Skype For iPhone Update Brings Video Over 3G To iPhone

#Skype brings 3G #videocalling to the iPhone http://snapvoip.blogspot.com/
If you were happy with Apple's facetime on the iPhone but wished it was there over the 3G network, you are in for a treat with the newly updated Skype for iPhone client.
The free iPhone app from skype allows you to make video calls even when you are away from a WIFi network, which Apple's facetime app can't do. Among other things the Skype for iPhone 3.0 brings in;

• Make Skype to Skype video calls on WiFi and 3G
• Call Skype desktop users (Mac OS X or Windows, video phones like Asus) and other iPhone users.
• Two-way video calls supported on iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and iPod touch 4th gen.
• Receive only video supported on iPad and iPod touch 3rd gen, with no camera.
• Make video calls in portrait and landscape.
• Skype video calling requires iOS 4.0 or above.

The real problem seem to be the bandwidth consumption. According to Washington Post's Pegoraro who tested the app on an iPhone 4, the app consumes about 3.2 MB a minute. This will eat up you 200MB (AT&T entry level data plan cap) in about an hour. The video quality seem to be at question too. So before jumping into video calling and showing you and your surroundings to your friends, take all these fact in to consideration.
But the audio seem to be of pretty good quality and so is the connection to desktops and other devices from Apple.
Perhaps Skype is riding on the net neutrality in releasing the Skype for iPhone with 3G video calling. The video calling feature for skype for Android is in the works.
Happy video calling during the holidays and beyond, just watch your bandwidth. Looks like it is infectious, watch the video!
 
Skype via Voices (Washington Post)