Mobile Tech News -- Astraware Platypus Released, TripTracker Updated, Make VoIP Calls with iPhone

Astraware Releases the Squishiest Shoot-em-Up Ever

Astraware and Idigicon have released Platypus, a  fast and frantic side-scrolling arcade shooter for Palm OS and Windows Mobile, based on the cult classic for PC and Mac.  It has an unusual twist: everything in the game looks like its made from clay.

According to the designers: 

The vast continent-spanning city of Collosatropolis has finally reached the limits of its expansion, and Collosotropolan leaders have decided the simplest solution is to invade the neighboring country of Mungola. They don't anticipate much of a struggle -- Mungola's entire defense force consists of a single squadron of fighter planes - the venerable F-27 'Platypus'.

Your mission is to pilot your trusty Platypus and save peaceful Mungola! Fly across the squashy fields and trees, avoid the snowy mountains and protect your planet. Shoot down the enemy ships and marvel as they disappear in a splat! Collect fruit bonuses and a range of power-ups to aid you in your quest!

Platypus costs $19.95, and is available from the Astraware website. Versions for Symbian/S60 and UIQ will be released in Q2 of 2008.

TripTracker 4.0 Now Available from iambic

Using mobile devices as travel aides is made easier with iambic's TripTracker 4.0 for Windows Mobile devices. Recently updated from version 3, TripTracker gives the convenience of a singular application to carry all travel-related information such as flight, hotel and rental car information and also document frequent flier miles and expenses.

Some of the new features within TripTracker include:

• Stores trip-related documents (itinerary, flight details, hotel and rental car confirmation numbers) on handheld
• Simplified interface for expense logging
• Traveler's toolkit (currency converter, world time clock, distance calculator and time converter)
• And has the ability to sync to Windows desktops via the Windows Desktop Edition of TripTracker (available separately)

TripTracker is compatible with Windows Mobile 2003 and later devices. A version compatible with Windows Mobile Smartphone edition devices will be available later this year.

For more information, or to purchase ($19.95 for the mobile application, $29.95 for the mobile and desktop application bundle), visit the iambic website.

fring VoIP client Available for the Apple iPhone

Users of the iPhone have a new means of making voice and IM calls with the release of the fring VoIP client. Currently an application that will run on jailbroken iPhones, this beta is billed as a feasibility study towards making an official application for iPhone devices.

fring has been available for Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile devices for some time, and this iPhone implementation repeats the functionality that is offered with these devices. Free and low-cost VoIP calls can be made with services such as Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk, in addition to keeping up with instant messaging conversation on services such as GTalk, AIM, Twitter, and more.

For more information and to download fring for Apple iPhone, Windows Mobile, or Symbian S60 devices, visit the fring website. iPhone users need to follow the instructions posted at the fingcubator website in order to install the application.