We're still playing the wait-and-see game when it comes to
Skype on
webOS and
Windows Phone 7, but it looks as if to-be
iPhone 4 owners won't have to wait long before Skype-based video chatting becomes a reality... if Skype has its way, that is. According to someone on the inside quoted over at
Pocket-Lint, Skype "would welcome the opportunity to work with Apple," specifically in reference to integrating
FaceTime capabilities into the firm's own app. The mystery man also affirmed that Skype would "welcome the opportunity to work with Apple to bring mobile video calling not only to our many millions of Skype users on iPhone around the world, but also to the countless more making video calls on desktops, TVs and other connected devices." 'Course, there's no specific time frame given, and only Jobs knows if the two companies have said a word to one another about making this happen. One thing's for sure, though -- enabling FaceTime usage within Skype would suddenly made the iPhone 4's video calling abilities a whole lot more appealing. And by "appealing," we mean "useful."
Update: Skype hit us with some clarification -- the company wants to make sure you know that it's not interested in using FaceTime across its own platform, but it'd be happy to play nice with Apple in order to add video calling within the Skype iPhone app. Full statement is past the break.
"We are not considering FaceTime as a technological platform for video calling in our own products.
However, given Apple's statement about FaceTime being an open platform, we are looking forward to see how it unfolds. We look forward to working with Apple to make sure the millions of users of Skype on the iPhone get the best possible experience when it comes to video calls on mobile devices and beyond."
posted June 8th 2010 6:21PM
Facetime hmm good to see my gf naked wheneva i want yum yum!!
@applehateboy
why would you buy a separate iphone 4 for your hand?
@applehateboy Well everybody is talking about Facetime and Skype we forget one this is Wifi only right now and when or if it is allowed on the network At&t's data plan will eat everybody alive
I really don't think Apple would "team up" with Skype. They are already providing the functionality Skype wants to provide. At least this is how Apple will probably see it. Everyone knows how strict Apple is, don't be let down when this doesn't go through.
@applehateboy Facetime and Skype are great but wasn't the whole point of using Skype on the iPhone was to use it on 3G to save those precious minutes? Now with the metered data you can guarantee it wont be used as much as it was previously. Nice phone but horrible pricing.
Gotta love those "anonymous" sources, I tell-ya! My "source" says Skype will be going to the EVO first.
@TheOne "only on Wifi" is only a problem that will be solved with jailbreaking... >:)
@applehateboy
Skype ain't going to be working with no one. Keep on sucking on that Big Red, Skype...
@safe travels
He best be careful where he points it or it could end up on his face--BIG--time.
@applehateboy
maybe i'll get to see her too.. that is, if she exists beyond your REM phase at night
REM=Rapid Ejaculate Manufacture
@applehateboy FaceTime will move sexting to the next level.
@scorpeo skype for android is verizon only atm, which makes me sadface
@Teerim
Guess you didn't see the part of the Keynote where Steve Jobs explained that FaceTime is open source. Also, one of the things holding back video chat is the fact that you have to have an account to make it work. FaceTime doesn't require you to have a separate account to use it.
So the fact that there is no need for a separate account, coupled with the open source nature of the app, tells me that Apple has a good chance of succeeding with FaceTime.
@TheOne
Also, it's VGA res, and real-time, so I wonder if there's a image stabilizer built-in, cause it will be nothing like those slick Mendes ads if the stabilizer is crap and if the phone is improperly weighed such that video calls are straining.
@Peter Church Are fucking for real?
In Vodafone, if I want to video call anyone with my 5800 I just have to dial his/her number and select video call..
Honestly, I cannot understand how can you be so clueless about this, that is probably why you are lauding Facetime as the greatest thing ever..
@TheOne
Thank god for that!
We don't need people seeing their 'gf naked wheneva [they] want yum yum!!' in public!
@Seb6554
You know they would have allowed it, but with ATT new 2g plan, your data would vanish away in like a week. Then you would end up blaming apple for it....
@Hell Angel
2 gb for 25$ plan. Not to be confused with network sorry
@Lucian Armasu
@Johanu - You just proved Peter Church's point!
You "just dial their number" ... the number that they have, because they have an *account* (with Vodaphone or some other telco). No account, no number, no videocalling.
FaceTime does not require an account with anyone - a web service, a telco, anyone. No network setup, no account.
The way Facetime works, I'd just start a Facetime-compatible app on my phone or laptop or desktop or whatever, and start videocalling. In that regard, it is different than any other videophone solution I've ever heard about.
Not that I will be doing much videocalling, I believe it is something people will only do occasionally rather than regularly.
@scorpeo I already have it on my EVO, it's called FRING and NIMBUZZ. I have been making international calls over 3g and wifi for nothing. You don't need SKYPE on android to use it, there are other 3rd party programs available for free!
@adavesAK Try Nimbuzz or Fring, both are free for Android with Skype build in. I have been making international calls on my EVO all day for nothing.
@Peter Church
In Europe it's pretty common to have a Skype account so that's not a problem, but I think (as others) that Skype won't need to work with Apple on this. FaceTime will be open and I am sure the front facing camera can be accessed in the same way everything can be accessed by the developers, so building in their own flavour of video chat will not be a problem for Skype.
@applehateboy i.e if you had a gf
@Theone
there are plenty of countries that have pipes big enough to handle video chat - European countries for a start, don't limit what will happen just because your country can't handle it.
skype is the only answer to making "facetime" usable
@victorstuber
yah i dont get it, i swear phones have had video chatting since forever... what special about facetime?? It has a catchy name?
@Punisher Plum
My Nokia N95 can do Skype video calling through two different apps (Skype and fring) on WiFi and I'm pretty sure 3G (but I've never tried cause I don't have a data plan). I don't understand why when there's a feature that the iPhone gets, the whole world jumps up like it's something revolutionary. This is why I don't buy into the iPhone hype.
@ALBGunner04 when you drink the Apple kool-aid, you're oblivious to the outside world. We seen it time and time again...Apple adds MMS 6 years after the fact, Copy & Paste god knows how long after the fact, video chat .... next will be a file manager and the world will die from excitement.
@victorstuber
Facetime being OPEN is the answer to making Facetime "usable". It's not just Skype. Facetime will work with anybody who wants to incorporate it, and that includes Qik, in case that hadn't crossed your mind yet.
"This is why I don't buy into the iPhone hype."
Tell me, how many people with Nokia smartphones are actually using video chat? Nokia has always been great for marketing feature lists but it's quantity over quality. Anybody can tender electronic components but wrapping a decent UI around it is what takes the effort. Why do so many so called savvy tech users still not grasp this.
If Apple develop an open standard for video, throws it out there, and in the meantime talks with telcos about allowing it over 3G, how is that just "hype". I like Apple's gear but I'm only "excited" for where this will lead and not it's current state. Just be patient on this feature for a few months and have some vision.
So long as Apple included an API for the front camera (did they, anyone?) then Skype will make use of it soon. Personally I prefer this to the locked down nature of traditional cellphone video chat where they charge you through the nose (clue there why nobody bothers to use it, just like MMS). At least you can use this over the net for free.
Talking of MMS. That's another locked down feature they charge you to the hilt to use. Hardly anybody uses it and that's probably why Apple was so-so about it. Most use email these days anyway. Apple are a forward thinking company which is why they made Visual Voicemail before appeasing with dying features like MMS.
Yes Apple were late with copy/paste. I blasted them about it too. But at least they implement it decently. With older UI's using a stylus and/or menus it's much easier to do copy/paste. Doing it well without those elements on a touch UI is much harder. As Windows Phone 7 demonstrates because they'll be launching without it at first too.
@AntUK
I agree with most of what you said but come one, people don't use MMS because it costs so much. MMS has been included with AT&T's Messaging (which includes SMS, MMS, and IM) plans for at least three years now. I'm pretty sure the other carriers do the same. I don't know anyone who doesn't send and receive pictures from their phone unless it just isn't capable.
@AntUK
"Nokia has always been great for marketing feature lists but it's quantity over quality"
Tell me about it... the so called "GPS" on the Nokia C5 barely works at all....
@Ben64
The "so-called" GPS in my Nokia N95 works amazingly well, and took me from Toronto to New York without a problem. No data fees to pay when I crossed the border.
Also, just because a standardised feature isn't used by the majority of consumers doesn't mean you should forget about it (in reference to MMS).
@seankovacs
Yup - apple seems to fail in full feature-set comparisons - both with its hardware and software. Even though Apple fails at the feature-set war, they continue to win customers. Not to beat a dead horse here but for apple its about the user experience and yes they still win that one - unless you're more of a hacker-techy.
The new iPhone looks like an awesome piece of hardware. Of course i will need to use it to know - but it seems like a marvelously solid and splendidly engineered product. And as far as features go it may actually be the best in the industry. The iOS is another story though.
@AntUK You can't be more wrong "most people use email" are you kidding me look at all the teenagers they text and mms all the time the fact that ur 40 years old doesn't mean nobody is using texts dummy
@WixosTrix Try Sprint, it costs nothing. I have been MMS huge files since I got my EVO a few days ago.
@seankovacs We can see through the hype because we are technology enthusiasts and look at gadgets thru specs and capabilities. The rest of the world looks at daily technology very differently. Apple's success comes not from the being the most feature-complete, but the ability to package technology into desirable items with fashion, aesthetics and interaction design. That's why all the attention is on Apple whenever they add a feature, because it has the brand recognition and (both material and social) appeals beyond technology that makes the non-tech savvy public listen, when they don't even know the difference between 802.11g and 802.11n, much less what features other manufacturers already have.
@kyphem Texts are not mms tho are they? Dummy. Photo's and video can be emailed for free. Texts will always be used by young'uns and 40y olds alike.
Mms is dead for most. I don't even have it set up.
@Jack Part of the point here though is that it's an open standard in a closed-ecosystem. Any app can be rejected for duplicating functionality.
But will apple allow you to call an android phone with video phone capability's?
Or nokia's that have had it for years?
@stabbytheicepic
FaceTime is an open standard so if Google feels brave enough to adopt it then anyone can call any one. I guess now we'll really see if Google real is open standards lead.
@arrgh google doesn't care. They will let app makers make the app.
@arrgh, @arrgh, Uh... Google owns the company that created the video engine used by Skype. Google already displayed their smartness. ;)
@arrgh Actually, FaceTime is NOT an Open Standard. It uses H.264 as a video standard, and any developer who wants to incorporate H.264 has to pay for that right (to a company called MPEG LA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MPEG_LA). That's the opposite of an Open Standard, despite what His Steveness might have used as a marketing bullet point.
Thus no one is likely to develop a free, legal FaceTime-compatible app for other platforms, since they'd lose money in the process. Steve knows this, but pretends not to because it's part of his anti-Flash campaign, too.
@stabbytheicepic
That's because google doesn't care about the end users experience. All that matters to them is getting their os on as many devices as they can so they can make their money from advertising. android is the greatest undercover ad information gathering ploy in history and you drones are sucking it up all because you guys are so cool and not mainstream and it's not made by the "evil" Apple.
@High
QFT.
@High Man these people's opinions are really affecting you, huh?
@Brad Hubbard
You obviously don't understand what open means. Open means anybody can use it - REGARDLESS if there is a licensing fee or not. Open does not mean free, free does not mean open. The flash plug-in is free, and it's 100% closed.
Furthermore, you appear to be ignoring all the products out there that are free to end users that incorporate not only H.264 but all kind of other varieties of MPEG compression that are under licensing fees. This is absolutely a non-issue. If anybody wants to develop something to work with facetime, they will. And believe me, lots of developers are going to want to get in on this.
@stabbytheicepic if that were true the devs would have already done that, time will show