There are plenty of apps out there that let you make free calls from your mobile device but none of these work well, or not at all, on 2G networks.

Nanu claims to be able to let you call any other Nanu user for free even on 2G networks. You can also call devices which don’t have the Nanu app installed, but those calls are restricted to 15 minutes.

Nanu app supports calls to landline numbers in 41different countries including India and to mobile phones in 9 other countries. The company plans to expand to other countries and platforms too. The website also says that apps for iOS and Windows will be available on play stores later this year and that Nanu app also plans to add a messaging feature.

Nanu claimed on its website -

“Nanu doesn’t need a fast network, so unlike Skype or Viber, it works on 2G and congested networks. In other words, it works anywhere your phone does. Plus Nanu sounds crisper and clearer. As more and more people use Nanu, we will be able to offer more and more free Nanu-to-non-Nanu calls.”

To call, a user has to download and use the Nanu app on their smartphones. As he calls, he will hear a voice advertisement – instead of a ringtone – before the other party is connected.

The app is only available for Android devices, but it should arrive on other platforms soon. Nanu also promised to add text messaging functionality in the future as well.

The Android app is out now on the Google Play store, while an Apple version is expected later this year.

BlackBerry has announced that its popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) app is now available for all Windows Phone 8 users. Company said that the Windows Phone platform got 10,000 sign-ups within 24 hours after the registrations began earlier this month. Users running Windows Phone 8 and higher can download the app and start chatting with other BBM users on Windows Phone, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry.

Features of BBM Beta for Windows Phone -

Chat with friends on Windows Phone, iPhone, Android and BlackBerry -

• Know when messages have been delivered (D’s) and read (R’s)
• Quickly share photos, voice notes, BBM contacts and your location
• See when contacts are responding to your message
• Emoticons for every mood and emotion let you express yourself

BBM, now specially designed for Windows Phone -

• BBM picks up the modern look & feel of Windows Phone
• Pin BBM Groups and 1:1 chats to the Start screen for easy access to your most important chats

Chat and Share with many at once -

• Groups – BBM groups help you share pictures, lists and appointments with group members. You can even be in a group with people who aren’t part of your own BBM contact list. You can add up to 50 people.
• Multi-person chats – Invite multiple contacts to have a chat together.
• Broadcast messages – Send a message to multiple BBM contacts at one time.
• Find Friends: Discover people you know that are also using BBM and invite them to your BBM contact list, from within the app
• BBM Feeds: Feeds lets you see what’s happening with your BBM contacts. Here you will see when contacts update their status or profile photo.

 BBM lets you protect your privacy. You control it -

• You chose how to share your information – BBM uses PINs instead of phone numbers or email addresses so that it’s more private and you always control who can contact you
• You chose your contacts – 2-way opt-in means you have control over who is able to message you

Create your own BBM profile -

• Post a profile picture using images or pictures
• Update your status to let people know what you’re up to or how you feel

Microsoft has released Live Lock Screen Beta for Windows Phone 8.1 handsets. It was announced at the Build 2014 earlier this year. Since Microsoft has started rolling out Windows Phone 8.1 with Lumia Cyan for Windows Phone 8 handsets, more users can try out this new lockscreen app that lets you choose from 6 new lock screen layouts.

Company Describe app -

“Want to truly personalize your lock screen? Live lock screen lets you choose from 6 new lock screen layouts to add a distinctive touch to your Windows Phone. Each layout has a revamped design for the time, date, and notifications, as well as a unique unlock animation. You can also cycle through multiple background images throughout the day to keep your lock screen fresh—or just get the latest incredible image from Bing every morning.”

The Live Lock Screen comes with the following features:

• Six new lock screen layouts.
• Revamped design for time and date notifications within each lock screen layout.
• Unique unlock animations.
• Automatically change background images at a set time over a day.
• Users can also obtain a new image from Bing every day, with the ‘daily Bing wallpaper’.

Disney India has launched a new gaming app on the Android and Windows mobile platform to promote the Salman Khan-starrer film, ‘Kick’.

‘Kick’ is a Bollywood action feature film to be released on July 25^th, directed and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. It features Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Randeep Hooda and Nawazuddin Siddiqui in lead roles.

Salman said on launch -

“At our house, Arhaan (son of Arbaaz Khan), and Nirvaan and Yohan (both sons of Sohail Khan) are good in it. I am interested in sports and not games. We wanted to create an interactive experience of our movie for fans. The mobile game developed by Disney India is exciting and easy to play, it is engaging. I hope my fans will enjoy playing the game.”

In the game, the player takes on the role of ‘Devil’ (Salman’s name in the movie) and embarks upon a benevolent yet exciting journey where he robs the rich and corrupt and deposits that money in the bank for philanthropic causes.

This game (‘Kick’) is developed for both feature phones and smartphones (Android, Windows) to reach out to a wide audience of mobile users in the country.

Delhi lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung on Friday launched a mobile phone application to help Delhiites locate and hire GPS-enabled auto-rickshaws anywhere in the city. Pooch-O, which will now allow users to locate autos, fitted with GPS, nearest to them and can then call its driver, whose numbers are registered with DIMTS, on their mobile phone and book a trip.

Delhi lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung said -

“After booking auto through this app, commuters can share their travel details on Facebook and Twitter so that their friends and family members can get to know about their locations. Besides, there are several security elements in this app. Traffic police will be asked to connect this app to its website, their traffic apps so that if auto driver refuses commuters without any reason, strict action would be taken against them.”

S N Sahai, managing director (DIMTS) said -

“Pooch-O users can also calculate estimated fare for their trip and even track the auto to check if it is coming towards them or not after calling its drivers. This app will soon be available on iphone. Auto drivers will also be benifitted with this app as they will easily have passengers.” 

There are 24,000 autos in Delhi, which are fitted with GPS, and more autos are expected to get GPS-enabled soon. The Delhi administration officials expect a large number of people to benefit from this app.

The Indian Air Force launched its first video game for mobile devices—Guardians of the Skies. The game is currently available for download on Android devices.

IAF officials said -

“The game, which will be freely available from July 3 across Android, iOS and Windows platforms on mobile phones, is aimed at children between ages 14 and 18 and to encourage them to join the Air Force.”

Guardians of the Skies showcases the the Air Force might in the virtual world. It is a realistic air combatting game, which puts you in charge of the Air Force and you’ll have to take on the enemies in combat. The story revolves around a fictional enemy country, Zaruzia, which is planning to wage war against India. In this game players can carry out virtual attacks on enemy targets flying a Su-30MKI combat aircraft.

The mobile game will be released in two phases under which one training mission and two operational missions would be released in the first phase while players will get to carry out eight virtual operational missions under the second phase.

After last week, being launched in the US for Android and iOS users, Facebook’s Slingshot messaging app has now been made available to download worldwide. Company’s blogspot has provided the confirmation.

The app allows users to take photos, videos and then add drawings or funny comment over the top of the images and other content. Trick is to see the ‘sling’ mentioned, you have to ‘sling’back it to a contact and something back at you as well.