Video calls are now a reality on the iPhones!
Fring, the Israel based mobile VoIP service provider has announced that iPhone users can now make video calls with the help of their iPhone app. The company has launched this service for both iPhone and Nokia smartphone users.
iPhone users however have a road-block here. Unlike Nokia Symbian S60 phones, since the camera is at the back, the iPhone does not permit the users to point the camera at their own face while viewing the iPhone screen (to view the incoming video stream). This means video calling on iPhones shall simply be restricted to receive incoming video streams. Two-way video streaming is possible on the Nokia smartphones though.
Nevertheless, this is an exciting development which has been long awaited. Announcing this on their website, the company writes
"This video feature is embedded within the fring application that enables free voice calls from the iPhone and iPod Touch to other fring users, Skype and GTalk buddies as well as friends on regular phone lines via Skype-Out and hundreds of popular SIP services. fring users can live chat, update profiles, share files and talk with friends from several Instant Messaging services like MSN, AIM, GoogleTalk and Skype, in addition to interacting with popular online social networks like Twitter, all from one integrated fring contact list"
The Fring iPhone application is free to download and is available at the iPhone App Store [iTunes Link]. Please note that the Fring application works on both iPhone and iPod touch and requires iPhone OS 3.0 and above. VoIP calls are made over Wi-Fi networks.
Please don't forget to let us know your experience with the latest version of Fring's iPhone app.
[via TechCrunch]
I'm excited this looks like it has greater potential for the iPhone I'm sure someone can come up with a mirror concept sleeve and take advantage of this new advancements in the iPhone.
lol! Now if I only had eyes in the back of my head. Even if this worked how do I see the person I am video chatting with. I flip the phone over so they can see me then flip back so I can see them…
Hummm
This is typical of the iPhone it’s the only thing on the planet that is both technologically advanced and prehistorically behind at the same time.
lol very well said i totally agree love hate the iphone.
to me it does not make sense that we don't get 2-way. what if the guy on the other side (on Skype) doesn't have camera? I can use headset and speak with them and they can see me. i bet fring ran into some issue with implementation of outgoing video. extra functionality doesn't hurt.
in either case, it is an amazing app!
Well I just used the app and it works great!! Good resolution too.
We all know apple, they like giving the consumer just little by little of their tech. I bought a MacBook aluminum and 4 month later they had a new one with SD card reader, crap I hate it that. Now in the next generation iPhone they probably will put a camera on the front, witch should have on already. But that's how apple works, I hate it but love all their products lol.
I was able to see the other party, but they couldn't see me on iphone, not sure why. I did press the "Video Call" button, but the video didn't start immediately as the other party had to explicitly send video after taking the call, and there is no equivalent button on fring.
Just to clarify, I do know that you can't view and be viewed at the same time, due to the lack of front facing camera, but didn't think fring actually only supported one way. It is still useful as a way to send video of something interesting that you are seeing.
use mirror
The good thing is one can make fring to skype video calls which is a great way. Also, since skype has started beta service for sip , now, the integration possibilities are simply endless.
Nobody seems to get it – you just place yourself in front of a mirror and then voila!!! You can record your reflection and see the person you are talking with. I am sure that a sophisticated hardware device is on the way. It will be fun to see who comes first, that or the Apple through the screen camera patented some years ago.