Mobile video calling is not an entirely new concept. However the launch of FaceTime on iPhone 4 has rejuvenated this emerging market and now we are getting to see a lot of activity in this space. http://tiny.cc/2tango
While Apple rivals like Google are rumored to be working on their own mobile video calling apps, third party developers too have been launching their own applications.
One such application that launched last week is Tango; a cross-platform software developed by a Palo Alto based startup by the same name. The application presently works on iOS as well as Android platforms. Unlike FaceTime, Tango can be used to communicate with friends who do not own an iPhone 4 or iPod Touch 4G.
Tango also comes with a number of other advantages over FaceTime. The application can work over Wi-Fi as well as 3G and also works over phones that do not come with a front-facing camera. This would effectively make it possible for users of iPhone 3GS and iPhone 3G to engage in a video chat as well though these users may not be able to relay video from their end. It is also worth noting that Tango lets users toggle the relay between the front-facing and rear-facing cameras and hence users may also point out to other objects using their rear camera while they are engaged in a mobile video conversation just like FaceTime.
According to Walt Mossberg from the Wall Street Journal, one of the most powerful aspects about the Tango app is its easy-to-use interface. The application does not require the user to fill out lengthy profile forms like Fring and only requires the users' phone number and email address for registration. Also, the application periodically scans the users' address book for information on other contacts who have installed the app on their mobile phone. These details are automatically added to the Tango address book for easy access. The company however notes that these contact details are entirely secure since they are stored locally and not on the company's servers.
While this is definitely a must-have app for those of you looking to video chat with your friends, do note that the app leaves a lot to be desired as of now. Mossberg points out that the video quality is pretty unreliable at times though it does appear to work well over Wi-Fi networks on most counts. Despite this, it may be noted that the application currently supports over 25 different handsets and is hence pretty useful.
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There's a new player in the mobile VoIP calling space and it goes by the name - Viber. The Viber app lets you call other iPhone users with the app installed on their phone - for free. That applies to both domestic and international calls. Read on to find out whether you should get this app or not. http://tiny.cc/2viber
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Believe it or not, two high level Facebook employees by the names Matthew Papakipos and Joe Hewitt are rumoured to be working on developing a smartphone for Social network giant. Former lead project manager of the Android OS, Eric Tseng is also said to be in the loop after leaving Google in May and signing on with Facebook. According to TechCrunch.com the project is such a secret, that most, if not all Facebook staff are unaware of it.
Correction, the project they are working on is not actually a phone, but the software used to power it, alongside a third party who will be building the hardware. The smartphone in question is expected to allow deep integration with Facebook contacts. It also appears that Facebook will be making use of Google’s open-source Android operating system to do its damage, which will surely anger a lot of people off at Google.
The question is why would Facebook be working on a smartphone? Apparently, Facebook has been concerned that Apple and Google are turning into some kind of threat as competitors, there is a rather deep Facebook integration in the Android platform, and there is an iPhone app which allows for contact merging.
Both Hewitt and Papakipos have extensive knowledge and experience with operating system experience. Papakipos was leading the Google Chrome OS project until June, when he quit and went to Facebook. As for Hewitt, he helped create the Firefox browser and created all of Facebook’s iPhone web apps.
When, where and how much is still unknown, but TechCrunch is betting the Facebook phone will be a lower end model (under $50.00), something very affordable that they can get into as many hands as possible, in other words, not much more than just a fully integrated Facebook device.
On the other side of the fence is Engadget, they expect a higher end product, if Facebook is truly concerned about the major players, it would not be targeting a lower end product.
All I can say is that Facebook is on top of its game for what it is, a social networking space. They may have the funds and the talent to run with this, but just remember who their completion is, Apple, Google, Nokia, RIM, Microsoft. I just cant see them beating those kind of odds.
What do you think it will be called, perhaps the Facepalm?
Update:
Facebook has denied making a phone of its own. It agreed that it was working on deeper integration of the social network with phones, but through its traditional approach of talking to other companies and not with its own devices.
Things are starting to get juicy…Mashable says “no Facebook phone”, while TechCrunch is still adamant that there will be a Facebook phone in the near future.
I going with TechCrunch on this one, remember last year when Google said they weren’t working on their own brand of a smartphone? What about two years back when Microsoft adamantly denied it wasn’t working on a Zune phone?
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