Skype has updated its application to include video chat on some Android devices.
Skype on Android has updated its software to allow users with specific droid phones the option to video chat. Although a new feature to some Android phones, the iOS Skype application has had this capability since December.
With early generation Android phones not supporting video calls (and therefore lacking front facing cameras) it’s no surprise that only a handful of phones will benefit from the update. The phones that will receive the video chat update include the HTC Desire S, Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro and the Google Nexus S.
“We are committed to bring Skype Video Calling to as many platforms as possible and are delighted to deliver on this with our new updated Skype for Android app” said Neil Stevens, Skype’s vice president and general manager for product and marketing.
Skype claim that from its 30 million registered users, approximately half a million video calls are simultaneously active. These calls can be made from an iOS and Android device over Wi-Fi or 3G networks.
With the number of applications between Android and Apple levelling out, the focus will shift from quantity of applications to quality of applications. Pioneering the application market, Apple has a head start on Google’s OS, but it is picking up speed quickly.
The next twelve months will prove interesting as Google and Apple advocate different philosophies. Apple’s predefined OS will have to defend itself against Google’s you-define approach.
