When will Skype add Video to Skype for Nokia N800? I have an N800 and I have Skype on it--and I love it. But that web camera is there and I know there's enough CPU power in the N800 to do both audio and video (since the Google Talk on my N800 will do both, I'm sure Skype can pull it off to).

Please don't just give me a canned response to this. I really would like to know when Skype add video to the Skype version for the Nokia N800. Any estimated date? Do you need beta testers?

Hello Doug,

Thank you for contacting Skype Support.

The video calling feature is not available for Skype for Mobile at this time. This is primarily due to the high processing power needed for video encoding that current Mobile devices not possess.

We are aware that some devices already allow you to make video calls, e.g. via UMTS. However the requirements for video in Skype are higher due to the fact it has to work well also when making a video call to Skype for Windows or Mac

Best regards,
Skype Support

Originally Posted by dougr2024

I just got my N800 a few weeks ago and it really annoys me that that cool little pop-out webcam won't work with Skype or apparently any other N800-to-PC video chat software.

A couple of days ago, I contacted Nokia Technical Support, insisted on being escalated to a level 2 technician, then once I was there, insisted on talking to a supervisor or manager. I pressed hard that I'm certain I'm not the only one that wants VIDEO CHAT--usable, practical, actual, freakin' VIDEO CHAT--and not just between me and someone else who just happens to also own a Nokia N800.

...Of course, I got the runaround, even from this escalated level 2 supervisor. Basically, her stance was that it was up to the other companies (Skype, ICQ, etc.) to make their software work with the N800. Yeah, that makes sense--but it does not make sense that Nokia would just release this wonderful piece of hardware with a webcam that can't be used with anything other than other N800 users. I tried to suggest that a workaround might be for Nokia to create their own stripped down PC-compatible video chat software that would non-N800 users could download and at least then be able to do a video chat with n800 users. There must be tons of far-away relatives who would greatly appreciate that, even if they can't simply use their existing ICQ or Yahoo Messenger.

Bottom line from Nokia: she wouldn't release any info on whether or not Nokia has a plan for this, nor would she divulge any more information or help, other than to just repeat that it's up to other companies to develop software mods to work with the N800... That, and she came close to chastising me for not understanding that I was "asking for the hardware to do something that it wasn't designed for"... Now really, how much sense does that make? Basically, it's just a circular argument that is designed to frustrate me to the point I hang up in disgust--which is what I did.

Next I contacted Skype themselves, with the following request:



and here is their response:



...Sheesh... will we never get this? It really irritates me that they haven't even done so much as develop even stuttering, postage-stamp size video. Heck, I would even accept something that looks like a fast sideshow presentation. After all, the video chat tool that comes with the N800 does work, if the other person has an N800.

Let's all really press Nokia and Skype to develop some software app that would allow the N800 to video chat to the PC (and Mac) worlds.

If anyone is interested, here is how I contacted Nokia: 1-888-NOKIA-2U (1-888-665-4228), ask to be connected to a level two support person

and here is how I contacted Skype: support@skype.net

Maybe if they get enough feedback from us, they will do something... or maybe some rogue programmer out there will develop a third-party, video-only applet that will work side-by-side Skype but will run completely outside of Skype. So fire up your Skype, get connected, then fire up the little video-only app so at least you can see something as you continue talking in Skype, like I said--even if it's just a little postage-sized video window.

Originally Posted by zerojay

They are working on a retooled version of the original PC software.

Could you just tell me this: is Skype working on adding that in, for the
N800? Or is it not possible to have video with Skype on the N800, due
to technical constraints?

I'd like to know you guys are working on it, but I'd also like to know
one way or another if it's possible or not possible.

So... does Skype have any plans on still trying to make video happen on
the N800?

Unfortunately, since our product isn't just made to work with your specific device, but needs to work with many different devices with different hardware configuration, then we can't optimize it to work with your device only to use your device's specific hardware acceleration to be able to use CPU power more efficiently to encode/decode video and audio simultaneously. That's the reason why video calling isn't supported with Skype for Mobile at the moment.

Originally Posted by dougr2024

"They" who? Skype?