As we reported yesterday Microsoft has acquired Skype and it seems to be a great addition for Microsoft. With this acquisition there has also been a lot of talk about video conferencing and video calling via the Kinect. Below we have embedded a video from last years E3 where Microsoft showcased the product they have been developing. With the Skype addition Im sure they will be able to use some of the technology to really improve Video Kinect and get it out to the consumers.
Soon we will be able to use video calling on Video Kinect, Live Messenger, Windows Phone 7, iOS, Android and more. Thus, there will be no reason to not stay in touch with your old friends and family.
Israel based company Fring have been offering VoIP calls from your mobile handset to their own users, but now they’ve introduced the ability to make video calls over your compatible mobile phone’s data connection. More than this, you can also video call people on Skype, Facebook, Google Talk and a few other video clients, as well as co-ordinating all your friends via their online buddy list. Once you’ve got your friends together on a list, you can also tie in IM conversations and posting web clips to people via Fring’s interface.
Fring video calls are currently available on Nokia X6, N97 mini, N97, 5800, N95 8G and N95 devices as well as Symbian, Android, Windows Mobile, J2ME and Linux devices, and the company plans to launch video calling on the iPhone (the VoIP app is already available on the iPhone, but it does not yet include video). Of course, while the VoIP protocol will mean you use less of your contracted minutes, it will burn through your mobile data connection; make sure you are in range of your Wireless router, or go for the unlimited bandwidth option if you’re going to rely on Fring to make calls.
Here’s an example of their application in action.
If all you want to do is get all your IM friends in one place, you could also go over and check out EBuddy, who run a pretty good service.
