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Comment by axod | Hacker News Reader

So Apple have made a skype clone for their iPhone :/

Call me unmoved, and unexcited. Why is this important? We've been doing video conferencing for decades now.

You can also just download 'fring' for free on Android to get skype video calls. (You can even use it on 3G or whatever you feel like. Unlike Apple which restricts everything).

Only Apple can routinely release decades old technology and hail it as revolutionary, and seem to get away with it.

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That's kind of what I thought too. I have been using video calls for ages. Yes really - ages. First time using my htc TyTN/Hermes. Nowadays using my Nokia N900. It's weird your post got downvoted. Someone care to take a guess on why? I would (guess) but I honestly can't find any reason at all besides fanboyism and I don't want to acknowledge that such things happens around here...

Describe the steps for video call using iPhone 4 and whatever you used before.

I've never used the n900, but on the Nokia n800, slide out the camera and the video chat app opens up. Click on a contact to call.

The technology isn't revolutionary but making it accessible to people is.

"people" use skype all the time. I'm not sure video calling from mobiles will really take off. It's been available on other phones for quite a while now if you look for them. I really only want to video-call when I'm at home. For which skype works just fine.

I can't really imagine wanting to video-call anyone while I'm out or without laptop/netbook.

But only if you make it accessible to people with iPhone 4 on both sides of the conversation, and only while in range of an accessible WiFi access point?

Sure. I bet Apple has already sold more video chat capable phones in the US than any other company has in the past. The requirement of having an iPhone 4 at both ends is a barrier but at least it's easy to understand. Otherwise you've got to track down some model of phone with a front facing camera, ensure it can run the right software, install the software on both ends, and exchange usernames, IPs or whatever to establish the call. For most people, especially on family plans, buying the same model of phone is more realistic.

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