Skype for Android at last (sort of)

Forums › Android › Skype for Android at last (sort of)

scuwp

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#86116 1-Jul-2011 07:47

Can't see this posted elsewhere, but spotted this on Stuff this morning:

Skype, which is being bought by Microsoft for US$8.5 billion (NZ$10.2 billion), introduced a new service on Thursday allowing users of Android phones to make free video calls to Skype contacts, including those on Apple iPhones.

The company whose name became synonymous with Internet calling in the mid-2000s said its updated Android app would initially support video calling on selected HTC and Sony Ericsson Phones, with more to follow soon.

"We are committed to bringing Skype video calling to as many platforms as possible," Skype's product and marketing chief Neil Stevens said in a statement.

The move will help makers of phones based on Google's Android software compete with Apple's FaceTime video-calling service launched last year for the iPhone and now available on its iPad 2 tablet and Mac computers.

Video calling could also help new Skype owner Microsoft promote its Windows Phone smartphone platform, which it is merging with Nokia's in an effort to become competitive with Android and Apple.

Skype had an average of 145 million connected users per month in the fourth quarter of 2010. Together, they made 207 billion minutes of calls in 2010, about 42 percent of which was video calls.

Mobile video calling is in its infancy, but the fixed-line Internet calling market grew 12.6 percent to US$17.3 billion (NZ$ 20.8 billion) last year, according to UK-based telecoms research firm Point Topic.

With the new Android Skype app, users will be able to make free one-to-one video calls between Android phones, iPhones, Mac computers, Microsoft Windows PCs and televisions.

The first Android handsets to support Skype video calling are the HTC Desire 5, Sony Ericsson Xperia neo, Sony Ericsson Xperia pro and the Google Nexus S.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/5217149/Skype-video-calling-for-Android-phones

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Master Geek
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#488142 1-Jul-2011 08:21

With only a handful of Android devices being compatible with this Sykpe update, for Video calling, I would say the latest version of Skype for Android is a complete fail.

NZtechfreak

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#488145 1-Jul-2011 08:28

I think thats a bit harsh, its a much nicer UI than before! I was defintiely disappointed to see that the SGSI, SGSII, and HTC Sensation in my household were all unsupported. I mean, seriously? Neither this year, nor last years Samsung flagships? The SGSI is the best selling Android phone ever, seems rather poor! Anyways, I'm sure it will come, and until then Fring's video calling is quite nice.

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semigeek

1606 posts

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#488146 1-Jul-2011 08:30

Why not use oovoo?
http://www.oovoo.com/

scuwp

3885 posts

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#488150 1-Jul-2011 08:56

semigeek: Why not use oovoo?
http://www.oovoo.com/

That's fine if everyone else you communicate with is on the same system. However it is a bit of an issue when 99.9% of non-Apple users (and probably the majority of Apple users I would guess) use Skype and have done so for the last 10+ years through Macs and PC's.

Skype is a hugely popular worldwide communication system, and Android needs to get on board and fast!

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NZtechfreak

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#488186 1-Jul-2011 10:35

There is a patched APK for Skype at XDA-developers now, video calling works for SGSI and SGSII, not yet tried on my Sensation.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1148708

Twitter: @nztechfreak
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kiwitrc

4123 posts

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#488194 1-Jul-2011 10:57

Agree, the XDA hack works fine on my SGS2, tried it on my eee Transformer but no luck yet.

Wade

2225 posts

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#488411 1-Jul-2011 20:02

Awesome :D

Nice to see the app has been updated giving a much nicer classier appearance then before, its almost iApp nice :P

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lokhor

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#488449 1-Jul-2011 21:48

NZtechfreak: There is a patched APK for Skype at XDA-developers now, video calling works for SGSI and SGSII, not yet tried on my Sensation.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1148708

Works on my Sensation

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Linuxluver

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#488459 1-Jul-2011 22:57

NZtechfreak: I think thats a bit harsh, its a much nicer UI than before! I was defintiely disappointed to see that the SGSI, SGSII, and HTC Sensation in my household were all unsupported. I mean, seriously? Neither this year, nor last years Samsung flagships? The SGSI is the best selling Android phone ever, seems rather poor! Anyways, I'm sure it will come, and until then Fring's video calling is quite nice.

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Linuxluver

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#488461 1-Jul-2011 23:13

lokhor:
NZtechfreak: There is a patched APK for Skype at XDA-developers now, video calling works for SGSI and SGSII, not yet tried on my Sensation.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1148708

Works on my Sensation

Installed it. The video calling options are there now on my HTC Sensation.

I haven't actually tried it yet as it's late and I have no one to call. :-)

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benny

79 posts

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#488484 2-Jul-2011 01:52

lokhor:
NZtechfreak: There is a patched APK for Skype at XDA-developers now, video calling works for SGSI and SGSII, not yet tried on my Sensation.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1148708

Works on my Sensation

Works on my Sensation as well, but the back camera doesn't, only the front.

sbiddle

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#488502 2-Jul-2011 08:18

Richard2011: With only a handful of Android devices being compatible with this Sykpe update, for Video calling, I would say the latest version of Skype for Android is a complete fail.

Rather than Skype being the fail I think it's clear proof of the fail within Android itself, with massive fragmentation occuring between manufacturers and the inability for a programmer to cater for all handsets easily can like they can with iOS.

IMHO the sooner this stops the better things will be.

kiwitrc

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#488519 2-Jul-2011 09:54

sbiddle:
Richard2011: With only a handful of Android devices being compatible with this Sykpe update, for Video calling, I would say the latest version of Skype for Android is a complete fail.

Rather than Skype being the fail I think it's clear proof of the fail within Android itself, with massive fragmentation occuring between manufacturers and the inability for a programmer to cater for all handsets easily can like they can with iOS.

IMHO the sooner this stops the better things will be.

Android activations currently running at 500,000 per day. Yep "clear proof" its going down the crapper alright.

Linuxluver

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#488521 2-Jul-2011 10:08

benny: Works on my Sensation as well, but the back camera doesn't, only the front.?

As a face-to-face video calling app, that's exactly how you would want it to work. The back camera would be too high resolution (unless the app restricted it somehow).

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Linuxluver

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#488522 2-Jul-2011 10:12

sbiddle:
Richard2011: With only a handful of Android devices being compatible with this Sykpe update, for Video calling, I would say the latest version of Skype for Android is a complete fail.

Rather than Skype being the fail I think it's clear proof of the fail within Android itself, with massive fragmentation occuring between manufacturers and the inability for a programmer to cater for all handsets easily can like they can with iOS.

IMHO the sooner this stops the better things will be.

I rode the bus into the city for several days this week. By far, the majority of smart phones I saw were mid-range Androids. They are affordable and do the business.

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