ie8 fix

Mobile News

James Kendrick
Home / News & Blogs / Mobile News

Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of

By | June 30, 2011, 1:43pm PDT

Summary: Skype has rolled out a new version of its VoIP software for the Android platform that brings video calling to the table. If you own one of four phones, that is, and not all variants of those.

Skype has rolled out a new version of its VoIP software for the Android platform that brings video calling to the table. Well, it does if you own one of only four Android handsets currently: HTC Desire S, Sony Ericsson Xperia neo, Sony Ericsson Xperia pro and the Google Nexus S. That’s not very many of the dozens of Android handsets on the market, but owners of other phones will have to wait for support in the future.

“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. “With approximately 30 million concurrent users logging into Skype at any given time and making up to half a million simultaneous video calls, Skype for Android with video makes it even easier for users to share moments with their contacts wherever they are.”

Seeing the limited supported handset list this morning, I felt all clever that I have recently switched to the Nexus S 4G on Sprint to get early support for software like Skype. That clever feeling soon dissipated as no matter what I did I couldn’t get a video option on the Nexus S 4G. Turning to the Skype support forum soon confirmed by the Skype folks that video calls on the Nexus S 4G are not working with this new app. Support for the Nexus S 4G should appear in the next version of Skype, but no timeframe has been offered.

We are sorry, the Nexus S 4G is not yet supported. We plan to support it in the next release.

Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily e-mail newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.

More from “Mobile News”

Topics

Android, Video Call, Skype Technologies S.A., James Kendrick

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long.

Disclosure

James Kendrick

James Kendrick has no affiliations or relationships that need to be disclosed.

Biography

James Kendrick

James Kendrick has been using mobile devices since they weighed 30 pounds, and has been sharing his insights on mobile technology for almost that long. Prior to joining ZDNet, James was the Founding Editor of jkOnTheRun, a CNET Top 100 Tech Blog that was acquired by GigaOM in 2008 and is now part of that prestigious tech network. James' writing has appeared in many print publications: Smartphone and Pocket PC Magazine, Information Week and Laptop Magazine to name a few. James' coverage of the mobile technology sector has regularly appeared in the New York Times, Salon.com and CNN/ Fortune online. Not just a writer, James has filmed numerous video reviews and how-tos that have garnered well over a million viewers. He has appeared on local news segments and been interviewed by the Associated Press on mobile technology topics. Additionally, James has been podcasting about mobile technology for years.

15
Comments
Add Your Opinion

Join the conversation!

Just In

RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
FAULKNE 13th Oct
Good day to confirm this comment I would appreciate T h e b e s t o f Z D N e t d e l i v e r e d your website very nice to everyone Yes, Oracle is the only one with shared-disk architecture, but that is there advantage. It means you can add or remove nodes and the database lives on. In a shared nothing architecture, if you lose a node, you lose the system. I'm sure Oracle appreciates EMC highlighting their advantage.I also desire to signal in your RSS feeds. Thank you as soon as once again and maintain up the great operate Awesome post! Thank you very much || thanks for nice content this is really benefit to me.
View in thread
0 Votes
+ -
No support for my Epic 4G either
toadlife 30th Jun
The phone works fine with qik. There is no reason why it shouldn't be supported.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
rgcustomer@... 30th Jun
I'm new to Android phones, but it strikes me odd that a feature would be rolled out model-by-model. Is there no common platform between these phones? It just seems bizarre (or I suspect, corrupt).
0 Votes
+ -
No this is exactly why android sucks so bad. Youll be lucky if it or
Johnny Vegas 30th Jun
anything else, or even android updates ever come to your phone. EVER. The android upgrade model is called "BUY A NEW PHONE". This helps google inflate the activation numbers.
0 Votes
+ -
This model seems to be pricy if to impement it for each time you want Skype
DeRSSS 30th Jun
@Johnny Vegas: ..., Hulu or Netflix, et cetera.
0 Votes
+ -
Seems to me ...
wkulecz 1st Jul
Seems to me that this exposes a serious design flaw in the Android OS driver model if the software needs to know specifics of the actual hardware instead of getting video from an abstract driver -- which should only depend on the Android OS version.

I'm not a fan of the video4linux2 driver model but if you are lucky enough to have hardware with a working v4l2 driver, it abstracts the hardware nicely.

Or is it Skype's new Microsoft Overlords throwing a monkey wrench into the Android works?
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
AlanLaRue 15th Jul
@wkulecz I agree. There ought to be a standard front-camera object for every model with an identical interface. The software developer should not have to write different code for each model of phone.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
Rainyghost 9th Aug
I was thrilled when I heard that Skype mobile video chat was available for my Verizon 4G LTE Thunderbolt...until I tried it. More...http://hookedondroid.com/skypemobilevideochat.html
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
MACKENZI 10th Sep
I also desire to signal in your RSS feeds. Thank you as soon as once again and maintain up the great operate! nccma cooler
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
MARAGARET 11th Sep
I used to be more than happy to seek out this internet-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this glorious read!! I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post. this thread is amazing i like your work and i appreciate you that you have share a useful stuff thanks for sharing the i shop abatwa
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
RHIANNONA 13th Sep
I used to be more than happy to seek out this internet-site.I wanted to thanks in your time for this glorious read!! I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.Bookmarking now thanks please consider a follow up post. power sa shop
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
SATURNINA 13th Sep
I think the representation of this article is actually superb one. This is my first visit to your site. Thanks a lot and keep sharing the information. Keep updating the information for all of us. Thanks ZDNet Government was launched as the brand's first industry vertical, with a mission to cater to IT professionals in the public secto I agree with your post. However, do you have any sources I can cite for my paper wheel car com bury
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
TOCCAR 25th Sep
Well welcome, hopefully you can become a vital member of the community and really help to push far ahead of google. Which Im sure the development team would love. This will of course earn you alot points too and get you on the leaders board. z d n e t t h a n k Im not sure i come to an agreement with you on every level, howevor it absolutely was a good posting, many thanks for taking the time to put up your ideas.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
CLAUDET 26th Sep
This is my first visit to z d n e t site. Thanks a lot and keep sharing the information. Keep updating the information for all of us.how can i clean up, because i don???t know why it seems my skeen has to fat i get the glasses dirty every day.i search y a h o o Very good quality indeed. I surely recommend it. The template used in their site is also great.
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
MEJIAHA 30th Sep
Fantastic news about the new release.I positively enjoying each little bit of it and I have you b o o k m a r k e d to check out new stuff you weblog post.Im not sure i come to an agreement with you on every level, howevor it absolutely was a good posting, many thanks for taking the time to put up your ideas
0 Votes
+ -
RE: Skype video calling comes to Android, sort of
FAULKNE 13th Oct
Good day to confirm this comment I would appreciate T h e b e s t o f Z D N e t d e l i v e r e d your website very nice to everyone Yes, Oracle is the only one with shared-disk architecture, but that is there advantage. It means you can add or remove nodes and the database lives on. In a shared nothing architecture, if you lose a node, you lose the system. I'm sure Oracle appreciates EMC highlighting their advantage.I also desire to signal in your RSS feeds. Thank you as soon as once again and maintain up the great operate Awesome post! Thank you very much || thanks for nice content this is really benefit to me.

Join the conversation!

Formatting +
BB Codes - Note: HTML is not supported in forums
  • [b] Bold [/b]
  • [i] Italic [/i]
  • [u] Underline [/u]
  • [s] Strikethrough [/s]
  • [q] "Quote" [/q]
  • [ol][*] 1. Ordered List [/ol]
  • [ul][*] · Unordered List [/ul]
  • [pre] Preformat [/pre]
  • [quote] "Blockquote" [/quote]
ie8 fix

The best of ZDNet, delivered

ZDNet Newsletters

Get the best of ZDNet delivered straight to your inbox

Facebook Activity

Blog Roll

Blog Archive

White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources
ie8 fix