Fring Brings Video Calling to All Android Phones

 

Ok, so there are some limitations to this that I’ll explain, but for the most part Fring’s new free IM app allows you to do video calling (over 3G, 4G, or WiFi) to any other Android phone with the Fring app installed. This is obviously perfect timing for Fring to launch this feature right before the iPhone, with it’s new Facetime video calling (only works on WiFi and only from iPhone 4 user to iPhone 4 user), launches.

There is however a catch. While it DOES work on all Android phones (just did it from a Nexus to a Droid), it is a little retarded without a front facing video camera. Basically if you don’t have a front facing video camera you are forced to turn your phone around to use the real camera for the other person to see you. The issue? Well, if you are looking at the back of the phone, you can’t see the screen and your friend’s face (and obviously if you both want your faces to appear on screen at the same time, you’d both be looking at the back of your phones and essentially have negated the whole video calling idea).

Now, there are two new Android phones that both have front facing cameras on them; the Sprint HTC Evo and the Dell Streak/Mini 5. These work just fine and here’s a video of Engadget using it on those exact phones (each person on either side of the Atlantic ocean too by the way, making this a free intercontinental video call).

As for those of us without front facing cameras, you can still use it to see each other (one at a time), and it’s great for showing the other person things that aren’t your face (i.e. projects your working on, other people, crazy people at Walmart, etc.).

Or you can grab your girlfriend’s compact mirror and put it behind the phone… just an idea. Not that that would look completely ridiculous, of course.

So when your ready, search for ‘Fring’ in the Android Market and enjoy!

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