Fring Adds Two-Way Video Calling Over 3G to iPhone 4

[MacRumors]

Looking to upstage Apple's FaceTime video calling feature, fring has announced that its App Store application has received an update enabling two-way video calling on the new iPhone 4 via both Wi-Fi and 3G.

With the new fring for iPhone you get lots of fring goodies including 2 way video-calling where you want and with whom you want!

- Face-to-face video calls with friends on their Droids, Nokia (Symbian S60) and other iPhones
- Video calls over 3G or Wi-Fi (Performance over 3G is subject to mobile operators' 3G coverage & quality)

fring added video calling support to its iPhone application last December, but the lack of a front-facing camera on the device limited video calls to one-way only.

fring has also published a brief YouTube video showing off the video calling feature, and while the video appears to demonstrate some blockiness and stuttering, the ability to call over 3G networks could make the performance acceptable for some users.

Today's update to fring also adds support for multitasking on iOS 4, a cross-community social stream integrating tweets, Facebook updates, chats, and calls, and address book improvements.

Article Link: Fring Adds Two-Way Video Calling Over 3G to iPhone 4

 

[fortetfn]

That is pretty cool. Fring is ahead of Skype.

 

[tomashi]

i can't stand the guy in the video.

 

[MrPinkBlackrose]

Awesome!

I time to check that update

 

[Daremo]

I love when he says something like... "That's why at Fring, we invented video calling"

And Fring has no desktop client. That's what I was REALLY hoping for.

 

[rotobadger]

Pretty cool but I'm still looking forward to an app that'll allow video chat from iPhone 4 to a computer either utilizing proprietary software or something like an IM client.

EDIT: ^^ Beat me to it (post above)

 

[Poff]

Skype iPhone team, please update your app soon.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

Any bets on how long it takes for the app to be removed from the App Store?

 

[Pos7al]

Nice!!!!

Glad to see that someone got this over 3G... Just downloaded, msg'd the g/f to get it, and will try this baby out a little later.

 

[Sky Blue]

super cool !!!!

 

[ilogic]

super cool !!!!

Over 3G?

 

[spaceballl]

i can't stand the guy in the video.

+1. If I ever see that guy again, i will erupt into a fit of rage.

 

[CocoaPuffs]

Over 3G works, but it looks like it only works with another Fring client.

 

[war eagle]

it still says its one way though...

 

[sdinsider23]

I love when he says something like... "That's why at Fring, we invented video calling"

And Fring has no desktop client. That's what I was REALLY hoping for.

fring might not have a desktop client but you can video chat using it with someone that has skype on the desktop. Just tried it little choppy but good!

 

[danb77]

I've just tested it.

Two way video calling works but quality is awful. Blocky and laggy.
Worlds away from FaceTime and certainly no rival.

So poor you won't use it. :-(

 

[superstrikertwo]

I was going to download it but then that guy scared me away.

 

[macduke]

And AT&T's network crashes in 3.....2.....1...

With many markets still experiencing the upload bug, don't expect video chats to be very reliable over 3g in the U.S. 100k upload isn't really going to push your video feed out very well.

I'm surprised the news about Apple and AT&T teaming up with ZVRS to bring video relay chat to the deaf hasn't made the front page yet. My wife's parents are both deaf and could really use this technology.

 

[Loco69]

This is the top of the new IOS4

you can shut down this fring app, and still get messages and calls where ever your are

this is what i was waiting for in IPHONE4 and IOS4.
Great work fring team

 

[CocoaPuffs]

I've just tested it.

Two way video calling works but quality is awful. Blocky and laggy.
Worlds away from FaceTime and certainly no rival.

So poor you won't use it. :-(

I think you're completely missing the point.

 

[Dammit Cubs]

its cool but CHOPPY AS HECK!!!

yeah, i'll stick with the WIFI standard facetime. Talked to my buddys from 2,000 miles away.

ZERO LAG.

 

[MrPinkBlackrose]

yes...

Im looking at you now Skype. Im looking at you.

 

[jeffreyropp]

Is it just me?

I've yet to see video chat perform well under any conditions (wifi or 3G as in this example). What's the point if the video and audio aren't in sync and the frame rate is pathetic?

I just don't get the killer app feel at all.

 

[pavelbure]

Skype iPhone team, please update your app soon.

skype will come out and say they have it in the works to be released very shortly, meanwhile it will not come out for another year.

 

[jayducharme]

Over 3G works, but it looks like it only works with another Fring client.

True, but I'm amazed it works at all -- or that it made it into the App Store. Interesting that FaceTime has to be WiFi only, but Fring is allowed to be 3G (and not device-specific). Maybe Apple wants to maintain FaceTime's high frame rate in 3G and is working that out. I wonder if interest in this will help accelerate the development of the open source FaceTime code that Apple has made available. Video calling is finally becoming a reality!