Skype Acquires Group Messaging Service ‘GroupMe’

Recently, Skype has acquired Jared Hecht and Steve Martocci’s “GroupMe”, allowing the company to bring mobile group messaging into its services. Skype remained silent with regards to their exact plans, the terms of the deal and pricing were not even disclosed, but the company confirmed that one of their goals is to deliver the “best in class text-based communications.”

Like BlackBerry’s Messenger and Apple’s iMessage, GroupMe also offers unique features that are truly interesting. It allows users to access question-oriented conversations, set up private phone group settings, experience free conference calls, and even send group text messages. According to the developers, they have started with Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone apps first; and then they’ve added a Windows Phone 7 version which would help Skype in its future role to Microsoft. The service also lets users to do chat on the web — a vital feature for Microsoft’s cloud aspirations and future partnership with Facebook’s Skype-based services.

Although the service might not arrive until early next year, Microsoft affirmed that they are looking forward to offering services similar to BBM or iMessage once the Skype becomes available to Windows Phone’s core interface.

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Foursquare’s iPhone App, Updated with Inline Photos

Last Tuesday, Foursquare updated its iPhone app by adding inline photos with its check-ins. That said, iPhone users will now see their friends’ photos and check-ins coupled together in the activity stream — the same thing that goes on at Foursquare.com. Users can even click the “here now” to view all of their friends’ photos and shouts at the same venue in a single stream.

Foursquare also added in a blog post:

“Commenting on a friend’s night out? You’ll see all the other photos and comments as you’re composing your witty retort. Everything is in one place.

The location-based social network retooled its iPhone application for a crisp and cleaner user interface as well. The firm promises that the same update for its Android and BlackBerry users is on the way.

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New iPhone App Donates Your “Snooze” to Non-Profit Organizations

Have you ever imagined yourself donating money in charities and helping non-profit organizations just by oversleeping? Well, with a new iOS application for iPhone devices, you could make this thing possible.

Recently developed by LetGive, a company that supports mobile technology and charitable donations, the Snooze alarm clock app allows you to give 25 cents of your money to non-profit LetGive networks every time you hit your clock’s “snooze” button. Your extra slumber could also be a huge help for the Business Center For New Americans, an organization that provides financial aid for refugees and immigrants in NY. Aside from that, hitting the “snooze” button also enables you to give enough school supplies for kids through Classwish, and might even support the nation’s artists through Music For Tomorrow.

This app works very simple: You will be asked to set your desired charity program, and then the application will calculate how many times you pushed the “snooze” button. Take note that you will be given two choices every month.

You can download this new alarm clock application at the iTunes Apple Store for FREE.

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China Telecom Dealing With Apple for an iPhone Deal

Brian White, an analyst from Ticonderoga Securities, stated a possible hint that Apple will be having a deal with China Telecom for their iPhone 5. Indicating a news post from Sohu, he mentioned that the said carrier had reached a preliminary agreement to carry two different edition of iPhone by late October. The designs includes the genuine iPhone 5 as well as the cheaper iPhone 4 version to compete low-end Android.

Brian White also said that the second largest carrier in China, the China Telecom, would be a major target for Apple. The basic iPhone 4 would be enough to reach a much wider audience. China Telecom has a total of 108.4 million subscribers. However, only few subscribers could afford an iPhone but might be within reach.

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Instagram Reaches 150 Millionth Photo, 7M Users

Instagram seems to hit the limelight at times, as the company recently announced that they’ve already reached 7 million registered users with over 150 million photos being uploaded.

This record was just achieved nine months after the application hit the market. According to sources, the 150 million photos could be broken down into 1.3 million photos uploaded per day or 15 photos posted per second. Instagram CEO and co-founder, Kevin Systrom, even affirmed: “The growth of photos being posted per day is tracking on an exponential curve. It’s the one curve we look at to measure the health of the service and the addiction of the product.”

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Pegatron’s Plan to Be the Second iPhone 5 Supplier, Still on Track

Pegatron’s plan to be the second company to supply iPhone 5 is still on track. The said firm’s order is now expected to be 10 million, instead of the earlier hinted 15 million. However, it will still release the said device in September. The information slightly contradicts the rumor that Apple’s new smartphone may not appear until October, since Pegatron would be shipping directly to Apple and customers.

As the primary manufacturer of CDMA iPhones, Pegatron is widely known to the manufacturing base. However, it’s just a runner-up to Foxconn that handles GSM iPhones. The revelations from Verizon which stated that iPhone 5 is probably a dual-mode phone may turn Pegatron’s production into a compliment instead of a vital responsibility. This kind of strategy might prevent the chronic shortages and international delays to occur.

Irrespective of the iPhone plans, Pegatron is hoping to increase its responsibility to include the iPad and Macs. iPhone margins are said to be small and leave the company eager to diversify its contracts. Pegatron was ASUS’ original manufacturing wing and still produces notebooks for ASUS and other companies until today. These includes 8 to 10 million planned for Acer for next year.

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Rumor: Apple’s iPhone 5, Targeting for an October Launch

Rumors and hearsay were still buzzing around, claiming the exact date of the official launching of the iPhone 4 successor. Well, perhaps the long wait has been over as a source close to the company unveiled a finalized month for the iPhone 5′s debut.

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Zynga’s “Words With Friends” to Hit Facebook This Week

Earlier reports disclosed that social game’s developer Zynga will be bringing one of its popular mobile games, “Words With Friends”, on Facebook.

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Google+ iPhone App Now Available

Get the Google+ app by downloading it from iTunes on your desktop and then transferring it to your iPhone. As described on its mobile web version:

“Google+ for mobile makes sharing the right things with the right people a lot simpler. Huddle lets you send super-fast messages to the people you care about most. And no matter where you are, the stream lets you stay in the loop about what your friends are sharing and where they’re checking in.”

Anytime soon, the app will also be available at the phone-based App Store. There were already positive feedbacks from Google+ users about the mobile web version andadditional improvements are still to be done. Google is also set to roll out “Huddle”, the most efficient group messaging system for Circles.

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Free iPhone Game Apps from July 17 to July 20

Everyday, new game apps are released for iPhone. While these apps can either be free or comes with a price, All We Like listed some of the free iPhone game apps that was released this week.

See the list of free iPhone game apps that were unleashed this week after the jump.

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