Video Calls, has Steve Jobs got it all wrong?

drunkmonkey · 07-06-2010 08:25PM #1

I've been making video calls for a few years, using computers and all makes of mobile phones.
Apple seem to be trumping this as the future of phone calls, they've also made it very restricted so you can only use video calls over wifi and only iphone to iphone.

Has Steve got it all wrong about this killer new feature? We've had this technology for a good few years in ireland and it's never taken off. Will this change things?

whiterebel · 07-06-2010 08:38PM

No point at allowing it over 3G if the performance is going to be bad. My wife was away week before last, and it was shocking trying to skype using her O2 USB modem on the laptop. When she switched to the hotel wifi it was much, much better.

mad muffin · 07-06-2010 08:42PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I've been making video calls for a few years, using computers and all makes of mobile phones.
Apple seem to be trumping this as the future of phone calls, they've also made it very restricted so you can only use video calls over wifi and only iphone to iphone.

Has Steve got it all wrong about this killer new feature? We've had this technology for a good few years in ireland and it's never taken off. Will this change things?

1st of all, lets use it first before we pass judgement.

2nd, it's only on wifi for 2010.

Stuxnet · 07-06-2010 08:52PM

and thirdly, its very easy get past wifi only restrictions !
i wouldnt worry bout it

mad muffin · 07-06-2010 08:53PM

BOBBY wrote: »

and thirdly, its very easy get past wifi only restrictions !
i wouldnt worry bout it

Exactly. Jailbreak, 3G unrestrictor, then stick it to the man!:D

120_Minutes · 07-06-2010 08:57PM

there are videos of test calls up already and the video call is full screen. afaik no other 3g phone does full screen calling, the networks couldnt handle it. so disappointing as it may be, they're right to make it wifi only.

nulabert · 07-06-2010 08:57PM

BOBBY wrote: »

and thirdly, its very easy get past wifi only restrictions !
i wouldnt worry bout it

And fourthly, Video Calls aren't for everyone. How often will you use it? Its a bit like 'Voice Control'. Does anyone use that feature?

mad muffin · 07-06-2010 08:59PM

120_Minutes wrote: »

there are videos of test calls up already and the video call is full screen. afaik no other 3g phone does full screen calling, the networks couldnt handle it. so disappointing as it may be, they're right to make it wifi only.

Links to said videos?

120_Minutes · 07-06-2010 09:02PM

mad muffin wrote: »

Links to said videos?

http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/07/iphone-4-first-hands-on/

mobius42 · 07-06-2010 10:50PM

I've never used video calling on any of the phones I've had and I'd be skeptical of it's popularity. That being said, if anyone was able to make it work, it'd be Apple.

drunkmonkey · 08-06-2010 01:09AM

mobius42 wrote: »

I've never used video calling on any of the phones I've had and I'd be skeptical of it's popularity. That being said, if anyone was able to make it work, it'd be Apple.

You must have got curious, I thought it was amazing, straight out of star treck! Think Steve thinks so too he's just a little late to the party!

Teutorix · 08-06-2010 01:57AM

whiterebel wrote: »

No point at allowing it over 3G if the performance is going to be bad. My wife was away week before last, and it was shocking trying to skype using her O2 USB modem on the laptop. When she switched to the hotel wifi it was much, much better.

There's your problem, "mobile broadband" and "low latency" dont belong in the same scentence.

chrislad · 08-06-2010 07:10AM

nulabert wrote: »

And fourthly, Video Calls aren't for everyone. How often will you use it? Its a bit like 'Voice Control'. Does anyone use that feature?

I use it when driving, but other than that, no.

Video Calls are something I can live without. Not massively concerned with them. I suppose it's better to have and not need than to need and not have but it's not something I'm getting the phone for.

seamus · 08-06-2010 12:32PM

The key here is that they've used open standards. And although it *seems* to be locked down at the moment, open standards mean that there's very little to stop us from making cross-network video calls. So I can use my iPhone to video call my ma; janebloggs@skype.com or my best mate in Oz using a SIP provider.

At present, if I wanted to do that while out and about (e.g. at a wedding), I'd need a laptop, webcam and web connection - because video calling has so far been restricted to Phone-to-Phone calls over the provider's network. If I can do proper video calls to any provider/any network with my phone....well that might open up a whole new application for video calling.

Have any of the Android phones implemented video calling outside of handset-to-handset calls?

Professey Chin · 08-06-2010 12:35PM

seamus wrote: »

Have any of the Android phones implemented video calling outside of handset-to-handset calls?

Ill have to look into it but I think Qik on the HTC Evo can to to handsets & computers since Qik is primarily a streaming service

naasrd · 08-06-2010 01:50PM

My guess is Apple have raised the bar on video calling otherwise it's pointless.

Heliosvector · 08-06-2010 02:00PM

speaking of technology that may not make it here, why didnt that walky talki feature ever make it over here?
I know that in america you could send a short audio message instead of a txt. the phone acted like a handheld radio but through the phone network

Tom Dunne · 08-06-2010 03:32PM

seamus wrote: »

Have any of the Android phones implemented video calling outside of handset-to-handset calls?

The N900 can do Skype video calls, so that's phone to PC. I've tried it and it's a bit meh, really.

Having said that, if anyone can set the trends, Apple can. It will be interesting to see if Skype follow suit and enable video calling on iOS 4.

120_Minutes · 08-06-2010 03:38PM

Heliosvector wrote: »

speaking of technology that may not make it here, why didnt that walky talki feature ever make it over here?
I know that in america you could send a short audio message instead of a txt. the phone acted like a handheld radio but through the phone network

this was back before (or at the same time as) voip/wifi/3g etc and network providers probably didnt want to implement features that would cost them revenue.

mad muffin · 08-06-2010 03:41PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

The N900 can do Skype video calls, so that's phone to PC. I've tried it and it's a bit meh, really.

Having said that, if anyone can set the trends, Apple can. It will be interesting to see if Skype follow suit and enable video calling on iOS 4.

I can do skype to skype vide calls on my 3G through Fring.

mgsrocks · 08-06-2010 03:44PM

120_Minutes wrote: »

this was back before (or at the same time as) voip/wifi/3g etc and network providers probably didnt want to implement features that would cost them revenue.

And i can't see network providers liking this feature either. If a way around the wifi restriction is found this service would mean free iphone4 to iphone4 calls, right? All software ready to go out of the box and you can use your existing phone number.

Teutorix · 08-06-2010 03:52PM

mgsrocks wrote: »

And i can't see network providers liking this feature either. If a way around the wifi restriction is found this service would mean free iphone4 to iphone4 calls, right? All software ready to go out of the box and you can use your existing phone number.

You still have to pay to use 3g internet so the networks still get their money.

120_Minutes · 08-06-2010 03:52PM

mgsrocks wrote: »

.

mike got spiked? nice.

Tom Dunne · 08-06-2010 03:56PM

mad muffin wrote: »

I can do skype to skype vide calls on my 3G through Fring.

Is that the 3G iPhone?

And does Fring allow Skype video calls? Never knew that.....

mad muffin · 08-06-2010 03:57PM

Tom Dunne wrote: »

Is that the 3G iPhone?

And does Fring allow Skype video calls? Never knew that.....

Yep 3G iPhone and it uses skype and MSN.

I don't know if it is over 3G though but definitely over wifi.

mgsrocks · 08-06-2010 03:58PM

120_Minutes wrote: »

mike got spiked? nice.

Your the first person to ever get it!

I set up this account a long time ago....

jesus_thats_gre · 08-06-2010 04:54PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I've been making video calls for a few years, using computers and all makes of mobile phones.
Apple seem to be trumping this as the future of phone calls, they've also made it very restricted so you can only use video calls over wifi and only iphone to iphone.

Has Steve got it all wrong about this killer new feature? We've had this technology for a good few years in ireland and it's never taken off. Will this change things?

I don't know, my immediate thoughts on it was that they are taking the complete piss..

Thinking about it however.. If I remember rightly, a video call gets the bandwidth it needs my making multiple circuit switched calls and doesn't actually use 3G data.. I can't remember what bandwidth is available but I imagine it isn't enough to get the picture quality that Apple would like. It would probably drain a significant amount of battery life also.

Also, while video calling on 3G has been here for years, has it been available in the same guise in the States? I am thinking that it isn't.

They seem to have just abandoned the "current" way of doing it and gone for an IP based service.. Sort of makes sense.

whiterebel · 08-06-2010 05:33PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote: »

I don't know, my immediate thoughts on it was that they are taking the complete piss..

Thinking about it however.. If I remember rightly, a video call gets the bandwidth it needs my making multiple circuit switched calls and doesn't actually use 3G data.. I can't remember what bandwidth is available but I imagine it isn't enough to get the picture quality that Apple would like. It would probably drain a significant amount of battery life also.

Also, while video calling on 3G has been here for years, has it been available in the same guise in the States? I am thinking that it isn't.

They seem to have just abandoned the "current" way of doing it and gone for an IP based service.. Sort of makes sense.

Didn't he say something on the lines of "Wifi for 2010" which would suggest the Networks (Probably just At&T) will be able to support it next year over 3G

drunkmonkey · 08-06-2010 06:12PM

whiterebel wrote: »

Didn't he say something on the lines of "Wifi for 2010" which would suggest the Networks (Probably just At&T) will be able to support it next year over 3G

I think that's the Problem, if AT&T can't support it right now and some other carriers, I know o2 can't support it here, there's no point launching it over 3G as it'll make the official carriers look a bit backwards.
I've been using Video calls over 3G here and I can't complain, it's pretty good seen it's only in it's infancy.

I don't get why people don't use video more...

whiterebel · 08-06-2010 06:57PM

drunkmonkey wrote: »

I think that's the Problem, if AT&T can't support it right now and some other carriers, I know o2 can't support it here, there's no point launching it over 3G as it'll make the official carriers look a bit backwards.
I've been using Video calls over 3G here and I can't complain, it's pretty good seen it's only in it's infancy.

I don't get why people don't use video more...

Cos then people wouldn't be able to use it.....:D

jesus_thats_gre · 08-06-2010 08:40PM

whiterebel wrote: »

Didn't he say something on the lines of "Wifi for 2010" which would suggest the Networks (Probably just At&T) will be able to support it next year over 3G

Networks elsewhere could probably handle it now. In fact, jailbroken iPhones will probably support it over 3G data soon enough after launch.

AT&T have just been plagued with bandwidth issues for ages now and Apple are probably just giving them a chance to complete their network upgrade.

Video Calls, has Steve Jobs got it all wrong?

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