Fring Me! IM, Voice, and now Video Calls

The buzz today is all about Fring and its video calling capability on the iPhone.   With this update, many people are discovering Fring for the first time.  The app has actually been around for over a year (at least that’s how long I’ve been using it).  I originally loaded it on my Nokia N95 as I was looking for an app that would allow me to have to Skype on my phone (since Skype didn’t, or wasn’t going to offer it).   I can honestly say this one of my favorite and most used apps on my phone.   And it keeps getting better.   Besides, Skype, it gives me the ability to connect with friends over Yahoo IM, Google Talk, Facebook, and Twitter over IM all in one application and do voice calls as well.   That makes it a must have for anyone traveling in foreign countries, concerned about minutes or using up all their credit with their cellular provider.  If you’ve got a WiFi connection, you can talk to your friends on Google Talk or Skype for as long as you want -  free.

[Attention Motorola Droid users stuck on Verizon, here's your solution!  Better yet, if you have an iPod Touch, you now have a VOIP phone!]

Domestically within your network cell providers coverage, Fring can also be used to talk to your friends in other countries without incurring long distance charges.  Yes, you can do this from Skype on your desktop, but it’s more fun and handy to use on the go.

The quality and reliability is what you would expect and similar to a VOIP phone.   Just last November when I was in Buenos Aires my friend Paul had a T-Mobile VOIP phone to make calls back home.  I guess that’s now obsolete!

So what about the video calling?  Fring just released versions with video call capabilities, first with for Symbian 9, a beta version launched last week and today for iPhone/iPod Touch.  With the iPhone/iPod Touch you only get one way video (incoming).   This makes sense considering on the iPhone/iPod Touch the camera faces outward!   With Symbian phones (i.e. Nokia N95, N97) you have both a inward facing camera in addition to your outward facing camera and can do two way video.

Since the video versions are beta you won’t likely get an auto update on your phone (at least this was the case with mine).  iPhone users can go to itunes while Symbian and other users will want to go to their mobile site.

Of note, I have also been using a similar app, Nimbuzz which up until this past week did everything Fring did.  But unlike Fring, you can do group chats and conference calls.  I actually like their UI better as it not only shows which IM your friends are using but a thumbnail pic of them as well.  You won’t have the coolness factor of video, but definitely something to keep an eye on.  Nimbuzz also has a desktop and web version which gives you other access options.

Fring is available for Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile, and iPhone/iPod Touch OS 3.0.   Some features and functions are not available on all OS’s.

Download Links to Fring:
iTunes (link to app)
m.fring.com (mobile)
www.fring.com (web)