Fring has released an API (application programming interface) and free add-ons for its Windows Mobile-based VoIP software. Fring add-ons now provide access to Facebook and Orkut social networks, give notice of incoming Google Mail messages, and access the VTap video search and streaming service, Fring says.
First ported to Windows Mobile last year, Fring began life as a client for VoIP -- a space where it competes with products such as FWD, iSkoot, Skype, Gizmo, and Raketu. Since then, the product has been evolving into more of an all-purpose tool, gaining the ability to act as an instant messaging client interoperable with AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber, MSN Messenger, and Yahoo! Messenger. For more details on the version 3.3 upgrade released in February, see our earlier coverage, here.
Now, Fring gains more capabilities, thanks to an API recently published for developers, along with software add-ons released by the company today. The latter are said to include the following:
Utilities for Facebook and Orkut social networks that "provide continuous, real-time updates of all key developments" in users' accounts
Notifiers that alert users to new email in Google and Yandex mail accounts
A tool for searching the Vtap online video library
Fring add-ons automatically appear in the program's menu (left), and provide access to Facebook (right) and other services
Access to add-ons does not require downloading a new version of the Fring client. Instead, users need only open the client's Manage Add-Ons menu (above left), which will be continually updated with new add-ons as they become available, according to the company. Once add-ons are installed, they appear as items in a user's contact list, from where they can be opened to display further information (above right).
A demonstration of Fring add-ons Source: Fring (click to play)
Fring claims "any web developer with a basic knowledge of XML and PHP" will be able to create Fring add-ons easily. Once authored, they will run not only on Windows Mobile, but also on UIQ-based Sony Ericsson-based phones and Symbian-based Nokia phones. In several weeks, developers will be able to publish their creations via an online catalog, the company adds.
Avi Shechter, co-founder and CEO of Fring, says, "The release of Fring add-ons represents a natural and exciting step. We look forward to rolling out add-ons developed by third parties and independent developers as soon as they become available."
Further information
Developers can obtain the API, apparently for free, from the Fring website, here. A catalog of currently available add-ons, so far limited to those mentioned above, is available here.
Fring currently is available in versions for Windows Mobile 5 or 6 smartphones, as well as those running UIQ and Symbian operating systems. A "pre-release" version for Apple's iPhone, claimed to be the first VoIP client for that platform, is also offered. For client downloads, see the company's website, here.
