Application for video calling over 3G network

[azizija]

Any progress or update from nokia about this video call over 3G function on our beloved N900...can anyone from nokia or software developer can give us some hint...???
Can some one in this community work out on that??

[cddiede]

I don't understand why everyone is rushing to have their own walled off garden of video call standards put out there. Android's QIK (I know QIK isn't Android exclusive, but QIK used only for person to person video calling is), and iPhone's facetime are both severely limited by thier very nature.

We've already got video calling over Skype, the most widely used VOIP application in the world, that works on 3G or Wi-Fi. What more do you need?

Excuse me if I'm mistaken and what you're asking about is the old fashioned 3G video calling (which has never been enabled on GSM networks in the USA), but again I ask what does it get you that Skype does not?

[peacekeper]

well in my case for example since the cellular network enter to my country everydoy is been using video call over 3g and gsm, only because in the usa u dont have this service it doesnt mean that is not useful for the rest of the people not living in usa, so i am agree with azizija somebody should work on that service on N900, of course is not me the one who is going to work on that since i am noob in this, but someone i know could work on that ok just for the records this what i think about that, and is not that i want to confront somebody, not at all

[WereCatf]

I guess some people do use it, but I personally do not know a single person like that and as such I can only guess that it's used by only a handful of people at most. As such it'll be tough to find anyone willing to code an application for that completely for free.

The most common reason why it isn't used is because carriers charge so insanely huge premium for every second and because it's usually laggy, horrible picture quality, and can't be used between a PC and a phone. These atleast among those people I know personally, I obviously can't say much about people I don't know..

[azizija]

i'm live in native country not like US country with wider and faster internet connection and for sure not all of people owning their skype phone and better internet tablet phone or whatever related to VOIP function,but lot of people still having old type of phone and suport that 3g video calling function..so it just some added value to our N900.that for my concern.:)..if that the most function to be with,better we replace with other type of phone for example nokia N8.but i'm still loving using my N900 and loyal with nokia for sure.

Now video calling using over 3G is more cheaper rather than subscribing internet package in my country..even our telco operator offer free 3G video calling to our sub line phone..so that for my intention,most of country like india,china,singapore,malaysia,sri lanka,indonesia,arab saudi and etc is most popular usage for this function..

i'm just highlighting and asking for this issues,it that any progress or update from nokia or application developer such as fring or others guys from maemo community to work on that,from my opinion its more useful to other user hopefully.

sorry for my poor english language..hope you can get my point here..thanks :o

[WereCatf]

azizija: I am not aware of anyone working on such an application nor have I seen Nokia make any kind of a mention for such. Your only hope is for someone kind enough to pick up the task and do it, but I atleast can't help with that, I just don't have the needed skills.

[ste-phan]

Nokia should get some consistency in support of functions.

N8: "native" 3G network videocall but no Skype (coming somewhere in 2011)
N900: Skype nicely integrated but no native 3G videocall

Beginning of 2009 Nokia and Skype announced a partnership to integrate and preload Skype on Nseries devices. (but N8 shows the preload plan is already failing)

Personally I'd go for Skype (and back Mr cddiede's opinion)

-quite a wide spread standard
-Camera can be switched on optionally when 3G call quality is found tb excellent
-inter OS / hardware platform (even Mac video soon will work with 5.0 Skype)
-you see when your contact is online
-you see when your contact's device sports a camera
-carrier independent (3G, Wifi broadband, wired broadband,...)
-other functionality such as Skype out , text chat, ....
-no special video call fee from wireless operator (although some sneaky operators might try to block Skype)
....

[azizija]

WereCatf : im also noob and,didnt know anything also,im just a normal N900 user but for sure this a NOKIA fault and their responsibility..for me rather i buy third party application with some cost to get this function work on my N900..i know its hard to find someone with kind enough to do it without any cost..
i still know some poeple and N900 user still want this function even it need to be pay for it.maybe it can drag developer interest to developt such app or other quality application for our N900..that my hope for future of maemo and N900 also..hope my issues didnt brick nokia or maemo poilcies to open source all of their resource... :confused:

[theonelaw]

Question for those of you here:

Why video call over 3g ?

The GSM operators will discover in the near future
their service reduced to voice calls and internet access
due to the simple fact they must charge far more
to implement 'video calls' than what skype and a lot of other
apps already do over the internet.

The cost of implementing video over a network
of which only some minor fraction of customers will ever use
has got to be orders of magnitude greater than the
cost of you and your contact(s) simply installing
skype, linphone or whatever.

Or is there some other urgent reason I need to shell out another
chunk of my paycheck :( each month to my telco provider
to pay for the cost of implementing a service which only
1% of their customers will ever actually use?
... because the telco charge everyone for making this possible.

[Joseph.skb]

I'll vote for 3G video call!!!

I don't have any friends who's on Skype + video cam all the time :(

And I don't know anyone personally who is using N900 :rolleyes:

So, I would really love to have 3G video call :)

Thanks.

[azizija]

im also agreed with Joseph.skb.....some country maybe its cost for 3g conversation is costly and maybe not available for them due to telco operator restriction...im also voting for 3G video call because mostly of others people having this native function on their phone...not all having skype or internet calling function...that the reason why we all need that function for this time being..

[peacekeper]

I'll vote for 3G video call!!!

I don't have any friends who's on Skype + video cam all the time :(

And I don't know anyone personally who is using N900 :rolleyes:

So, I would really love to have 3G video call :)

Thanks.

yea me too i dont have to many friends using skype besides get conected to internet packages is more expensive than 3g video call services at least in my country thats why i am with the video call not with skype, i have a skype account activated but believe me or ask me if anytime i have a make a skype video call? never and now after pr 1.3 there is no options in my contacts to make video call with skype i dont know what is the problem but i can use this service. so once again ill stay with the 3g video call and i am living here very close to usa and we do have 3g video call, and its very popular rather than skype or other account.

[Joseph.skb]

Has anyone had success in getting Nokia's attention to develop an application? Please share what needs to be done?

Can the developers reading this consider this as a priority?

I don't have experience in development and I don't know the process to submit an application request. Appreciate any help! Thanks in advance.

:)

[kureyon]

Nokia should get some consistency in support of functions.

N8: "native" 3G network videocall but no Skype (coming somewhere in 2011)
N900: Skype nicely integrated but no native 3G videocallBy selectively crippling their phones (ie removing functionality) Nokia hopes to introduce enough segmentation that you will buy both a "business" phone and a "multimedia" phone and hence increase their sales/profits.

[Siddarth]

Here in India too..3g is very new and Everyone is So much excited for Video calling...But N900 have upset me with Video calling when its loaded With So much Possibilities!

Skype Is The least i use......When other phones have straight Video calling facilities!

[benny1967]

I don't understand why everyone is rushing to have their own walled off garden of video call standards put out there.
We've already got video calling over Skype, the most widely used VOIP application in the world, that works on 3G or Wi-Fi. What more do you need?

3G video calling is the standard; skype is the walled garden.

[Joseph.skb]

First they try to cramp everything into a phone (PDA, GPS, camera, entertainment,...), and now that consumers have adapted to the 'swiss-army phone', they want to reverse the process and segment the phones? Who's going to INTENTIONALLY carry 2 phones for different functionality? I have 2 phones, 1 is a company assigned Blackberry, and the other is my personal N900. But in actual fact, I'd rather just carry 1 phone that fits all.

By selectively crippling their phones (ie removing functionality) Nokia hopes to introduce enough segmentation that you will buy both a "business" phone and a "multimedia" phone and hence increase their sales/profits.

[Joseph.skb]

Here in India too..3g is very new and Everyone is So much excited for Video calling...But N900 have upset me with Video calling when its loaded With So much Possibilities!

Skype Is The least i use......When other phones have straight Video calling facilities!

Have faith, my friend, we have some great and wonderful developers here who may be able to help :p

But for now, I suggest, if you have lemons...make lemonade. There's no harm having and learning new technology - Skype. It may come in handy :cool:

[ju-maha]

I would love to have 3G video call. 3G video calls are "free" for me at least for next one and half year.

I don't know so many skype friends. :(

[azizija]

First they try to cramp everything into a phone (PDA, GPS, camera, entertainment,...), and now that consumers have adapted to the 'swiss-army phone', they want to reverse the process and segment the phones? Who's going to INTENTIONALLY carry 2 phones for different functionality? I have 2 phones, 1 is a company assigned Blackberry, and the other is my personal N900. But in actual fact, I'd rather just carry 1 phone that fits all.

ha ha..im also still using 2 phone right now..1 for calling,sms and of coz for video calling over 3G with my friends and for my N900 is use for internet and networking during travelling or outstation..hope i can stick to one phone next time..still waiting the moment become truth..:rolleyes:

[ste-phan]

3G video calling is the standard; skype is the walled garden.

I agree it would be nicer if the Skype protocol was open to implement for any developer.

But where is the walled garden in being able to choose your internet connection when using Skype?

imo 3G is the standard developed to milk mobile network customer's cash. If it wasn't it might have actually grown some user base after front camera's got introduced on mobile phones many years.

Skype has a lot of advantages. It is popular. The video calling is there if you choose to use it.
It gives that N900 front camera on at least a few hours of play time before it gets recycled. :rolleyes:

Have you ever succeeded calling an unsuspecting friend in Video on his Linux or windows PC with standard 3G videocal? Sitting outside without extra cost? Without dragin a laptop?
I vote for both 3G videocall (because it is the standard especially for India) and Skype integration (because it is useful and has videocal)

[benny1967]

But where is the walled garden in being able to choose your internet connection when using Skype?

Hint: You need a Skype account. The person you want to call needs a Skype account. You cannot choose which service provider you want to sign up with. It needs to be Skype. That's where the name comes from.

With 3G video calls (or SIP, for that matter, which is a standard as well), you're free to choose any provider you want; you can switch providers, and - most important of all - you needn't force your contacts to sign up with your provider as well. This is the most important point with standards.

Have you ever succeeded calling an unsuspecting friend in Video on his Linux or windows PC with standard 3G videocal? Sitting outside without extra cost? Without dragin a laptop?

I have always succeeded in calling people on their phones with standard video calls. I needn't worry if they're on Skype, if they're signed in, if they're even online... As long as I have their phone number, it works. (Well - and as long as they don't own an N900 ;) ...)

[azizija]

3G video calling is the standard; skype is the walled garden.

my intention to raise this issue in this thread is not to argue or discuss which one is better,even some of us live in native country not mean we didn't know about this communication technology.we all know which is one is better to use and how it cost to us..

i'm just asking or try to drag some intention from hacker or developer out there for this function to help or give support to others because this function or application is much useful and handy for some people in this community.maybe for some people here it a most awaiting app for them...not for your country,but sure for mine or others...:p

[azizija]

NOKIA mean
"connecting people not to disappointing people"

MAEMO.org mean
"open source community not to close all their resource to comunity"

[Mr.Rent]

The wierd thing is that h3g in italy sells n900.... but h3g was the first to sell phone to videocall... they came into the market telling everybody that the future is videocall.... and n900 can't videocall !?

[James_Littler]

they came into the market telling everybody that the future is videocall.... and n900 can't videocall !?

People were slated for buying into the internet rather than into concord....look where they are now!

Fact is, people are often wrong.

[damion]

I don't know anyone who uses Windows, so Skype video calling doesn't work as it apparently uses some newfangled windows-only-so-far codec/protocol. That may change but at the moment I need mates to use in browser integrated google video talk plugin if I want phone to computer video.

Anyway, I'm pro 3G cellular based video, if only for completeness. The author of fMMS is our best bet, but he'll probably like some help. There is presumably a weird initialisation sequence transmitted before the channel is opened, then qcif res 3gp video and amr audio are shoved over the pipe.

[Joseph.skb]

ha ha..im also still using 2 phone right now..1 for calling,sms and of coz for video calling over 3G with my friends and for my N900 is use for internet and networking during travelling or outstation..hope i can stick to one phone next time..still waiting the moment become truth..:rolleyes:

Are you using 1 sim card or 2 sim cards?

[azizija]

Are you using 1 sim card or 2 sim cards?

im using 2 sim card,1 for my old number with my N95 8GB and the other sim is with internet subscription at my N900..:cool:

[Radicalz38]

Question for those of you here:

Why video call over 3g ?

The GSM operators will discover in the near future
their service reduced to voice calls and internet access
due to the simple fact they must charge far more
to implement 'video calls' than what skype and a lot of other
apps already do over the internet.

The cost of implementing video over a network
of which only some minor fraction of customers will ever use
has got to be orders of magnitude greater than the
cost of you and your contact(s) simply installing
skype, linphone or whatever.

Or is there some other urgent reason I need to shell out another
chunk of my paycheck :( each month to my telco provider
to pay for the cost of implementing a service which only
1% of their customers will ever actually use?
... because the telco charge everyone for making this possible.
It's because with 3g video call you could call someone anytime anywhere under then sun(even moon) as long as he/she has a signal. On Skype the person you need to contact to need to be online first before you can video call him/her. Do you know now the difference between the two?
Now my question:

Why say no to video call over 3g ?

[oxpo]

I don't know anyone who uses Windows, so Skype video calling doesn't work as it apparently uses some newfangled windows-only-so-far codec/protocol....

I don't know where you got that, but I have been using skype on linux, for at least four years.

Just thought I'd let you know.

/oxpo

[Danveer]

well in india, the cost of video call is just 30 paise/min which in conversion into us$ becomes 0.6 cents per minute

hardly 1 cent for a minute of a video call....
on the other hand, internet connection costs 2$ for month

so which one do you think is cheaper, 2$ or 6 cents....??????
ANS===3g video call




obviously if some don't feels need does not mean it is not required....
i hope you developers get this idea and make a necessary application enabling 3g video call

[kureyon]

I don't know where you got that, but I have been using skype on linux, for at least four years.Have you actually tried a video call between N900 and desktop linux? I've been playing with it today and I haven't managed to succeed. And even on windows I couldn't get it work until I updated skype.

[azizija]

Any word from hacker or developer about this issues..???
hope other developer such as fring are interested to port this function on N900 if this app not free type and put it on OVI repo if it need more effort to make it happen..

i really hate about OVI store because there is no quality and productive app for our N900 at there..suck OVI...rather i pay to you guys in this community from them..:mad:

[SavageBrat]

Have you actually tried a video call between N900 and desktop linux? I've been playing with it today and I haven't managed to succeed. And even on windows I couldn't get it work until I updated skype.

Sorry off topic a bit..being in Jordan,,we can make video call over our orange network..waiting on zain to get with the program,,but i was kind of tickle today as I chatted with a friend in the us over skype from my n900 with video and it worked great.. :)

[turbowei]

Tried google video call?

or you can install amsn, msn video call was known to work.

[azizija]

Tried google video call?

or you can install amsn, msn video call was known to work.

All of that app using internet protocol to work out.plus skype,SIP,jabber,fring or what ever.

for video call using 3G is work from our local service provider carrier is in different segment..so that why we discuss in this thread..majority of phone user or our contact mostly having this type of function on their phone.for some reason,it differ from telco service provider on each country which provide this service or not..
for my country and asia region this function is most popular for the past 7 year until now and we are still love using it because is cost going cheaper and sometimes provide special package on it..

not All of phone user is enabling their internet and login to their VOIP acc every time if they on mobile..so that why for some country,3G video calling it the most popular function and most reliable video calling for this time being because it based from our telco service provider and not depend on internet access..

maybe some of you can get idea from that..thanks..:o

[illo1977]

I would like an application that can make me able to use standard videocall. I have 1.000 minutes of videocall for free per month bu actually I can't use thouse.

[amritpal2489]

Yeah.. N900 is the best smartphone out there... but it cant make a 3g videocall is a bit of a shame.. even the middle end phones have this feature nowadays

[dchky]

Excuse me if I'm mistaken and what you're asking about is the old fashioned 3G video calling (which has never been enabled on GSM networks in the USA), but again I ask what does it get you that Skype does not?

Old fashioned? Are you serious? It's significantly better in many ways. It gets you instant access to video calling without the proprietary 3rd party application (skype) installs that are required for almost every single non-N900 platform that exists. The person you call does not have to have some kind of data plan to receive your calls, just a plain old 3G enabled phone. Even better, neither person has to be 'on line and signed in at the same time'

It gives you phone to phone video calling with no middle man, no fuss, all based on a common standard that just works regardless of OS or hardware manufacturer. I trust my telecommunications carrier more than I trust Skype knowing about whom and when I make calls.

Seriously, dial the number and there it is, video. You are seriously saying Skype is better? That, sir, is wrong.

Yeah.. N900 is the best smartphone out there... but it cant make a 3g videocall is a bit of a shame.. even the middle end phones have this feature nowadays

The N900 is NOT a smartphone, it's a tablet computer with a cellular modem for data connectivity. Phone features are a convenience, an incomplete convenience. If you want a phone, buy a phone.

[amritpal2489]

this is no excuse that its a tablet computer nd not a phone.. we r using it as a phone and nokia is cell phone manufacturing company.. so it is a phone and 3g video calling is one of the basic feature in most of the phones.. 3g data cards are also used on tablets netbooks notebooks and with its help we can make a videocall thru our laptop... so y nt the all mighty N900???

[Joseph.skb]

this is no excuse that its a tablet computer nd not a phone.. we r using it as a phone and nokia is cell phone manufacturing company.. so it is a phone and 3g video calling is one of the basic feature in most of the phones.. 3g data cards are also used on tablets netbooks notebooks and with its help we can make a videocall thru our laptop... so y nt the all mighty N900???

So, again, how do we get Nokia's attention to come up with a 3G video call application? or how do we vote priority for Maemo developers? Rather than just talking about it? All the points discussed so far are accurate, but we are still preaching to the choir? This is a truly fundamental and useful phone application. Let's make it happen before the N900 becomes obsolete :cool:

[leojab]

yes, 3g video calling is a very much needed and available in most phones these days. how to get nokia's attention to this? can the maemo coucil members put it forwad to nokia officially?

[damion]

I don't know where you got that, but I have been using skype on linux, for at least four years.

Just thought I'd let you know.

/oxpo

n900 skype video doesn't work for desktop Mac/Linux video skype clients, only the latest windows release. This is odd considering that the n900 is just an arm linux platform itself.

[mobiledivide]

n900 skype video doesn't work for desktop Mac/Linux video skype clients, only the latest windows release. This is odd considering that the n900 is just an arm linux platform itself.

Video now works with Skype Beta 5 for Mac osx and N900.

[Joseph.skb]

I was excited seeing this thread alive again, and thought someone finally came up with 3G video call...but it's just another disappointment wait again :(

Still keeping my fingers crossed...positive thinking...:D

[damion]

I was excited seeing this thread alive again, and thought someone finally came up with 3G video call...but it's just another disappointment wait again :(

Still keeping my fingers crossed...positive thinking...:D

You need to encourage the fMMS author to try.

[damion]

Video now works with Skype Beta 5 for Mac osx and N900.

Well it's still not Linux but I wonder if that also has a beta, I'll have to check...

[amritpal2489]

looks like we are never going to be able to make video calls from our beloved n900

[Joseph9560]

no hope left to me! does meego or maemo 6 support 3G video calls?

edit: btw is there a way to add skype in contacts and conversation things for indian firmware. I was thinking of flashing my phone sometimes later if there is no way to ad skype protocal.

[lucas777]

Id love Windows Live video calling, many people (that i know) Dont use skype at all. Its all facebook and msn messenger

[leomax]

Is there any chance of getting umts video calls in meego

[m4r0v3r]

if its supported in Meego I don't see why not.