Briefs: Radio IP mobile VPN now supports Android

Radio IP announced that its enterprise mobile VPN solution now supports Android applications and devices. The solution enables seamless roaming between wireless IP networks, as well as leveraging the FIPS 140-2, 256-bit, advanced encryption standard and two-factor authentication to provide the "highest levels" of user verification, the company said.

In other news, Radio IP said that it has entered into a reseller agreement with Alcatel-Lucent, which will sell the company's advanced mobile VPN solutions to government agencies, utilities and enterprises worldwide.

Texas city deploys Alvarion WiMAX solution

Alvarion announced that it has deployed its BreezeMAX Extreme solution in the city of Richardson, Texas. The WiMAX system will operate in the 4.9 GHz band will provide connectivity to the city's video-surveillance system. Feeds can be accessed on any PC monitor that is connected to the city's public-safety communications system, the company said.

Catalyst adds CSSI to console solution

Catalyst Communications Technologies said that it has added a console subsystem interface (CSSI) to its IP Console solution. The CSSI is one of eight primary interfaces specified in the Project 25 standards suite; CSSI gateways enable console systems manufactured by disparate vendors to interoperate. The IP Console solution supports primary dispatch, backup dispatch and mobile dispatch for P25, broadband push-to-talk, and legacy radio systems, Catalyst said.

ARINC joins NXDN Forum

ARINC recently announced that it has been selected to join the NXDN Forum. The forum was established in 2008 to promote the NXDN digital air protocol that was jointly developed by Kenwood and Icom.

Instagram Gets iOS & Android Update With Facebook Single Sign-On, New Filter And Album Uploading Option

nstagram just released an update for its iOS and Android apps that now allows people to login through Facebook’s iOS 6 single sign-on integrations. It also adds a new filter called Mayfair, and returns the ability to share photos from any album on your iPhone instead of just the main camera roll, which many users missed after it disappeared from the app’s last update.

Let’s break down these updates. Now if you’re signed into Facebook’s iOS 6 integration and go to login to Instagram, you can immediately get authenticated for Facebook sharing, which makes it easier for Facebook news feeds to get more ad-monetizable content and Instagram users to get more views for their photos.

The Mayfair filter adds a cool lavender cast, lightens the center of the photo and has subtle vignetting (Instagram really seems to be into purple lately, as evidenced by Mayfair and Willow, last week’s new filter).

Support is also now available in 25 languages. And with full access to all the photos in your phone, it will be easier to import photos you’ve uploaded to your phone from your computer or edited with another app.

The update comes after a rough week for Instagram. Changes to its terms of service caused an outcry by users worried that the photo-sharing service would sell images without first securing individual permission. Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom issued an apology and attributed the controversy to a miscommunication on his company’s part.

The big takeaway was that companies need to make sure not to confuse users when they update their terms of service. Otherwise people will assume the worst, panic, and lose trust in a service.