Video Calling: The Future of Android?

Nov 17 2009, 12:12pm CST | by Robert Evans

Since at least the days of the Jetsons, we've expected that video phones would someday be the standard method of communication. While several videophones have launched over the last decade-and-change, none of them have managed to gain any popularity. Skype allows video chatting, and for the last few years webcam equipped notebooks have acted as a sort of poor man's overly-bulky video phone.

Now Saygus has launched an Android smartphone that claims to be the first mobile in America with 2-way video calling. On its own, the Saygus is fairly easy to dismiss as a gimmick. It's got a middling processor and nothing else to set it apart as 'special'. After reading this Android & Me report about Google's Gizmo 5 acquisition, however, things were thrown into stark relief.

Gizmo5 is an Internet-phone service much like Skype. The only reason I can think of for such a purchase is that Google intends to start offering a VOIP service. A service that is likely to include 2-way video conferencing. Gizmo5 offers video calling, and their team of developers are being integrated into the Voice team.

So we've got Saygus putting out a videophone, and Google buying a VOIP provider that offers video calling. Oh, and the new Vega tablet also has a front-facing camera.

It's too early in the game to predict exactly what Google's game plan is, but I think it's clear they intend to start offering VOIP services through Voice as well. Video conferencing is likely to be a big part of that service, and I think we'll see 2-way video functionality on an increasing number of Android handsets. It's possible that 2010 will be the year we start seeing the first popular, mass produced video phones hit the market. Next step; flying cars and cloud cities.

where to buy

Buy from Amazon

What Others Say about This

You will not only be watched but photographed

KOCHI: The city police is all set to install automated cameras with speed sensors to take snapshots of over-speeding vehicles and violators of traffic signal rules. The cameras will be first installed at Palarivattom Junction and Kakkanad. Later, the pro ...
Full article at: IBN Live More like this 35 minutes ago

Is it the end of romanticism about the Internet and Freedom of expression?

There was a good article on modern censorship in last weekend's Observer by Denis MacShane MP. He reviews the new book on censorship by Nick Cohen, who explains that - contrary to popular belief - everything is not rosy in the Internet Garden of free exp ...
Full article at: Robert Halfon's Blog More like this 45 minutes ago

Apple led sales of electronics in 2011

LOS ANGELES -- Apple ( AAPL ) products accounted for 19 percent of all U.S. spending on consumer electronics during the holiday shopping season last year, helping the technology giant maintain its title as the country's top-selling electronics brand for ...
Full article at: SiliconValley.com More like this 58 minutes ago

Don't miss ...

Mobile Phones

4 Million iPhone 4S sold in First Weekend

Robert Evans
The excitement about new smartphones, tablets and anything mobile drive Robert to unearth the latest rumors and developments in this fast moving space. He adopted 4G as soon as it become available and knows where the mobile market is going.
Robert can be contacted directly at robert@i4u.com.