In a move that will appeal to many of its Apple-loving users, Nimbuzz has simultaneously launched an updated iPhone / iPod Touch application and a shiny new desktop client for Macs. The company offers a social messenger service that lets people access IM and social networks with one set of credentials from a single location and thus competes with a slew of other companies on both the mobile and desktop front.
Nimbuzz has released a new version of its iPhone application (iTunes link), which has already proven to be quite a hit on the platform: the app has consistently done well on App Store ranking charts in a wide variety of countries worldwide. In the startup’s home turf The Netherlands as well as in France, Nimbuzz claims 1 out of 5 iPhone or iPod Touch owners have installed and use the tool on a regular basis.
VoIP service provider JAJAH just recently turned three years old and is today announcing a more important milestone: according to the heavily-funded startup, the one billionth call connection on the JAJAH platform was made some time ago. Unsurprisingly, that call was actually made using Yahoo’s Voice service, which is powered by JAJAH after both companies forged a major partnership for VoIP services in April last year.
JAJAH CEO Trevor Healy says the service has attracted 25 million users since its launch, which means every user has on average made 40 calls through the company’s IP telephony platform if we use back-of-the-envelope calculations.
The Netherlands-based eBuddy, which markets a comprehensive application that lets users handle multiple instant messaging accounts from the web or their mobile phones, is today releasing an application for the Android platform a couple months after Meebo made its similar product available on there (November 2008).
The eBuddy application for Google’s open mobile OS is now available for free on the Android Market, and users can thus benefit from a single ID to chat with their friends on third-party communication platforms such as Facebook, Gtalk, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger, ICQ and more.
Fring, the Israel-based mobile call and chat application provider, has closed a Series C round of financing on top of the $13 million it has raised since its inception in 2006. The capital comes from its entire list of previous backers: North Bridge Venture Partners, Pitango Venture Capital, Veritas Venture Partners and VenFin Limited all participated in the round.
The actual amount raised was not shared, but we’re told that the third round is pretty much on par with the Series B round the company closed in August 2007 (estimated at $12 million when we reported it, but more in the vicinity of $10 million according to information we received later) and that it’s “most definitely not a downround”.
Nimbuzz is launching a brand new VoIP application for the iPhone / iPod Touch today, making it one of the most comprehensive communication tools for the platform available today. It took several weeks for the Dutch startup to get the app approved for the iTunes Store, but now that it’s finally there it’s well worth taking a look.
You could already make free calls to your buddy list over WiFi, but as of today Nimbuzz also enables VoIP calls to landlines and mobiles via Skype-Out, and thanks to partnership agreements with global SIP providers like Gizmo5, Vyke and SIPgate you can now also call over WiFi using the iPod Touch device. And for those not on WiFi, Nimbuzz is introducing a so-called “Dial-Up VoIP” option that lets users make calls over 3G in over 50 countries, using a fresh interface with a full dial-pad (screenshots below). Update: to clarify, what Nimbuzz does is dial a local access number that connects to their VoIP servers when WiFi is unavailable.
Another new feature allows Twitter updates via the Personal Message option in the mobile social messenger app.
Skype is (finally) teaming up with mobile handset maker Nokia to get their VoIP and IM software program pre-installed on some of its devices, as announced at the Mobile World Congress and reported by MobileCrunch. The eBay-owned company had 405 million registered users in total at the end of last year, and Nokia is still the largest handset maker in the world until further notice, so this is a significant deal.
Of course, the operators won’t be jumping up and down from joy over the news.
The first Nokia device to get the Skype integration will be the N97, beginning in Q3 of 2009, followed by (unnamed but reportedly high-end) Nseries devices. Leveraging N97’s WiFi and HSDPA connectivity, users will be able to communicate with Skype-to-Skype voice calls, as well as make mobile and landline Skype calls at reasonable prices.
But what does this mean for mobile VoIP startups for which supporting Skype functionality on mobile handsets is a prime reason of existence in the first place, like fring, Nimbuzz and Truphone?
Holland-based IM and VoIP services provider Nimbuzz has just announced a noteworthy strategic partnership with StudiVZ, the largest social networking site in Germany famous worldwide for sporting a look closely resembling Facebook, which the Californian company to file suit over the summer.
StudiVZ will become the first in what Nimbuzz refers to as a series of international networking sites to integrate its technology, bringing real-time web and mobile communication capabilities to online communities. Nimbuzz says similar deals in Turkey, Asia and Italy are imminent.
Mike Butcher at TechCrunch UK reports:
Word has reached me that Netherlands-based Nimbuzz, the mobile VoIP and IM startup that extends into social networks, has raised $15 million in a second round led by Naspers/MIH, with Nimbuzz’s other major existing investor Mangrove Capital Partners also participating. It’s already had $10 million from Mangrove (the original Skype investor). Apparently deals with 10 major social networks and three operators are already on the table. The latter see these kinds of apps as a way of boosting data use and therefore revenues. The cash will be used to extend to Windows Mobile, iPhone and Android. They are looking at a million registered mobile users so far.
Nimbuzz offers free mobile VoIP, conference calling, IM and group chat and photo and file sending across multiple IM communities, including Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo!, AIM, Jabber and ICQ, plus 23 social networks, including apps/widgets for Facebook and Myspace.
Read the rest of the entry.
MobileCrunch has announced the beta release of Nimbuzz Talk, a mobile/PC app that connects cellphone and PC users. The application supports voice, presence, conference calls, and SMS messaging between mobile devices, PC’s, and mobile to PC or PC to mobile. It currently works with MSN, Google Talk, and their own Nimbuzz chat client. It reminds me of another mobile/PC release, Talkster.
Mobile-to-mobile calls placed between Nimbuzz users are billed at local rates, making for some cheap or even free international calls. Nimbuzz’s presence support allows users to place calls by selecting a contact off their buddy list. The service then connects users via an 800 number. MobileCrunch’s Oliver Starr says the mobile-to-mobile quality is “excellent”, but mobile-to-pc “leaves something to be be desired”.
The new service also has a “Buzz” feature that lets an offline contact know you’re trying to get in touch. In their next release, this will cause Nimbuzz to wake up on the contact’s phone.
Oliver over at MobileCrunch posted exclusive coverage this morning of a new free service called Nimbuzz that he believes could really shake up the mobile world. Users can IM with MSN and GoogleTalk users in individual and group chats, send SMS around the world for ten cents, leave and retrieve messages and call anywhere in the world for the price of a local call. Users can also send quick buzzes, or single rings, to each other for notification of something important. Nimbuzz communication between mobile devices and PCs is possible as well.
The service is a product of Buzzaa Media Group, in Rijswijk, The Netherlands. The company recently received funding from Mangrove Capital Partners, a group that provided initial funding for Skype. Check out Oliver’s post for far more details and analysis.
