Fring launches Playgrounds for group video chat with friends or randoms (video)
We all remember kicking it in anonymous chat rooms masked behind the safety of a screen name, but today Fring announced a new way to engage with randoms -- this time with video. Playground lets users start their own video chat or join an existing room based on topic, with friends or complete strangers. We've seen four-way video from the app before, but the new feature takes it a step further -- similar to joining a Hangout in Google+, only on a mobile phone. Although it does sound creepily Chatroulette-ish, it's free (unlike Skype's group video calling) and works on iOS and Android Phones -- so go ahead, take a peek and see what's actually going on in "Voldemort's Death Eater" channel. Check out the demo and full PR after the break.
Free App Lets Users Organize Group Video Discussions Around Topics of Interest; Breaks The 140-Character Constraint
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--fring, the mobile communication service that pioneered mobile video and group video chat, today launches Playgrounds – a new social feature within the fring app that enables anyone to participate in group video discussions about subjects that matter to them.
"Playground video chat empowers users to video & voice their opinions about things that matter to them. We let users do more than simply 'follow' their interests. Now they can actively engage with others via video chat, instead of waiting for character-constrained updates or time delayed posts"
In Playgrounds, fring users actively engage in four-way video discussions either by browsing a list of open Playgrounds or by creating their own video discussions about what's important to them. fring users can jump into Playgrounds with other fring users from their iPhone/ iPad/ iPodTouch or Android.
Since launching the worlds 1st Video chat service in November 2009, fring has pushed video chat from a personal communication tool among friends to a more dynamic and social video experience. fring's Playgrounds adds a new subject-centric approach to Group Video chat, giving users the opportunity to take their passions and engage in live, real-time discussions via video chat.
"Playground video chat empowers users to video & voice their opinions about things that matter to them. We let users do more than simply 'follow' their interests. Now they can actively engage with others via video chat, instead of waiting for character-constrained updates or time delayed posts," says Avi Shechter, CEO and Co-founder of fring.
In addition to public Playgrounds, fring users continue to enjoy free group video chat with their friends, two-way video, voice calls and text chat with friends on Android, iPhone/ iPad/ iPod touch & Nokia Smartphones.
Links
* Playground is available for free as part of the fring mobile app: download from Apple's App Store and the Android market
* A demo video of fring Playground is available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N7nP668y_Q
* Learn fun fring facts at http://info.fring.com/newsroom/fring-facts/
