It’s been a busy week on the video calling front for Android. First Qik announced its Video Connect app delivered cross platform video chat, getting Droid handsets and iPhone’s taking. Then Fring weighed in with the world’s first mobile app group video calling feature that allows up to four people to gas at once. Now it’s the turn of Google to muscle in on the party. Rumours were rife yesterday that the Big G was readying an Android video calling feature and now it’s been confirmed. As part of the upcoming Android Gingerbread 2.3.4 OS update, Google Talk will now rock video chat and voice calls.
Of course, it’s nothing revolutionary on Google’s part but a very welcome addition to its native app armoury. It’s a basically an extension of its desktop Google Talk service, letting you make one-on-one video calls over 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi from your Android smartphone.
Apart from the core video blathering, Google has also added some neat tricks. During a video call, texts from the person you’re jabbering with will appear on screen, so you can read then without breaking off the call. Similarly, you can pause a call to leave the screen but the audio will still be running.
Those owning a Google Nexus S handset will get the Google Talk with Video Chat app upgrade when the Android 2.3.4 OS update drops but others will have to wait until the respective manufacturers get around to releasing the software refresh. Take a gander at the quick official demo video below to see Google’s Video Chat in action.
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