Who actually makes video calls?

[paulsalter]

Have had other phones with this feature but never used it.

If its available on the iPhone through iChat only then I will still never use it, if it works via Skype or other IM clients i might give it a try.

 

[matttye]

Never, but only because they're so expensive. With the iPhone being an internet device maybe a front facing camera could be used by other apps in order to support webcam?

 

[annk]

It's fun in some cases, and helpful in others. Most of the time it's not needed, but I've been glad to have the possibility.

 

[aussiemac86]

I think this has been an interesting question, it is apparent that the vast majority of people either have never owned a video capable phone, or never made video calls. But there does seem to be a (probably fairly small) market for people to communicate with family whom they live away from.

Whilst some people do point out that if anyone can make it popular it is Apple, I still have trouble imagining people walking down the street looking into their phones.
- I don't particularly want to be looking at the person i'm talking to on the phone.

I do however use Skype with video quite often, but that is normally with family members in other states or countries and it is different to be seated at a desk doing a video call than with a mobile / cell phone.

I'd be interested to hear others opinions.

 

[The General]

Why are you calling The General's girlfriend?

He was making with the jokes.

 

[skwoytek]

I don't particularly want to be looking at the person i'm talking to on the phone.

I'm going to guess it wouldn't be mandatory...

I do however use Skype with video quite often, but that is normally with family members in other states or countries and it is different to be seated at a desk doing a video call than with a mobile / cell phone.

It be great for anyone who travels and has kids.

I doubt you'd be seeing hundreds of people video chatting on the streets or in public. But I could see a quick video chats for various reasons, particularly from an iPhone to someone at a laptop or desktop.

I can't count the number of times my girlfriend and sister have sent 6 picture messages to find out which dress the other thought looked the best. A quick video chat could have handled that faster for both. People don't do it because it's not available or too expensive. The opportunities would arise often enough to make it interesting, particularly when front facing cameras are commonplace.

Also, I think a front facing camera serves other, more practical purposes. But if Apple added a front facing camera without a video chat application, people would wonder WTF.

 

[mikey28]

I would love it!! I could take my friends virtual shopping with me. Talk to the kids, and hubs.

 

[tayshon]

this is sort of like asking who listens to music on their phone - or surfs the web or buys movie tickets or buys apps - well no one did until the iphone came out (and many phones could do all of these things). when apple does video chat people will use it, they may not now - but they will.

So True.

 

[dlamin517]

I would never use it efficiently. it would be cool but completely useless.

 

[Jeremy81]

I've never owned a video capable phone. I can definitely see myself using it though. I do use iChat video conferencing regularly with family members that live out of state and would probably do the same with iChat on the iPhone.

 

[YoungLew]

My SE W890i apparently does video calls, although it doesn't actually work

but i didn't really care.....

but if the iPhone 2009 / iPhone S? has the functionality i will use it all the time

 

[instaxgirl]

My last phone was capable of video chat and I was on Three UK (horrendous network btw) whose big selling point when they started up was that they did video chat so I had the opportunity.

I also had a boyfriend 400 miles away, with the same model of phone as me, so I had reason to. And I never once used it.

I just didn't see the point. Why do you have to see people when you're talking to them over the phone? I can see using it as a more efficient way to ask people if you've got the right item when you're shopping or something, but still, there's not a lot of point to it.