Tango app dancing to a happy tune
That was fast. The Tango video chatting app for the iPhone has topped one million downloads in the ten days since it launched in the iTunes store.
The free app allows phone-to-phone video chat, but unlike the Apple FaceTime app, Tango doesn't require WiFi. It works just fine over 3G networks, and also unlike FaceTime, it allows chatting with people on many models of Android phones too.
The company reports 40% of the downloads of the app are from the U.S., but users in 125 countries have grabbed Tango.
It's a great mystery to me exactly how this app was approved, as Apple doesn't seem to want to enable 3G video chats with FaceTime. Perhaps it's competitive pressure, but then I would think Apple would allow FaceTime to work the same way. Maybe Apple feels that not many people will download the app, but it seems to be getting grabbed at a very rapid rate.
Tango supports the iPhone 3GS and 4G, and Android phones including Motorola Droid and Droid X; HTC EVO, Desire, and Incredible; Samsung GalaxyS; and Google Nexus One. Tango works with carrier phone and data plans, and on Wi-Fi networks.
Have you used Tango? If so, has it replaced FaceTime for you?
