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WhatsApp 2.0 now out

May 19, 2012 | By Surur

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WhatsApp has released another minor update to their popular messaging app for Windows Phone 7.

The update increments the version number to 2.0, but does not appear to bring any major new features.

New is the ability to set your profile picture from the app. In addition the update is said to bring several bug fixes, which from reading the reviews the app still desperately needs.

The WhatsApp app itself is free, and the service is also free for the first year, but from then on will be costing $0.99 per year, which seems rather reasonable.

WhatsApp 2.0 can be found in Marketplace here.

Thanks Rudy for the tip.

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WhatsApp updated, now allows video messages

February 28, 2012 | By Surur

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WhatApp has just received an update to version 1.8.

The update brings the following new features:

Enhanced location support
Set group icon with web search
Video recorder
Abe to block contacts and manipulate block list
More accurate "last seen" time
Other bug fixes

The app is still free for the first year and can be found in Marketplace here.

Thanks Gagandeep and Jon for the tip.

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Palringo cross-platform IM app now in public beta in WP7 marketplace

February 16, 2012 | By Surur

2 of 6 Palringo have now made their app available for free in Marketplace as a public beta.

They write:

We would like to invite you to try out our new public Beta for Palringo on Windows Phone 7. You can utilize all of Palringo’s core functionality including sending text, voice and photo messages to groups and friends.

Palringo is the leading cross-platform messaging app available on all major mobile devices as well as PC and Mac.

The Palringo Windows Phone 7 Beta allows you to stay connected and socialise with friends on iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Java, Symbian, PC, and Mac, or build new relationships within our community of over 320,000 groups. These groups cover every area of interest from sport and entertainment to gaming and technology. You can even chat with your friends on other social platforms such as Facebook, Windows Live Messenger or Yahoo! Messenger.

Palringo Windows Phone 7 Beta is available in English for free.

The app is currently free and can be found in Marketplace here.

Via MobilityDigest.com

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GroupMe hiring developer to take their WP7 app to “the next level”

February 10, 2012 | By Surur

About the only sign we have seen that Skype belongs to Microsoft is that their job posts now show up on the same board. Prior to their purchase Skype bought GroupMe, who had a Windows Phone 7 app coded up by an intern, and similar to Skype we have not seem much evidence that the division is working towards improving this app, despite also belonging to Microsoft.

Now we are finally seeing some evidence of life, with GroupMe posting an ad for a Senior Windows Phone software developer to take their Windows Phone 7 Mango app to “the next level”.

Given the current state of the GroupMe app on Windows Phone, that level simply needs to be feature parity with the iOS and Android apps. Hopefully the position will be filled soon.

See the job post here.

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IM + updated, adds own own IM network

February 3, 2012 | By Surur

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Share Services have released version 2.1 of IM+, the cross platform, cross protocol IM network that supports all major IM services, including Facebook, Skype, Google Talk, Yahoo!, AIM/iChat, ICQ, MySpace, Jabber, VKontakte, Yandex IM and Mail.Ru Agent.

Version 2.1 brings Shape Services’s very own IM network, which they bill as a replacement for SMS, much like WhatsApp.

BEEP is available in IM+ Pro and on Windows Phone , iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android and BlackBerry. BEEP works via push notification and features delivery confirmation.

Whenever you send and receive text messages or photos, IM+ Beep will make sure that your message was successfully sent and notify you when it is safely delivered. Push will make incoming messages instantly pop up on your device.

implusfreeqr Other new features in version 2.1 include:

Set own avatar" option
Options to group contacts by account and group offline contacts
Search contacts by IM service name
Redesign of IM+ Live Tile

IM+ comes in a free ad supported version and a Pro version which costs €4,99. Find the app in Marketplace here.

Via Plaffo.com

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WhatApp 1.6 unable to view media, fix on the way

January 27, 2012 | By Surur

1 of 1 WhatApp recently released version 1.6 of their Windows Phone 7 app, which brought numerous fixes, but also broke the viewing of videos and images.

It seems the WhatsApp team is aware of the issue, from WhatsApp’s response to one of our readers. They wrote:

Hi ,The submission for 1.6 came from a "tainted" build machine and was not linked correctly. This makes us fail to download media. We regret the error and have sent an update to Microsoft.

Regards,

Andrew

Hopefully version 1.7 will reach Marketplace soon.

Thanks Jesus for the tip.

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eBuddy XMS now out of beta, available for free in Marketplace

January 18, 2012 | By Surur

eBuddy XMS is a fairly popular IM platform with the younger set, and those owning a Windows Phone will now have one less reason to feel left out, with the app finally exiting beta and becoming available in the Windows Phone 7 marketplace.

While the app is no longer beta, it is certainly not fully finished. It still lacks the ability to send pictures and videos and engage in group chats, but the developer promises it will come soon.

ebuddyqr A bigger concern is the lack of Live Tile notifications, making it difficult to know when you missed a message.

The app is however much faster, and now supports 13 languages, including Spanish.

eBuddy XMS can be found in Marketplace here.

Via mimovilwindows.com

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Samsung’s ChatON app coming to Windows Phone 7 also. Update: Or maybe not

January 7, 2012 | By Surur

mzl.qqakdfnr It should never really have been a question, given that Samsung also manufactures Windows Phone 7 handsets, but at the time of its announcement Windows Phone 7 was conspicuous in its absence from the list of supported operating systems for Samsung’s proprietary cross-platform chat client.

According the TNW however Samsung, who has just released their iOS client for the service, will also soon release a version of Windows Phone 7 and Blackberry, and that the software is already in development.

The software already has between 100,000 and 500,000 installs on Android, and given the success Samsung has been having recently in the smartphone arena, selling around 35 million handsets in the last quarter, this number will likely just increase, which makes it important for Windows Phone 7 users not to be excluded from another growing network.

Update: or maybe not. Contrary to TNW’s report, ChatON on Facebook says they currently have no plans to develop for WP7.

ChatON’s FB team does not know what’s going on in the labs, but it seems we should not hold our breath.

Thanks Michael for the tip.

Via TNW.com

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eBuddy XMS WP7 beta gets Metro make-over

December 29, 2011 | By Surur

We posted 2 weeks ago about the eBuddy XMS beta currently undergoing development, and at the time many complained of the cartoon-like graphics which owed very little to the Windows Phone 7 design paradigm.

It seems the developers were listening, as they have just posted an update which greatly improves the look and feel of the app.

MimovilWindows.com has pinged us to let us know of the new Metro make-over off the app, as can be seen in the screen shots above.

The app is still far from finished, with live tile notifications and image sending and receiving not working yet, but at least now it looks like it belongs on the platform.

If you are interested in joining the beta send the developers a note at [email protected]

Via MimovilWindows.com

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Lync Mobile teases in Marketplace, but not ready for download yet

December 9, 2011 | By Surur

WindowsPBX have noticed that if one clicks on a Lync Meeting URL on Windows Phone one is taken to Marketplace to download the app.

While the app is not ready for download yet a full entry does exist, including screen shots, which WindowsPBX captured one their site.

Microsoft has promised to deliver Lync Mobile before the end of the year, and with only 3 weeks remaining I am sure the app will go live pretty soon.

See more screen shots at WindowsPBX here.

Via ZoneWP.com

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WhatsApp updated to version 1.4–now supports voice notes

December 7, 2011 | By Surur

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A few days ago we mentioned the WhatsApp app is getting a voice messaging update soon.

It seems we did not have to wait very long, as version 1.4 of the app is now in Marketplace.

The app features Audio notes, Video messages and handles picture messaging more reliably.

The app is still free for the first year and can be found in Marketplace here.

Thanks Jon B for the tip.

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IM + Pro now supports Mail.ru Agent

November 19, 2011 | By Surur

IM+ Pro, the Pro version of the multi-protocol instant messaging app, has been updated to version 1.9, bringing new features, principally amongst them being support for the popular Russian service Mail.ru.

IM + provide ‘always-on’ communication across most of public messaging systems and supports Skype chat, Facebook chat, Google Talk, AIM/AOL/iChat, Yahoo!, ICQ, Jabber, VKontakte, Yandex IM and MySpace. The app takes advantage of Tile and Toast notifications without running IM+ in background and also features the Push-to-Email option which allows incoming messages to be forwarded to your email.

implusproqr The full list of new features in version 1.9 include:

Mail.Ru Agent instant messaging service.
Option to select font size in conversation window.
Support for Facebook contacts in ICQ and AIM contact lists.
Typing notifications.
Added “Slide-to-dismiss” option for Toast notifications.
Options to block authorization requests and do not receive messages from contacts not on your contact list.
Russian localization.
Major performance boost and bug fixes.

IM + Pro is $4.99 and can be found in Marketplace here. A free version is also available here.

Thanks SiNat for the tip.

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Microsoft dogfooding Lync for Windows Phone 7

November 4, 2011 | By Surur

wync

lync Lync has been called Windows Live Messenger for enterprise, offering presence, messaging and phone call routing to employees no matter where they are. The software has been a quiet hit for Microsoft, and the app has already been shown for Windows Phone 7.

We have received a tip that Microsoft is currently testing the software internally, allowing full time employees to try the software out.

Hopefully this presages a release soon, with Microsoft promising more than 6 weeks ago that the software would be released for Windows Phone 7.5, iPhone and Android in the coming weeks.

Thanks Max for the tip.

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