The latest Gingerbread update, Android 2.3.4, as a treat for fans of Google Voice. Users can now use the Voice Chat app to make video calls. And not only to Android devices but also to Google Talk users on PC and Mac. And unlike Facetime, the app can use 3G and 4G networks rather than just Wi-Fi.

To make a call, users just go to the Google Talk app and press the video chat icon next to a contact’s name. In addition to making video calls, users can also send text messages that are incorporated into the video screen. Users can also continue the call, audio only, while using another application. The feature is currently running on Nexus S phones, with more Android Handset coming in the near future.

Wow. It’s yet another category that the bot is passing Apple by with. When first introduced the FaceTime feature on the iPhone 4, it was a fresh new feature, but it could only work on WiFi. Now, with applications like Google Talk, Skype, and Qik offering video chat not only over WiFi, but via 3G and 4G networks with Android, video chat is becoming a competitive feature set. The real question though is, with data caps in place by all wireless providers, how often will it be used?

[via PocketLint]

19 COMMENTS

  1. You make it sound like something new 3g video calls are ancient 3 has been doing it for ages. of course you have the apple effect

    • For t-mobile it works on 3g and 4g also. As long as your has front camera… actually it is not lame .. I am very happy with t-mobile ….

      • No, it doesn’t (Nexus S/T-Mobile, front facing camera, works perfectly fine with Wifi, but display message about missing Wifi connection when on 3G)

  2. yea you get pressure from google to update. I loved my epic galaxy s until i foolishly updated to 2.2 now I have no battery life and I have apps I can’t get rid of, and the best yet, I can’t get rid of it. I update just after I bought the phone so I only had a few weeks to enjoy a drama free phone life.   Although I do like the phone, it ran at its best on 2.1. I hate that the “updates” are mandatory, that they change aspects of your phone you may not want changed, and you cannot get back.  Updates should be packaged as individual optional features.

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