Skype brings video support to 17 Android phones
Skype has launched version 2.1 of its application for Android devices, bringing video-chatting support to a host of new handsets.
According to the company, the update allows 17 more handsets to work with its video-calling feature. The HTC Evo 3D, HTC Evo 4G, Samsung Galaxy S II, and several other phones now support the feature. In addition, Skype said today that if users have smartphones not included in the list, but have a device running Android 2.2 (Froyo) or above, they should be able to enable video calling by turning it on in the app’s settings.
You have to wonder whether Microsoft is secretly laughing about this release. In a fractured market, it is almost impossible to release an app that works with every device. Hulu found this out back in June, releasing an app that worked on 6 of the 310 Android devices available at the time. Skype added a whopping 17 more devices to it’s list of supported Android devices today. But wait, there’s more than meets the eye here. In actuality, video calling is only available to a grand total of 4 devices out of 300-plus Android based devices that are in the market.
But before all you Android handset owners jump to the Android Market to download the improved app, note that there is something of a catch. According to Skype, only the HTC Desire S, Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo, Sony Ericsson Xperia Pro, and the Google Nexus S support video calling. Skype said in a blog post that it plans to support more devices “very soon.”
I wonder how soon “very soon” is…
