Android phones get Skype video calling
The move will help makers of phones based on Google's Android software compete with Apple's FaceTime video-calling service unveiled last year for the iPhone and now available on its iPad 2 tablet and Mac computers.
Video calling could also help new Skype owner Microsoft promote its Windows Phone smartphone platform, which it is merging with Nokia's in an effort to become competitive with Android and Apple.
Skype had an average of 145 million connected users per month in the fourth quarter of 2010. Together, they made 207 billion minutes of calls in 2010, about 42% of which was video calls.
Skype for Android 2.0 will allow free video calls between Android users and users of Skype on any other devices, including the iPhone, Mac, PC or a smart TV, not including any potential charges for using 3G or 4G service, of course according to The Inquirer.
Unlike Apple's FaceTime, Skype will allow users to make calls over both WiFi and 3G so users are not tied to a hotspot or their homes and can make video calls while on the go.
Skype's mobile app on iOS already had the capability to make video calls; though it was limited to just the iPhone and fourth generation iPod touch (iPad 2 support is supposedly coming later) reports PCWorld.
Share