Mobile Minutes: Facebook Group app; WhatsApp encryption; AT&T, Starbucks offer wireless chargers; Viber's Public Chats
Facebook spins ?Groups? into separate app
Facebook, in its continuing effort to unbundle its core features into
standalone services, is launching an app dedicated to Groups. Smartphone users
will still be able to access Groups from Facebook?s core mobile app. But
Facebook is betting that giving Groups its own app will boost use of the
feature on mobile phones.
Read more on Wall Street Journal
WhatsApp moves to protect messages from snoops
The Mountain View, Calif-based app has incorporated software from TextSecure,
an open-source app for sending encrypted messages on Android, in what may be
the largest deployments of an encryption service ever.
Read more on Forbes
AT&T and Starbucks bring wireless phone chargers to
some coffee shops
AT&T and Starbucks said that beginning Tuesday, Starbucks would offer
wireless charging in at least 200 of its cafes in the United States.
Read more on New York Times
Viber's new service lets you spy on celebs? chats
Internet phone app Viber has launched a social media platform that allows users
to peek in on celebrities' conversations. Public Chats is Viber's first foray
into social media pitting it up against the likes of Vine, Facebook and
Twitter.
Read more on CNBC