone numbers directly from the app itself, with no charge for any calls to US & Canadian numbers (international calls work too, for a fee). If they have a Google Voice account it's even more useful since it can both make and receive calls now, with outgoing calls showing your GV number and incoming calls popping up in the Hangouts app itself. Also new, are the better visible indicators of who is reachable right now that recently popped up in the Android version, inline animated GIF support and now incoming calls don't stop user's music -- they just pause it. We're already expecting Hangouts to take a step to the forefront in Android 4.4 KitKat -- check the app's placement in yesterday's Nexus 5 leak for a peek -- and this update will probably make things easier for users that cross back and forth between platforms.
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.
Facebook Messenger iOS app enables free calling feature for UK users
While Americans and Canadians have enjoyed making app-based voice calls to their Facebook contacts since January, their overseas buddies have missed out -- until now. The social network's iOS Messenger app has just doled out the calling feature to the UK and potentially other parts of Europe too, although we haven't yet been able to confirm exactly how far and wide the update reaches. It's worth noting that the feature isn't enabled on the Android iteration yet, either. The new calling service isn't powered by Skype this time, although it works in a similarly uncomplicated way, with the ability to leave voice messages with any busy users. According to Pocket-lint, this is an experimental version, warning that you might experience a few bugs and glitches as you play around with it, but hey, you're getting free calls to (most of) your friends, barring any data charges. We've tested the new feature and it's working for several of our UK editors over both WiFi and 3G, but if you haven't already picked up the messaging app yet, you can grab it at the source below.
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.
FTC offers $50,000 prize for stopping illegal robocalls, we could have used this a few months ago
Robocalling is considered a plague in the modern phone world, especially during an election year -- and while you likely won't get rid of all the pitches from political candidates anytime soon, most of the commercial calls are outright illegal. The Federal Trade Commission has devised a unique contest to help cut back on those law-breakers without having to chase down every shady debt relief offer. It's offering a $50,000 reward for the cleverest solution to blocking the banned variety of robocalls. The only requirement is that you be an adult US resident: if you can invent a surefire remedy in your basement, the FTC wants to hear from you. Entries will be open between October 25th and January 17th, with word of a winner around April 1st. We're hoping that the champion has a truly effective cure in use before long, because we'll undoubtedly have reached our breaking point on robocalls by... oh, around November 6th. [Image credit: SarahNW, Flickr]
Apple confirms iPhone 5 won't do simultaneous voice and LTE data on CDMA networks
If you're still struggling to decide which carrier to use for your iPhone 5, you may have had some of the decision made for you. Following statements by Verizon that hinted simultaneous voice and data still wouldn't be an option despite the inclusion of LTE, which theoretically frees up CDMA for calls, we've confirmed with Apple spokesperson Natalie Harrison that this is indeed the case. It's "not yet possible" to do side-by-side CDMA voice and LTE data on a "single-radio" design like the iPhone 5, she says. That's technically true, although it may be a case of Apple wanting to keep hardware differences to a minimum between CDMA and GSM users. AnandTech founder Anand Lal Shimpi tells the New York Times that Verizon phones like the Galaxy S III, which don't have this limit, follow a different approach: where Apple uses a second antenna to improve overall reception for a single connection, Samsung and other phone makers use theirs to keep both data and voice flowing in harmony. While it's a tradeoff with its own benefits, the choice means that iPhone 5 units for Verizon, Sprint, and every other CDMA carrier still won't let you check your e-mail in mid-call without WiFi. If that's an issue, you'll have to turn to AT&T (or T-Mobile with an unlocked phone) to get your fix.
Skype for Windows 8 preview, user interface revealed in web leak
Wondering what Skype's Windows 8 interface might look like? Sure, you could use your imagination -- and probably guess the design with a fair amount of accuracy -- or you can poke around an early hands-on over at Neowin, complete with a half-dozen UI grabs. While still in preview state, the app appears to be "relatively solid," enabling calls and chats with "little issue." From the looks of it, touch fiends will be able to tap around just as accurately as their mouse-bound counterparts can click, with large buttons available throughout. Judging by the app's current state, it wouldn't be unreasonable to expect a more formal appearance any day now, letting early Windows 8 users take the native app for a spin before the rest of us get access in the fall. Hit up our source link below for a gallery of screen grabs.
