Iranian protesters using Israeli software

Iranian protesters using Israeli software

Fring co-founder and CEO Avi Shechter — you may remember him as CEO of the AIM-like ICQ — was interviewed by Sky News about the use of Fring by protesters/dissidents/activists/rock-throwing-brats in Tehran. Fring, an Israeli company, not only runs VoIP calls over a data connection, it allows protesters in Tehran to reach Facebook and Twitter, which the Iranian government has blocked in an attempt to cut off protesters from each other and the rest of… Continue Reading

Fring raises third round for cheap mobile phone calls

Fring raises third round for cheap mobile phone calls

Fring, the maker of a free mobile application for activities like instant messaging and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) phone calls, has raised a third round of funding.

The most compelling part of the London startup’s offering is its VoIP support. Basically, it means you can make phone calls through your phone’s data plan rather than using cell phone minutes. That, combined with the fact that the Fring app is free, can lead to big savings…. Continue Reading

MobileMonday announces Peer Awards finalists

MobileMonday announces Peer Awards finalists

MobileMonday, the global organization for professionals in the mobile business, just announced a list of 20 finalists for its annual Mobile Peer Awards contest to be held in Barcelona on Feb. 16. The companies — including 12 early-stage startups and eight seed-stage startups — were selected by an international jury from a pool of 42 nominees, each representing a specific MobileMonday chapter from around the world.

In the early-stage category:

Addict Digital Media (Buenos Aires chapter): An… Continue Reading

Mobile VoIP company Nimbuzz raises $15M more, while competitor Fring shows off its stuff

Mobile VoIP company Nimbuzz raises $15M more, while competitor Fring shows off its stuff

Nimbuzz, the mobile VoIP and IM startup based in the Netherlands that offers you the kitchen sink of services — all for free, except for data charges, of course — has raised $15 million more in a second round of financing led by Naspers/MIH.

Meanwhile, competitor Fring announced the first add-ons developed by Fring and thifd parties via its API platform.

VentureBeat covered Nimbuzz’s impressive VoIP shotgun offering (including its social networking widgets, etc.) last month. However,… Continue Reading

Fring opens up to third-party applications

Fring opens up to third-party applications

Fring, a successful mobile application that merges an instant-messenger with the ability to place calls over the internet, has recently opened its application programming interface (API) to other developers.

The new API will allow developers to build applications that deploy Fring’s interface, instant messenger, file transfer and, perhaps most significantly, its “presence” awareness capability. Fring taps into MSN Messenger, ICQ, Skype and Google Talk. Like any IM service, it lets other users know when you are available… Continue Reading

VoIP on the iPhone: Not yet legal, but here

VoIP on the iPhone: Not yet legal, but here

Most users love their iPhones. Fewer love AT&T’s mobile service. So what if you could use your iPhone without using AT&T’s cellular network? Better yet, what if you could talk use it to talk for free over the Internet? Behold, the power of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) on mobile devices.

Mobile communication platform Fring says it has made the first VoIP application that is publicly available for the iPhone. Now, before you go getting all… Continue Reading

Fring, mobile VoIP, raises $12 million to undercut carriers

Fring, mobile VoIP, raises $12 million to undercut carriers

Fring, which makes a VoIP application for 3G and WiFi-enabled mobile phones, has raised $12 million in its second round of capital.

Israel’s Fring, like other mobile VoIP services Yeigo and Truphone, lets you use your data plan — and not your mobile minutes — to make cheaper calls. Considering that stand-alone unlimited data plans go for $80/month, compared to around $200/month for unlimited minutes, this is at once a compelling value proposition for users and… Continue Reading