Does BlackBerry (RIM) Needs A Reboot To Avoid "RIM RIP"?

BlackBerry RIM  Reboot http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
I came across this fine article on Deccan Herald about RIM need to reboot itself to avoid RIM RIP. We all have seen where the Smartphone Market Share is going. Big players like NOKIA and RIM took places behind new stars Google Android and Apple iPhone. The article discusses the success of Google Android platform and Apple iPhone against Blackberry phones.
Deccan Herald is a newspaper in India, where Nokia and Blackberry dominates the cell phone market. Perhaps those rumors of low cost iPhone coupled with popular Android phones with low price points might change all that soon.
Still you can see the Blackberry affinity in the article and it might reflect the thoughts of general public. It praises BlackBerry 9900 and at the same time scolds RIM for not giving NFC or such things as front facing camera, which are standard parts of most Android phones and is expected with iPhone 5.
I guess RIM got to listen to it's customers and avoid RIM RIP and keep the competition up against the Android, Apple and Nokia (Nokia needs some waking up too!)
Deccan Herald

MagicJack iPhone App Debuts

MagicJack iPhone App http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Welknown and also well used magicJack, the VoIP service that is offered with a USB device providing free calls for the cost of the device and a yearly fee of $19.99 to users in the U.S. and Canada. Each device purchased Magicjack or Magicjack Plus includes one year service. So the free calls is a kind of misnomer.
It is also very difficult to find any pricing information at the Magicjack site easily. Positive side of this is the happy users. I have a coleague who uses Magicjack and you would not know he is calling you via a VOIP service.
But the news today is that Magicjack has released an iPhone app. magicJack app came to the iTunes App Store this week and lets users make free calls to numbers in the U.S. and Canada and to other magicJack users anywhere in the world at no charge. The app works on all iDevices provided that have iOS 4.0 or higher.

magicJack is not alone in the Free VOIP calling space on the iTunes App store, it  joins the likes of Skype, Viber, netTALK.
Unlikewith the Magicjack devices described above, magicJack App does not require you to create an account before you can start making those free phone calls, (out going only). The App offers you the option to skip account creation and go right to the dialer shown above. By creating an account to get voicemail and a designated magicJack phone number, or information from an existing account one can receive calls through magicJack without using minutes on your cell phone plan. In the U.S. incoming calls count against your cell phone plan).
I have not tried the app yet and many of those who tried praise the app and it's abilities. Many have made calls over wifi and 3G and seem to be satisfied.
iTunes App Store

Alec Saunders Of Calliflower Fame Takes A Bite Out Of Blackberry Development Apple!

Alec Saunders Joins RIM http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/

Alec Saunders, CEO and the co-founder of Iotum / Calliflower has Joined RIM as Vice President, Developer Relations for all of RIM. Mobilize me conference had him going to the heart of the matter, developers mindset, that largely affects the Blackberry development. He says that he will change the current conditions that affect BlackBerry development and developers, and I whole heartedly believe him.
I really hope all the best for him in this daunting task. You can read a nice interview on Blackberry developer blog. And you can read his own blog post about the matter. If you are a tech evangelist, he is looking for some, follow the above link to the blog post to get more information.

MobileMe, iCloud Back in Action After Widespread Outage!

MobileMe Outage http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Yesterday Apple's MobileMe had a day in the cloud, or more like a day in a cloud burst. According to MacRumors report filed earlier yesterday indicates that the outage has affected as much as 75% of the MobileMe users.
Comments left by MacRumors users indicated that the outage (as high as 75% of users) was also affecting the iCloud and other related services.
Apple is in the works transitioning from MobileMe to iCloud service and this could indicate that The iCloud service is more than a name change and some hardcore changes are taking place. Apple will officially announce iCloud service in October 4th, most probably with iPhone 5 announcement.
The MobileMe service will continue to be available to users until June 30 2012.
Macrumors Forum
Apple system status

SoftBank Japan Get Invaded By Nine, Lovely Androids.

Softbank Android http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
Just had to post this as the post on TechCrunch was too inviting to pass by. Does not matter what it is, Japanese cellphones, always were fine and it is no difference when it comes to Android Phones. In order of what what I liked most, starting with Dell Streak Pro 101DL;

The phone is well equipped and sits well with tech types in Japan. The phone is powered by Android 2.3 running on 1.5GHz dual-core MSM8260 CPU and interacts with the outside world via 4.3-inch AMOLED with 540×960 QHD resolution screen, 8MP CMOS camera, 1.3MP front facing camera, Wi-Fi and of course wireless connectivity.

The next I liked was the Panasonic LUMIX 101P is very attractive with it's Android 2.3 running on 1GHz TI OMAP4430 dual-core CPU. The phone has 4-inch QHD LCD screen with 960×540 resolution but the best part of the phone, a 13.2MP CMOS Lumix sensor powered camera with “Mobile Venus Engine“. The camera has a waterproof body and is compatible with SoftBank’s “Ultra Speed” high-speed data communication service. Of course it comes with Japan's must have e-wallet function and has other sundries like microSDHC support, Wifi, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, infrared connection.
But the TV addicts should love the digital TV tuner.

Then comes the Sharp AQUOS 102SH with Android 2.3 on 1GHz TI OMAP4430 dual-core CPU and get this, a 4.5-inch naked-eye 3D LCD screen with 720×1280 resolution and 329dpi pixel density, nice. Just like the Panasonic, AQUOS also has 12MP CMOS camera with full HD video recording. The phone is compatible with SoftBank’s “Ultra Speed” high-speed data communication service. This phone is also
waterproof body, Wifi, Bluetooth 3.0, DLNA support, microSDHC card,infrared connection, e-wallet function and digital TV tuner
There are six more phones that are slated to show up on SoftBank shelves and you can find them, at least photos and information on TechCrunch.