Google on Tuesday unveiled a new landline telephone service aimed at helping consumers stay connected in the Internet cloud.

The new Fiber Phone service will be made available to a few US markets and later expanded to other cities where Google offers high-speed Internet.

The new service adds a few high-tech features to the landline, such as transcribing voice mails and delivering them as written messages, and connecting with mobile phones when consumers are away.

"While mobile phones have pushed us toward the future, home phone service is still important to many families," Google's John Shriver-Blake said in a blog post.

"Landlines can be familiar, reliable and provide high-quality service, but the technology hasn't always kept up," he said.

"That's why today, we're introducing Fiber Phone as a new option to help you stay connected wherever you are."

The new service enables "getting access on the road, in the office, or wherever you are," Shriver-Blake said.

"Your Fiber Phone number lives in the cloud, which means that you can use it on almost any phone, tablet or laptop. It can ring your landline when you're home, or your mobile device when you're on-the-go," he added.

Google Fiber, which offers ultra-fast service, is now available in four US cities, with several others set to come online soon.

Snapchat ramps up messaging service with 'chat 2.0'
San Francisco (AFP) March 29, 2016 - Snapchat is dressing up its messaging with an upgraded video chat and animations, part of the social network's efforts to be the preferred service for young users.

"We're excited to introduce Chat 2.0," the California startup announced on its blog Tuesday.

"You can start by sending a few chats, and when your friend shows up, start talking or video chatting instantly with one tap," it said.

"Your friend can simply listen if you want to sing them a song, or watch if you have a new puppy to show them."

The new chat platform aims for improved video chat with new features such as sending an audio note or a "sticker" chosen from a range of images similar to those on Facebook's Messenger app.

First gaining notoriety for its disappearing messages, Snapchat has been growing rapidly to a base of some 100 million, with particular appeal to young users, as it expands its partnerships with various media organizations.

The Los Angeles-based company, which reportedly turned down a $3 billion buyout from Facebook in 2013, was valued at more than $15 billion in its latest funding round.

But it is facing competition from Facebook and others seeking to be the preferred messaging platform -- that can draw users into more services and open up possibilities for advertisers.

"What we love most about the new Chat is how easily you can transition between all these ways of communicating -- just like you do in person," the Snapchat team said on the blog.

"When that's possible, you aren't texting, calling, or video chatting... you're just talking. We've been working on this redesign for a while -- we can't wait to hear what you think!"