Both Barrels Communications Ltd

Improved user experience, simplified management and performance boost

Truphone today launched Truphone 3.0, a major new upgrade to its mobile VoIP application for the Apple® iPhone™. Truphone 3.0 dramatically builds on the success of previous versions of the iPhone’s first ever VoIP application, enhancing the instant messaging and account management experience, making Truphone faster than ever before and delivering a new standard for call quality.

Among the many improvements in Truphone 3.0 are increased ease of use, speed of function response, intuitiveness and simplicity – all designed to enhance the user experience. Truphone has also improved voice quality, making the app for the iPhone better than ever before.

Truphone’s integrated messaging tool unifies all IM communities in a single place, meaning users can manage all their IM communication from a single page within the application – eliminating the need to constantly jockey between different applications or even different pages within an application. IM services currently supported include Skype, MSN Messenger, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk.

“Customers tell us they want three things: simplicity, quality and a good deal. Those principles drive our innovation, and Truphone 3.0 delivers on all three. We’ve dramatically improved our UI and account management tools. We’ve eliminated the need for compression through new advances in signal processing, making calls crystal clear. And, just as we always do, Truphone 3.0 sets a new benchmark in terms of quality and performance that competitors will have a tough time matching,” said Geraldine Wilson, CEO Truphone.

“With these improvements, we believe Truphone 3.0 is the best application on mobile for our customers’ international calling needs as well as staying in touch with all of their IM communities, in or out of Wi-Fi.”

Similar improvements to Truphone for the Apple iPod® touch will be announced soon.

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About Truphone
Founded in 2006, Truphone is a global mobile communications provider in the business of innovating how people converse in our globally connected world. As the industry’s first mobile Internet operator, the company makes it easy and affordable for users all over the world to keep in touch with friends, family and business contacts overseas or whilst roaming. Truphone is the trading name of Software Cellular Network (SCN). SCN is privately owned, funded by both venture capital investment and angel investors.

Resources

• Truphone press office
• Truphone web site
• Picture: Geraldine Wilson, Truphone CEO (Flickr)
• Screenshots: Truphone 3.0 (Flickr)

What Truphone already does

Free calls when in Wi-Fi to:

• Other Truphone users
• Skype and Google Talk users

Free Instant Messages when in Wi-Fi to:

• Skype
• MSN Messenger
• Google Talk
• Yahoo! Messenger
• AIM

Plus: incredible savings on calls to landlines and mobiles around the world.

Most importantly all these communication opportunities are also available outside of Wi-Fi by using Truphone Anywhere for calls (charged at a local rate in your home country and then routed over Truphone’s network – not for use when roaming), and 3G for Instant Messaging.

Account management:

• See rates for calls before initiating a call
• Display recent call history, showing the Truphone customer exactly how much a call just cost and how long it lasted with the ability to see a summary of calls made month by month
• Top-up from within the application, without the need for web windows to open separately
• Top-up in a variety of ways: credit card or PayPal
• Change calling tariffs within the application

Apple and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the United States and other countries. Google is a trademark of Google Inc. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Google and Android are trademarks of Google, Inc. Truphone is a trademark of Software Cellular Network Ltd. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

Truphone is not a replacement for an ordinary telephone service and emergency calls cannot be made using Truphone. However Truphone does not prevent emergency calls being made via a handset’s normal cellular service provider. Truphone cannot advise on the legality of VoIP services in specific territories or jurisdictions. It is the user’s responsibility to confirm that use of the Truphone VoIP software and service is permitted in the location in which they use it.

Truphone today integrated AOL® Instant Messenger® (AIM) into its iPhone™ and iPod™ touch applications. Now Truphone customers on both devices can reach their AIM friends via their AIM identity.

With the addition of AIM, Truphone customers can now keep in touch with over 800 million addressable accounts for free.

The integration of this fifth messaging service reinforces Truphone as the “all-in-one conversations hub” for iPhone and iPod Touch users. Truphone has already integrated Google Talk™, Skype™, Windows Live Messenger™ and Yahoo!® Messenger into its applications for these devices, blending a combination of voice and instant messaging across multiple IM platforms within one application.

“Our goal is for mobile phone users to be able to reach any contact in their address book or on their buddy list, in a low cost way, at any time, using just one application,” said Geraldine Wilson, Truphone CEO. “Today’s announcement means that iPhone and iPod touch users gain a great way to stay in touch with AOL Instant Messenger users.

“We will continue to integrate further services and functionality, on other platforms too, giving people everything they need to stay in touch all within the Truphone application,” she stated.

Using Truphone to communicate with any of the five supported IM services is free over the Internet. When not in Wi-fi, Apple iPhone users can also make and receive calls and messages to and from Skype and Google Talk for the cost of a local call*, using the Truphone Anywhere feature. Voice calling functionality will be added to AIM, Windows Live Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger in the coming months.

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*Operator roaming charges will apply if users are abroad.

Additional resources

• Truphone web site
• Truphone press office
• Geraldine Wilson (alternative photo)
• Truphone photos (Flickr)

Notes to editors

1. AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) has more than 100 million users worldwide.
2. Both Truphone for iPhone and Truphone for iPod touch are free to download from the Apple App Store. Neither application has any rental, subscription or other hidden charges.
3. Making a Truphone call on an iPhone or iPod touch couldn’t be simpler: Truphone displays a virtual keypad for dialling the number.
4. Wi-Fi hotspots are commonplace in offices, schools, campuses, at home, and even across entire town and city centres. Truphone uses the Wi-fi connectivity of the iPhone/iPod touch to carry instant messages over the internet to its destination.

About Truphone
The first true mobile internet network operator, Truphone allows users of Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones to make and receive regular telephone calls, and to send and receive SMS [text] messages, using only a Wi-Fi connection and the internet. It has users in 149 countries.
Truphone is the trading name of Software Cellular Network (SCN). SCN is privately owned, funded by both venture capital investment and angel investors.

AOL and AOL Instant Messenger are trademarks of America Online, Inc. Apple, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the United States and other countries. Google and Google Talk are trademarks of Google Inc. Skype is a registered trademark of Skype Limited. Microsoft and Windows Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Yahoo! is a trademark of Yahoo, Inc. Wi-fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-fi Alliance. Truphone is a trademark of Software Cellular Network Ltd. Skype and SkypeIn are trademarks of Skype Limited. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

Truphone today debuted the ability to make and receive Skype™ calls and instant messaging to the entire Skype user base from its iPhone™ and iPod touch™ applications. The service is scheduled to be available to all customers during the week of January 12th.

This represents one more step toward making Truphone the open “all-in-one conversations hub” for iPhone and iPod touch users.

Truphone customers on both Apple devices can now reach their Skype friends via their Skype IDs. This further expands the universe of people with whom Truphone customers can stay in touch.

Separately, Truphone also announced today the availability of well-known instant-messaging services using the Truphone application on the iPod touch™ and the iPhone™.

“The introduction of Skype calling and instant messaging represents yet another breakthrough for Truphone,” said Geraldine Wilson, Truphone CEO. “What this means for Truphone’s customers is that they can now call or message all their Skype friends using their iPhone or iPod touch. This allows iPhone and iPod touch users to have a choice in how they stay in touch with friends and colleagues around the world—all within the one application.”

Truphone-to-Skype communications are free over the internet, and iPhone users can also place and receive Skype calls and messages when not in a Wi-Fi-accessible location for the cost of a local call*, using the Truphone Anywhere feature.

Today’s announcement was made at “ShowStoppers @ Macworld 2009” [San Francisco, USA] and will be showcased on the Truphone stand (#3228) at Macworld for the remainder of the week.

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*Operator roaming charges will apply if users are abroad.

Additional resources

• Screenshots – iPhone
  
• Screenshots – iPod touch
• Truphone web site
• Current Truphone pricing
• Geraldine Wilson – alternative picture

Notes to editors

1. Skype reports more than 300 million downloads of its software. Typically, upwards of 13 million users may be online at any one time.
2. Both Truphone for iPhone and Truphone for iPod touch are free to download from the App Store. Neither application has any rental, subscription or other hidden charges.
3. Making a Truphone call on an iPhone or iPod touch couldn’t be simpler: Truphone displays a virtual keypad for dialling the number.
4. Wi-Fi hotspots are commonplace in offices, schools, campuses, at home, and even across entire town and city centres. Truphone uses the Wi-Fi connectivity of the iPhone/iPod touch to carry instant messages over the internet to its destination.

Apple and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the United States and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. Skype is a registered trademark of Skype Limited. In the United States and/or other countries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Truphone is a trademark of Software Cellular Network Ltd. Skype and SkypeIn are trademarks of Skype Limited. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

Truphone today introduced full two-way instant messaging over MSN Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk on the iPod touch™ and also announced that availability on the iPhone™ would begin the week of January 12th.

Customers can also make and receive voice calls on Google Talk; calling functionality will be added to MSN Messenger and Yahoo! Messenger in the coming weeks.

Truphone has also integrated Twitter into the TruFriends view so users can see what friends are talking about and post from within the Truphone application.

“We understand that customers increasingly want more integrated communications and like to switch between chat and voice,” said Truphone CEO Geraldine Wilson. “With these new features, Truphone customers can now choose which mode of communications they want to use at any moment—all from within the one application. This represents another step towards making Truphone the open ‘all-in-one conversations hub’ for iPhone and iPod touch users.”

Separately, Truphone also announced today the introduction of Skype calling and instant messaging when using the Truphone application on the iPhone and iPod touch.

Customers of Truphone for both the iPhone and iPod touch can now very simply import all their contacts from these accounts to Truphone and chat with them from the Truphone interface. The Truphone client on both devices shows who is online with its built-in presence functionality.

Instant messages are always free of charge to send and receive when in a Wi-Fi environment. iPhone users can also instant message when out of Wi-Fi range; data charges will be covered in the customers unlimited data package*. Truphone will also add the same functionality to other leading instant messaging services throughout the year.

Today’s announcement was made at “ShowStoppers @ Macworld 2009” and will be showcased on the Truphone booth (#3228) at Macworld for the remainder of the week.

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*Operator roaming charges will apply when abroad and not using a Wi-Fi network.

Links and resources

• Screenshots – iPod touch
• Screenshots – iPhone
• Truphone press office
• Truphone web site
• Current pricing

Notes to editors

1. Both Truphone for iPhone and Truphone for iPod touch are free to download from the App Store. Neither application has any rental, subscription or other hidden charges.
2. Making a Truphone call on an iPhone or iPod touch couldn’t be simpler: Truphone displays a virtual keypad for dialling the number.
3. Wi-Fi hotspots are commonplace in offices, schools, campuses, at home, and even across entire town and city centres. Truphone uses the Wi-Fi connectivity of the iPhone/iPod touch to carry instant messages over the Internet to their destinations.

Apple and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the United States and other countries. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. Google Talk is a trademark of Google Inc. Google Talk is not a telephony service and cannot be used for emergency dialling. Microsoft and Windows Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Yahoo and Yahoo Messenger are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Yahoo Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Truphone is a trademark of Software Cellular Network Ltd. Skype and SkypeIn are trademarks of Skype Limited. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

Also adds inbound and free iPhone-to-iPhone Truphone calls

Global mobile network operator Truphone today added Truphone Anywhere functionality to its iPhone™ application, enabling users to make international calls across the internet for as little as £0.03/$0.06 [UK/Rest of World] per minute even when they’re not connected to the internet. Inbound Truphone calling on the iPhone is also added for the first time, making it possible to enjoy completely free Truphone calls between two iPhones.

Truphone Anywhere works in 33 countries around the world, saving iPhone users from those countries money on international calls made from their home country when not in Wi-Fi. The easy-to-use service works alongside domestic service providers, but reduces international call costs to as little as £0.03/$0.06 [UK/RoW] per minute.

Unlike say, calling card solutions, Truphone Anywhere doesn’t require a user to remember what to do. Whenever an international number is dialled from outside Wi-Fi, Truphone Anywhere simply asks whether he/she wants to make a Truphone call. The user simply accepts, and Truphone connects the call.

The second new key feature – inbound calling for Truphone on the iPhone – works in all countries. Using the new ‘presence’ feature, iPhone users can see which of their other Truphone-using contacts are online, including contacts who also have Truphone on their iPhone. This makes it possible to place, for the first time, a free iPhone-to-iPhone Truphone call.

The new inbound call capability means that iPhone users can avoid inbound call charges – for example, when abroad – provided they are connected to a Wi-Fi network, enabling significant cost savings.

“No-one likes big mobile bills, and they don’t come any bigger than for international calls” said Geraldine Wilson, Truphone’s new CEO. “But for iPhone users, that no longer needs to be the case. They can choose either to pay standard international call rates, or to reduce them to as little as 3 pence or 6 cents per minute. It’s as simple as that, no catches.”

All of the original, great benefits of Truphone for the iPhone still apply:

• Truphone routes calls over the internet whenever possible, saving loads of money both on international calls from a user’s home country and on calls when connected to Wi-Fi abroad
• Truphone routes calls over the internet, so customers don’t need to worry about poor mobile reception. Calls are crystal clear and voice quality is superb from almost any Wi-Fi zone
• no monthly line rental, subscription or other hidden charges. Truphone customers only ever pay for the calls they make. Additional credit is simply purchased online, or an account may be set to top up [refill] automatically when it falls to a certain level
• Truphone is free to download via the iPhone App Store and takes seconds to install. New customers receive £1/$1 [UK/RoW] free calling credit to get them started
• with Truphone’s American Tru Saver bundle, calls within and to the USA and Canada can be as low as 0.75 pence/1.5 cents [UK/RoW] per minute
• calls within and to 40 countries (including UK, Australia, Brazil and most of Europe) are £0.03/$0.06 [UK/RoW] per minute to landlines and £0.15/$0.30 [UK/RoW] per minute to mobiles
• making a Truphone call couldn’t be simpler: open the Truphone application and dial as normal. Truphone uses the iPhone’s own address book.
• Truphone has been enabling iPhone users to make major savings on international calls since July, by routing outbound calls over the internet using Wi-Fi.

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Notes to editors

1. Truphone Anywhere works by connecting to a local Truphone server, which then connects the long-distance part of the call over the internet. The local connection to Truphone is, typically, free because it uses bundled minutes from the customer’s usual cellular service provider.
2. Truphone Anywhere is designed to save users money when making international calls from their home country. Using the service while abroad may result in higher charges.
3. Truphone Anywhere works using local ‘points of presence’. Truphone has points of presence in 33 countries.

Links and other resources

• Photo: Geraldine Wilson
• Truphone photos (Flickr)
• Truphone website

iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Truphone is a trademark of Software Cellular Network Limited. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. All other brands, product names, company names, trademarks and service marks are the properties of their respective owners.

Enabling TV fans both to schedule in the programmes that they like and discover new programmes that they might like, Tioti TV+ from Vizimo went live in the App Store today.

On start-up, Tioti TV+ immediately displays ‘now and next’ information for all UK TV channels. Precisely which channels are displayed is completely customisable; choose to display only those channels available to you according to your TV package, or choose channel-by-channel which ones to display or ‘turn off’.

Opening a particular programme causes the typical listings-style programme information to be displayed. But this is the point at which Tioti TV+ starts to shine.

You can choose to ‘mark’ programmes, then, after perhaps marking multiple programmes across multiple channels, you can select ‘My TV’ – which promptly causes Tioti TV+ to display your personal TV channel, showing which channel to be watching, and when, in order to fit in everything you marked.

If you’re not going to be at home or even if you’re on the other side of the world on holiday then, if you have the Sky+ service, you can use Tioti TV+ for the iPhone to remotely set your Sky box to record any programme with just two clicks, ready for viewing when you get home.

If all of this is insufficient assistance, or you’re bored, then try ‘You may also like…’. This function links to a selection of programmes that are about the same topics as the one you are looking at – so you may, indeed, also like them. Having discovered new programmes in this way, you can mark it or set it to record – and on you go again.

If, in following recommendations, you come across some content available via the BBC’s iPlayer catch-up service, Tioti TV+ also enables you to stream it directly to the handset. with no searching and no messing around.

Why is Tioti TV+ a great app? Not just because it helps us to do, better, something that we’re actually going to do at some point each day anyway, but because the dramatic increase in the number of channels available means that people actually miss more programmes of interest than ever before – despite many families now being able to call on the use of a HDD system to record programmes when there are clashes or when they’re out.

In fact there are now more than 400 TV channels available in the UK, and more than 90% of households now have at least one form of multi-channel digital TV service – digital TV receiver, satellite or cable. Consequently, even though many people try to catch up with popular programmes using services like Channel 4’s 4od and BBC’s iPlayer, they will always be fighting a losing battle.

Simon Steward is chief executive of Vizimo, the developer behind Tioti TV+. He said: “There are so many channels and so many sources that it’s virtually impossible to find and remember all the programmes that you might want to watch so you can plan your day or evening in front of the TV. The situation is made even more complex by catch-up content, which means content from the last seven days is available to us if only we knew where to look. How are we supposed to remember, 20 pages of a listings guide or 20 pages of a website later, what we chose some 300 channels ago for 8.30pm? Now, we – iPhone users at least – don’t have to.”

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Links and resources

• Screenshots from Tioti TV+ for iPhone
• Vizimo website
• Vizimo press office

About Vizimo
Vizimo is a leader in developing personalisation and discovery technology to help users navigate the overwhelming universe of content on TV, the web and mobile. It works with TV service providers and platform providers, mobile operators and publishers to create innovative solutions to the discovery problem. For more information, visit the Vizimo press office.

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Apple, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the United States and other countries.