Skype Launches 25-Person Group Video Calling on iOS and Android

[iOSFangirl6001]

Yea I wish FaceTime would do this. 3 or 4 would be great. lol or 25 with the iPad pro. Hopefully this summer apple shows off upgrades to FaceTime and hopefully iMessages.

Or you know they could go the route of Twitter, Facebook, Google and their on past and do stuff no one or few want or ask for
/s

 

[rdlink]

You can still do audio chat and remote control in Messages (only available on Mac-to-Mac).

...You can do all of those three, only split across separate apps... Messages, FaceTime and Screen Sharing, aside from the group calls. The functionality is built-in.

I understand that, but it was an integrated product that worked pretty well. I would have expected Apple to work toward integrating messages, at least on the Mac to the functionality that it had before.

 

[Adam552]

I don't think I've had a group video call with more than 3 people

 

[star-affinity]

25 1080p streams at the same time? At what frame rate and with how much compression? LEGO characters doing video chat is not so fun to watch in the long run – i.e. I beleive it when I see it.

 

[username:]

Awesome for online tutoring

 

[mikecorp]

it doesn't work even with 3 people. I have hilarious photo where one person is upside down Skype is crppy application and more they add the ridiculous emojis. Ebay and then Microsoft killed it.

 

[georgB]

Finally!!! I wonder if this iOS version will have screen sharing (as with the Mac version), so one person could play a video, and all others could see, hear, and comment on it. With more and more people using smartphones and tablets, that's going to be a necessary feature.

And why Apple hasn't done this long ago with FaceTime is odd, and a big riddle.
[doublepost=1455893745][/doublepost]

it doesn't work even with 3 people. I have hilarious photo where one person is upside down Skype is crppy application and more they add the ridiculous emojis. Ebay and then Microsoft killed it.

The Mac/Windows app works fine as long as everybody in the group has a fast-enough net and a fast-enough computer. But if just one person's setup isn't fast enough, the whole group suffers, and it can sometimes break down altogether. I use it regularly with 8, plus screen sharing of video with audio, and it's generally fine.

 

[ILikeAllOS]

"invite anyone to the conversation by sending a link through a messaging app like iMessage, and bypassing the traditional need for their Microsoft account information"
Finally! Took long enough...

 

[deany]

if you had 25 people on a Skype call would the bandwidth be the same on the 4G data use as a one to one call or would it be x 25 bandwidth?

cheers

 

[jblagden]

happy go lucky for those who have 25 people that uses skype.

I think FaceTime would crash if we tried 25 people to join one chat .

Since Windows is still the dominant platform, Skype is available on most platforms, and FaceTime is only available one Apple devices, Skype is very common. As a result, many Mac users have it. We might use FaceTime most of the time, but once in a while, you might want or have to video chat with someone who’s using Windows, Linux, or Android.
[doublepost=1455923317][/doublepost]

if you had 25 people on a Skype call would the bandwidth be the same on the 4G data use as a one to one call or would it be x 25 bandwidth?

cheers

Most folks are on metered data plans and video chatting can use use up a significant amount of data, so video chatting on a cellular connection is inadvisable in general, regardless of how many people you’re video chatting with.
[doublepost=1455923615][/doublepost]

it doesn't work even with 3 people. I have hilarious photo where one person is upside down Skype is crppy application and more they add the ridiculous emojis. Ebay and then Microsoft killed it.

I agree, Skype is a crappy application. But unfortunately, it’s the only one that can be used Mac, Linux, Windows and Android. A lot of people are still using Windows and Android. And then there are some folks who are using Linux. You can’t just use FaceTime with everyone. I’d prefer to use FaceTime for all video chatting, but unfortunately, I have to use Skype to video chat with Windows users. A lot of Mac users have Skype on their Macs because they occasionally want to or have to chat with Windows users.

 

[deany]

Since Windows is still the dominant platform, Skype is available on most platforms, and FaceTime is only available one Apple devices, Skype is very common. As a result, many Mac users have it. We might use FaceTime most of the time, but once in a while, you might want or have to video chat with someone who’s using Windows, Linux, or Android.
[doublepost=1455923317][/doublepost]
Most folks are on metered data plans and video chatting can use use up a significant amount of data, so video chatting on a cellular connection is inadvisable in general, regardless of how many people you’re video chatting with.
[doublepost=1455923615][/doublepost]
I agree, Skype is a crappy application. But unfortunately, it’s the only one that can be used Mac, Linux, Windows and Android. A lot of people are still using Windows and Android. And then there are some folks who are using Linux. You can’t just use FaceTime with everyone. I’d prefer to use FaceTime for all video chatting, but unfortunately, I have to use Skype to video chat with Windows users. A lot of Mac users have Skype on their Macs because they occasionally want to or have to chat with Windows users.

I'm lucky to get 20GB a month 'free' on the iPhone so Skype & checking CCTV is no problem while out and about. I was just curious over bandwidth with more users, I guess you are not sure of the answer. thanks anyway

 

[Glassed Silver]

I still don't understand why Apple killed off iChat. It had multi video chat and a decent name too.

Ah yeah, back when they cared about consumer things Macs can do really well instead of dumbing down the Mac to iOS device limitations just so they have "parity" (the quotes I put, because they still can't release features across platform in the same year, they still move features for one platform to a next year release and preferably with another lengthy demo that merely shows what you pretty much already expected one whole year anyways...)

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[deany]

anyone in the know, is ChromeBook os going to merge with Android and therefore allow Skype video on a ChromeBook? (ps I don't have a ChromeBook I use a rMBP)

 

[jblagden]

Ah yeah, back when they cared about consumer things Macs can do really well instead of dumbing down the Mac to iOS device limitations just so they have "parity" (the quotes I put, because they still can't release features across platform in the same year, they still move features for one platform to a next year release and preferably with another lengthy demo that merely shows what you pretty much already expected one whole year anyways...)

Glassed Silver:mac

Like the cool things iChat could do! I’m pretty sure iChat supported video chats with up to 25 people. And it had video filters. I think it might have even had audio filters.