Apple’s Facetime feature in the latest iOS4 version failed to impress many. Lack of video call support over 3G being the main reason. Another obvious reason is being Apple patented technology it wont be available elsewhere. With Google’s Android OS gaining market share there are many using smartphones running Android OS. Though voice calling was available between iPhone iOS andAndroid devices it’s with the advent of Facetime service providers started adding video calling feature to their apps. It’s like a Facetime alternative that is platform independent.
Free apps for video calling between iPhone/ iPod Touch and Android phones:
Here is a list of apps available for both iPhone iOS platform and Android OS that supports video calling and various other functionalities. In all these apps video calls can either be mobile-to-mobile or laptop-to-mobile or laptop-to-laptop. Ain’t that awesome?
1) Yahoo Messenger :
With Yahoo Messenger 2.0 you can now make video calls between desktop and mobile phones running latest version of Yahoo messenger. With the latest edition supporting 3G and Wi-Fi video calling is no big deal. The Apple devices running iOS and Android devices can now communicate each other via the richest experience one can have on a handheld. The new feature supports both the front and rear camera on the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G.
2) Fring :
With the new version of Fring all iPhone and Android users can make video calls to friends on desktops or mobile phones. Fring supports video calls over 3G as well as Wi-Fi making it a universally acceptable application unlike Apple’s Facetime feature.
Watch video calling in action between iPhone and Android phone:
3) Tango :
Tango is a peer-to-peer (P2P) application that is available for Apple iOS and the Android devices. Tango utilizes your phone’s front-facing and back-facing cameras so that it can leverage the power of smartphones available out there.Any Tango user can make video calls from aniPhone to an Android phone using 4G, Wi-Fi and 3G. During a call, it is possible to turn on or turn off video, which means toggle between audio call and video call.
4) Movicha :
Movicha is a free app available for jailbroken iOS devices and Android. Movicha allows video chat over both WiFi and 3G. You can have a video chat between iPhone and Android phoneswith Movicha that can utilize the cameras available. Movicha includes other features like Voice Calling, IM, Presence Group Management, Contact Management, Preference Management.
Though only 4 apps are available now that allows video calling between iPhone and Android other major players like Skype, Nimbuzz and Qik will soon join the party. Stay tuned to hear more.
