I’ve heard many times that one of the disappointing features missing from the iPad is the lack of a phone. While I disagree with this notion, Line2 corrects it. Today Line2 turns your iPad, “into a full-featured desktop phone,” according to the press release, shown below. It will add a VoIP phone line, texting, and full access to your contacts all from within the application itself. Founder and CEO Peter Sisson boasts, “I’ve completely replaced my office deskphone, using the iPad 2’s built in speakers and mic as a speakerphone and a Bluetooth headset for more private conversations.”
At $9.95 a month for the basic plan that gives you unlimited phone calls and texting to the US and Canada, this is a pretty good deal. There is a Pro plan that tacks on, “auto attendant, call screening, ability to route calls to multiple phones simultaneously, caller-specific call forwarding, after-hours settings, and Mac/PC-based calling for just $14.95/month.”
A free seven-day trail is also included with the free app download.
San Francisco, CA — The iPad changed the way we consume media on a mobile device. Now Line2 is transforming the tablet into a mobile communications hub with the introduction of Line2 for iPad. Line2 for iPad turns the device into a mobile office at one’s fingertips by adding a phone line, then seamlessly organizing your various communication channels around the people with whom you communicate. Instead of trying to hunt down a message across multiple applications, you now have a snapshot view of your communications for each individual right in front of you.
Line2 adds a fully-featured phone line to the iPad that can place and receive calls and carrier-grade text messages over the device’s data connections (Wi-Fi or 3G). If the iPad does not have a data connection, calls can be automatically forwarded to up to six other phones so that customers can ensure that they never miss an important call.
“The iPad has been our best-converting platform for new customer signups. Following our customers’ lead, we’ve created a brand new version of Line2 from the ground up to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the iPad. We invented a new type of communications device,” said Peter Sisson, Founder and CEO of Line2. “I’ve completely replaced my office deskphone, using the iPad 2’s built in speakers and mic as a speakerphone and a Bluetooth headset for more private conversations.”
With Line2 you can place calls using a wired headset, Bluetooth headset (on iPad 2 only), or over the iPad’s speakerphone. Line2, combined with the iPad’s powerful built-in speakers and microphone, makes for an amazing on-the-go business tool for conference calls with multiple people in the room. Just set the iPad down on the table in a group meeting and it’s like having a high-grade conference phone with an abundance of additional features.
No other iPad app offers the features and functionality of Line2. The app is packed with advanced calling features, including full caller ID support, the ability to juggle multiple calls, visual voicemail, voicemail by email, call waiting, call transfer, and conferences for up to 20 people. You can even multitask while using Line2 and perform other tasks while on a call, or receive calls while engaged in other activities on the iPad.
Line2’s Wi-Fi capabilities allow international travelers to place and receive calls while overseas without incurring any additional charges. Using Line2, calls to any number back home will be free, as will calls to other Line2 users, wherever they are worldwide. Line2’s Wi-Fi call quality is also better than traditional cellular quality, and Wi-Fi calls between two Line2 customers use 16-kHz HD audio for crystal clear sound quality that is stunning to experience.
Line2 offers a free 7 day trial with an account created at the Line2 website. After the trial, service costs just $9.95/month for the basic plan with unlimited US/Canada calling and texting, or $99.50 for a one year pre-paid plan. Also available is the Line2 Pro plan, which comes with all of the features of Line2 plus an auto attendant, call screening, ability to route calls to multiple phones simultaneously, caller-specific call forwarding, after-hours settings, and Mac/PC-based calling for just $14.95/month or $149.50 per year. These plans are available through the Line2 website with credit card billing.
About Line2
Line2 is solving communication problems one app at a time. The company, headquartered in San Francisco, creates innovative communications services for professionals, with high-end features and world-class live customer support. Its flagship product, Line2, adds a second line to your smartphone to seamlessly manage “second selves” (multiple profiles such as work and personal lives) on one device. Its groundbreaking Line2 for iPad turns the tablet into a full-featured desktop phone.
Press Release
SuperTooth, creator of the concept of a Bluetooth speakerphone that could be clipped onto a car’s sun visor, is launching the SuperTooth HD this year – the most advanced Bluetooth speakerphone on the market, with three times more power than other models and the ability to communicate on social networks all via voice commands.
“Using wireless devices in the car has been identified as the leading source of driver’s not paying attention on the road, with cell phone use increasing the likelihood of crashes fourfold,” said Yves Le Reun, Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “The SuperTooth HD gives consumers a hands-free solution to talk and text on their phones so they can abide by the law and focus on driving.”
Boasting Twin Speaker V Array Technology, the SuperTooth HD features two speakers with a 5 watt audio output and a 5.4 watt amplifier, making it three times more powerful than any other speakerphone. The built-in dual microphones pick up voices more clearly. Together, these advanced audio features produce unrivaled audio quality in both emission and reception.
State-of-the-art voice commands are designed to provide a hands-free solution for phone use to make the driving experience safer. Using just voice commands, drivers can answer incoming calls, select pre-dialed phone numbers, check battery level or retrieve voicemail. The SuperTooth Handsfree Assistant feature allows drivers to compose and send Facebook, Twitter, e-mail and SMS messages all via voice. The SuperTooth HD can also read incoming SMS and e-mail messages on Android and Blackberry phones via the specific application. The SuperTooth Handsfree Assistant is powered by Dial2Do.
The SuperTooth HD is compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled phones, including iPhones, Blackberrys and other smartphones with an Android OS or Windows Mobile operating system.
No installation is required – just clip the SuperTooth HD onto a sun visor, pair it with the phone and enjoy comfortable and safe phone calls while driving. A USB cable and in-car charger is also included.
The SuperTooth HD will be available in April 2011 for MSRP $129 at department, specialty and mobile phone stores nationwide.
ZoomSafer announced today at the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show that its innovative safe driving software is now available for Android phones, the fastest growing smart phone platform in the world.
³Governments throughout the world continue to pass new laws to combat distracted driving, but drivers still endanger themselves, their passengers, and their employers by texting, emailing and talking without using hands-free services,² said ZoomSafer CEO Matt Howard. ³Android-based smartphones are surging in popularity and we are excited to offer our patented software to Android users seeking to prevent distracted driving.²
ZoomSafer® client software installed on smartphones automatically launches when you begin to drive and automatically turns off when you are finished driving. ZoomSafer¹s patented on-device software can be configured to trigger using in-vehicle telematics or Bluetooth systems, as well as phone-based GPS services. Once triggered, the ZoomSafer software disables emailing and texting and manages other inbound and outbound communications based on client-controlled and administered policies. Popular policy options include the ability to make and receive hands-free phone calls and an auto-reply function, which sends messages to let others know that the user is driving.
Those interested in participating in the beta should click on the ³Android Beta² link on the ZoomSafer website.
ZoomSafer software is also currently available on BlackBerry devices. For more information or to participate in the Android beta, please visit ZoomSafer at CES in the Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall, Booth #2334 or at www.zoomsafer.com.
MediaFriends today announced that its HeyWire™ real-time social messaging hub, which simplifies real-time communications for people around the world, is now available on the iPad via the App Store.
iPad users can now take advantage of the fastest and most reliable free text messaging (SMS) service for both local and international texting, while allowing for seamless social network interaction with friends through HeyTweets (Twitter via SMS), Facebook Chat, and GTalk. HeyWire, which adds unique messaging to the elegance of the iPad experience, is optimized with HD Graphics and works over Wi-Fi or 3G.
“We are very excited to be releasing HeyWire for iPad just in time to simplify messaging for new iPad owners this holiday season,” said MediaFriends CEO Meredith Flynn-Ripley. “With thousands of users already downloading HeyWire daily onto their iPhones and iPod Touches, we expect our service to find a special place on many iPads as well.”
HeyWire is a free download and is the only app-service that gives iPad users a real phone number to text for free with friends, family or business colleagues around the world on any mobile phone in 114 countries across 360 mobile operators. The service also works between HeyWire users reaching the far corners of the earth through HeyWire-To-HeyWire messaging. Since launch, millions of messages have been sent around the world via HeyWire at no cost to the user. The service’s popularity is in tune with a consumer shift towards a more simplified, connected lifestyle. HeyWire has been ranked a top Social Networking App on 58 iTunes App Stores worldwide and has made it to the CNET “download immediately” list.
The iPad is the latest device to join the HeyWire multi-screen platform that currently includes the iPhone/iPod Touch as well as a Browser-based offering. HeyWire will soon be available for Android.
Verizon Wireless and LG Mobile Phones today announced the LG Octane™ will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores tomorrow. Keeping customers up to date with their social networks has never been more convenient with the LG Octane’s iconic form factor with full QWERTY keyboard and seamless integration of Facebook®, MySpace™ and Twitter™ via Social Beat.
Key features:
· Sleek, dark brown outer case
· QWERTY keyboard
· Social Beat Widget – offers a single point for accessing social networking sites, allowing customers to stay connected to Facebook, Twitter and MySpace plus more than 50 news, sports and entertainment feeds
· microSD™ slot for up to 16 GB of memory
· Bluetooth® 2.1 capabilities with support for the following profiles: headset; hands-free; dial-up networking; object push for vCard and vCalendar; stereo; file transfer; phonebook access; basic printing; basic imaging; human interface; message access; and instant sharing of music, photos and videos
· Built-in music player with music library, repeat and shuffle features, as well as stereo sound via headset or Bluetooth
· Voice commands
Lifestyle features:
· V CAST Music with Rhapsody®
· Favorites shortcut keys for quick access to up to 10 contacts with picture ID
· Customizable font type and size on internal and external LCD for dialing, menu and lists, and messages
· New Mobile E-Mail client 4.0
· Skype mobile™ capable
· Visual Voice Mail and HTML Web Browser
· 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera and camcorder with flash that includes:
o Five different camera resolutions and two different video resolutions
o Zoom up to 2.98 times
o Intelligent shot for improved image quality
o Smile shot automatically takes a picture when a smile is detected
o Panorama for three guided, sequential shots
o Dual display activation for self portraits
o Image editor with zoom, rotate, resize, crop, added frames and stamps
o Customize brightness, white balance, shutter sounds, color effects and use a self-timer
Pricing:
· The LG Octane will be $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers will receive the rebate in the form of a debit card; upon receipt, customers may use the card as cash anywhere debit cards are accepted.
· For additional information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.
United Efficiency, Inc. makers of tXtBlocker, a comprehensive cell phone safety service that stops texting while driving and allows customers to control when, where and how their phones are used, today announced that the service will be available at Best Buy this October.
“Partnering with Best Buy is a great opportunity to spread the message about the dangers of distracted driving, while at the same time offering a powerful, cutting-edge solution. tXtBlocker provides parents and employers peace of mind that drivers are staying focused on the road. Our goal is to help save lives by providing customers with integrated safety features for their mobile phones,” said Stan Van Meter, president of United Efficiency, Inc., the developer of tXtBlocker.
tXtBlocker limits phone functions above 15 mph and disables texting and web browsing. While you’re driving, tXtBlocker limits phone calls to SafeList contacts and 911. It also sends an automatic message to incoming texts and calls, letting others know that it is not safe to send a text or return a call because you are driving and you will reply when able.
tXtBlocker offers many extraordinary features that parents will love. Alerts can be set for exceeding preset speeds and arriving or departing from mapped locations. The service allows account administrators to set up No-Cell Zones around schools or offices to manage phone use by location and on a schedule. In addition, administrators can use tXtBlocker to view a phone’s location on an interactive map to see where their phones are at any given time.
TASER International Inc., a market leader in technologies that protect life, will introduce a groundbreaking new family safety platform called PROTECTOR during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that runs from January 7-10 in Las Vegas, NV.
PROTECTOR is a revolutionary toolset that gives parents the ability to supervise their children’s mobile phone usage and driving behaviors. Parents can manage the contact lists and content of their child’s mobile phone – including calls, texts, emails, photos and video, and can automatically limit phone functionality to prevent dangerous distractions while driving. PROTECTOR uses integrated GPS, allowing parents to track their child’s location, monitor driving habits, and release vital records to the authorities in emergency situations.
“Our mission at TASER International is to protect life – PROTECTOR is our latest technology breakthrough to further our mission by empowering families to protect the most precious of lives: our children,” says Rick Smith, CEO and founder of TASER International. “Auto accidents are the leading cause of death among American teenagers, and distracted driving is becoming a major factor in these accidents. PROTECTOR will play a significant role in addressing this national tragedy.”
“Keeping my family safe is crucial, but being engaged and staying involved in my kids’ lives is important too. With PROTECTOR, I can do both,” says Smith. “Many kids spend more time with their mobile phone than their families, and most parents have been helpless, in the dark as to who their kids are interacting with and what kind of content their kids are exposed to every day. PROTECTOR empowers parents to stay involved and provide parenting guidance in a fast moving, mobile world.”
PROTECTOR works on multiple devices, each managed through an intuitive control panel accessible through a smart phone, PC, MAC or smart TV. Parents can control who their children interact with and monitor their mobile phone activity and driving behavior at any time – and change permissions and settings in real time. PROTECTOR is carrier-independent and seamlessly connects parents and children, even if they’re on different cellular networks.
Smith adds, “It’s unlike anything on the market today. PROTECTOR is a technologically advanced, yet flexible product suite that grows with the family by providing controls as needs and situations change – from a child’s first mobile phone through the critical teenage years. PROTECTOR adapts as children mature. Through a simple, user-friendly interface, parents can modify parameters or rules anytime.”
TASER will introduce PROTECTOR at CES from booth SOUTH 4 36200 in the Las Vegas Convention Center Thursday, January 7 through Sunday, January 10, 2010. PROTECTOR is anticipated to launch as a subscription service in mid 2010. More information will be available at www.PROTECTOR.com on January 7, 2010.
GOGII, Inc. announces today the launch of textPlus, its popular next generation texting application, on the Android Market. Previously available only on the Apple App Store, the unique textPlus app now brings sponsor-supported free and unlimited messaging to Android users and allows them to have instant group “conversations” in text with friends on most U.S. carriers.
“We’ve already seen overwhelming consumer response to the textPlus app in the Apple App Store thanks to the millions of consumers who’ve embraced our game-changing features – from casual texters to the staggering number of consumers who text as their primary mode of communication,” said Scott Lahman, CEO and co-founder of GOGII. “We’re pleased to make textPlus available to Android users, and offer even more text-happy mobile consumers this tricked-out, next generation texting service.”
By leveraging GOGII’s interactive messaging technology, textPlus allows both old-style texting – one-to-one conversations – and next generation texting – rich, engaging environments and instant group text conversations. A useful ‘reply-all’ feature, similar to email, turns texting into a chatroom that lets users make plans with several friends at once, introduce people to one another or just carry on a group conversation – all in text and all for free.
Additional features make it easy for Android texters to make textPlus their preferred SMS service, including the international ability to send free messages from abroad to friends in the U.S. using a U.S. 10-digit phone number and free Notifications when messages come into the app, even when closed. What’s more, textPlus lets Android users communicate with friends who aren’t using the app – they simply pay for texts through their existing carrier plan.
GOGII expects the textPlus Android app to be met with the same degree of consumer fervor on the Android Market that it has on the Apple App Store. To date, the textPlus app has already seen almost 3.5 million downloads, and over 350 million messages have been sent using the service since June. And while only the top 5% of applications in the Apple App Store reach 100,000 unique monthly visitors, textPlus exceeded that by over 7 times in its second month of release.
Coming soon to Android are textPlus “text addresses,” which let users personalize texting and facilitate conversations, all without requiring a phone number.
The textPlus application can be downloaded for free from the Android Market.
Mint.com, the leading online personal finance service, today added an inbound SMS feature to its award-winning product, allowing users instant access to an overview of their entire net worth – wherever they are. Users can simply text “Bal” or “Balance” to shortcode “MyMint” (696468) to receive real-time balances for the checking, savings, credit union and investment accounts they track using Mint.com. Because the free online service now supports over 7,500 financial institutions, Mint.com is now offering free mobile access to the majority of US banks. Mint.com users can now find out in the checkout line whether they should use debit or credit, and which of their cards to use. This new inbound SMS feature helps avoid overdrafts and other fees, and lets users maximize reward points.
With nearly 600,000 users, Mint.com is the fastest-growing personal financial service, tracking more than $50 billion in transactions and $15 billion in assets. And it’s free. Mint’s “Ways to Save” feature has already identified more than $100 million in potential savings for its users. This new inbound SMS capability is the latest in a series of MInt.com innovations which help its users stick to budgets, avoid unwanted fees, and ultimately save and do more with their money.
“90 percent of our users tell us they understand their spending better after using Mint, and about half have already changed their spending behavior,” said Aaron Patzer, founder and CEO of Mint. “In the past few months, we’ve seen an even sharper change, with users cutting hundreds of dollars in monthly spending across categories. As the holiday season approaches, we’re proud that the more than half a million Mint.com users are well-prepared to shop within their budget and avoid crushing debt, especially in this uncertain economy.”
A January, 2008 Mint.com survey found that over 4 in 10 people spent more than they’d planned during the 2007 holiday season. At that time, 6 in 10 respondents said they planned to make some changes to their holiday spending this year. And in fact, the majority of Mint.com users have adjusted their budgets downward since the beginning of the American economic crisis in September, reversing a more typical seasonal trend to increase budgets for the holiday season. Overall, Mint.com users are planning to spend 3% less in the coming months, with the largest reductions planned in Travel (down 20%) and Personal Care (down 24%). Users are planning to maintain, not increase, their average monthly spending this holiday season by shifting spending from general Shopping purchases (budgets down 7%) toward Gifts (up 8%). Thousands of Mint.com users have already added customized Gifts and Shopping budgets since Mint.com introduced personalized spending categories last month.
In addition, Mint.com’s blog features tips and tricks for surviving the holidays. Among Patzer’s key recommendations: Don’t spend more than one paycheck on the holidays. For someone making $60,000/year, that means spending no more than their average $1,500 bi-monthly paycheck on gifts, decorations, food and drinks for parties— everything.
“For many, budgeting is a dirty word. But in this economy, with the generosity of the season pulling at our wallets, budgeting is essential and doesn’t require as much work as some think. Pick a few problem areas – you may go out to restaurants too much, or spend too much on clothes. If you track and budget in just those categories, you’ll likely find enough money for gifts,” continued Patzer. “We recently had a user write in that after Mint showed her the ‘error of her ways,’ she’s cut out $5 visits to Starbucks, $7 visits to the work cafeteria, and is eating and drinking at home more. After two months, she’s not only cut $680/month in spending, but she’s also lost 3 pounds!”
Mint.com has recently released major updates to the product, adding: support for 1,000′s of new banks; mortgages, loans and investment tracking; customizable spending categories; and automatic budgeting features.
If that’s not nuts enough for you, then check this out. While California legislators agreed with a Harvard study (full report in PDF) that claimed 2,600 people are killed each year from talking on a cell phone while driving, those same legislators felt it was fine to allow drivers to do a little text messaging while navigating fossil fuel burners! In addition to that, you can take pictures with your phone, download games, surf the Internet, and be a good citizen and report accidents on Twitter. All without any fear of being pulled over and cited. Phew! I don’t know what I would have done if I couldn’t tweet while driving!
California is getting the word out and displaying warnings on its electronic signs through out the scene, as seen here on Interstate 80 Business in states capitol, Sacramento. (Note the reddish haze in the picture from the smoke coming from the nearly 900 fires currently a blaze in Northern California.) Surely many will ignore this sign because they are too busy talking on their phone but come July 1st, they’ll fine out quick enough. 
Now, I wonder if all the cops I see talking on their cell phones while driving will go hands-free as well. Wonder if I can slap ‘em with a $20 fine if they don’t.