AppDate: Buy apps with your airtime

In this issue of AppDate, SEAN BACHER highlights Vodacom’s new service that lets subscribers purchase Windows Phone 8 apps using their airtime, the Febula Football sports betting game, the Drink Advisor bar and nightclub advisor, Redit6 backup software, the Signal Booster for older BlackBerry smartphones and the BlackBerry 25 Days of Gifts promotion.

Charge Windows apps to your contract

Vodacom users of a Windows Phone can now buy apps from the Windows Store by paying for them straight from their airtime. No need for a credit card. For contract subscribers, the costs will be automatically added to their monthly bill, while prepaid users will simply see the amount deducted from their airtime credit.

Platform: Windows Phone 8

Stockists: Windows Store

Expect to pay: Dependent on app being bought.

Fabula Football

Fabula Football is a virtual currency-based sports betting game. Players can place a bet on a match outcome, watch as its value goes up or down and then sell their bet during a live match. The app gives fans access to a massive range of international leagues and tournaments including the English Premier League, Champions League, Bundesliga, World Cup 2014 and more.

Platform: iOS

Stockists: App Store

Expect to pay: Free to download.

Drink Advisor

Drink Advisor is the world’s largest database of over 3000 of the best bars and clubs, reviewed and rated by users in more than 120 cities, including London, Paris, New York, Cape Town and Moscow. Drink Advisor is designed for local city residents and travellers, and uses the user’s location to provide listings of the best and brightest nightspots nearby. For those who want to party at home, Drink Advisor also includes a database of drink and cocktail recipes.

Platform: iOS and Android

Stockists: Visit the store linked to your device.

Expect to pay: Free to download.

Rebit6

Building on the success of Rebit5 backup software, Rebit6 offers improved performance with an enhanced user interface, allowing for a one-click upgrade to online backup. Rebit6 provides additional flexibility for users who need to select and customize backup sets, while also allowing users to schedule backups at convenient times. Rebit6 is a comprehensive, cost effective backup solution for homes and small businesses.

Platform: Windows 8

Stockists: www.redit.com

Expect to pay: R400. A 30-day trial version is available.

Signal Booster for legacy BlackBerry devices

Signal Booster features a cool user interface while, at the same time, improving reception of a user’s smartphone. Whenever the device has a weak connection or even no signal at all, a user clicks the ‘Boost Signal’ button and the app resets the connection and hunts for a new one with a better signal.

Platform: BlackBerry smartphones using OS 4.6.0 and up.

Stockists: BlackBerry World

Expect to pay: R10

BlackBerry 25 Days of Gifts

This year, BlackBerry is kicking off the holiday season with a new app giveaway-a-day offer for its customers. Known as the 25 Days of Gifts, each day BlackBerry will unveil a new premium paid app, game or video that will be offered to customers for free. Running from the beginning of December up until Christmas day, BlackBerry 10 users can visit BlackBerry World each day to see what new free premium app download is available that day.

Platform: BlackBerry OS 10

Stockists: BlackBerry World

Expect to pay: A free app per day.

Sean Bacher is editor of Gadget.co.za. Follow him on Twitter on @SeanBacher