Android Video Chat Service? Now Possible

[endmp25]

In an Article written in the PCworld Google had acquired a video conferencing software by Marratech. This allows Gmail user to Video conference an existing Gmail user by an addition of a plug-in and guess what... it's FREE!!!
Here take a look

Google is getting into the video chat game with a new feature available as of Tuesday. Gmail Video and Voice offers Webcam-based video conferencing to all Gmail users. The service is available free of charge.

Gmail Video and Voice requires a browser plug-in and either a microphone (for straight audio chatting) or a Webcam (for video and audio chatting) to function. The plug-in -- a proprietary, non-Flash-based system -- runs about 2MB and supports Chrome, Firefox 2.0+, Internet Explorer 7.0, and Safari 3.0. As of now, the video chat service will not be made available within the standalone Google Talk application.

Once the plug-in is installed, all you do is click on a contact within your Gmail Chat list. If they also have the required software, a camera icon will pop up next to their name and let you initiate a two-way multimedia session. If they don't have the hardware, you can still start a one-way session in which they'll be able to see and hear you, even if you can't see and hear them.

PCworld Article

Since Android phones already have cameras, Microphones, built in browsers, Wifi/3G, Gmail accounts, and don't have flash yet... I really believe it is a matter of time before this idea becomes a reality.
Maybe one day there will be a Camera swivel attachment we can apply onto the bottom of the phones allowing us to be seen and view the screen at the same time... With Google at the helm I really do believe it is only a matter of time before they integrate it onto the Android OS.
What do you think? Should Google apply video conferencing via Android?

[embrace LB]

Why not they do it in Asia & Europe, they already have video calls/video conferences. Thats why they have a VGA cam in the front and a normal cam on the back... Wish our phones had that or atleast better software for the cam. But then again we have cell phone towers... & they have satellites.

[shaky777]

i'm up for it, anytime.......

Ups and Downs
Gmail Video and Voice is a basic system and seems more geared toward casual use than large-scale corporate use at this point. Unlike services such as Skype Premium, the system doesn't let you connect to regular phone numbers -- only to other Gmail Chat users. It also doesn't offer a recording option and doesn't permit conferences with more than two people.
With that being said, it's another notch in Gmail's ever-expanding belt of integrated services and could prove to be a handy addition for users already logged into the system. Within the scope of Web-based e-mail, Gmail Video and Voice ends up being another whistle that'll further set Gmail apart from its competing platforms.

[shaky777]

already installed

[trancemode]

coolll.. where can i get this?

[shaky777]

coolll.. where can i get this?

go here:

http://mail.google.com/videochat

[shookyang]

Since Android phones already have cameras

Accept, the camera is on the other side of the phone. You'd either have to flip it around for other people to see you (making it impossible for you to see them), or you would have to stick a mirror behind it.

[endmp25]

Accept, the camera is on the other side of the phone. You'd either have to flip it around for other people to see you (making it impossible for you to see them), or you would have to stick a mirror behind it.

I've seen an mirror attachment for the iphone so I know it's possible for someone to manufacture one... i believe it's called the hukleberry... I'd prefer an camera attachment to the bottom of the phone with a swivel capability... it would be a small adapter vs a couple of mirrors in your pocket.

[constellanation]

and i'm off to my computer to download this, man gmail is a great communication tool