Skype with Video Chat Coming to Android Market (and My Evo 4G)

My biggest problem with the HTC Evo 4G is the lack of a proper Skype client. If you’ve been reading my stuff for awhile then you know that I rely heavily on the UMA features of my BlackBerry Curve 8900 and Skype app on my iPhone 3GS while traveling internationally. The lack of a full Skype client on the Evo 4G is the only deal-breaker issue I have with the phone. With Verizon’s exclusive agreement with Skype, I didn’t think it was coming. Thankfully, I was wrong. Skatter Tech received an email from Skype PR spokesperson Brianna Reynaud that said:

Skype envisions a world where video plays a larger role in the way we communicate. The next generation innovation involving video calling will not be bound to the computer. We’re seeing a proliferation of video calling shared between all kinds of connected devices. It’s on computers (today 1/3 of all calls on Skype happen via video), televisions (Skype bringing video calls to living rooms via Panasonic, Samsung & LG partnership), and it will eventually be coming to mobile devices too. We’re betting big on video, and we intend to set the bar on mobile video calling, and it’s something we’re going to do this year.

We will be bringing a direct to consumer app to the Android marketplace later this year. This application will be available for all consumers globally to download regardless of carriers. (i.e. similar to how we offer the iPhone app today)

Obviously this is exciting news for me as an avid Skype user. It’s also exciting for people that are planning to buy an Evo 4G. The phone has a front-facing camera and allows for video chat. Skype has years of experience with PC-to-PC video-chat and I expect the company’s solution to be one of the best out there. I want this app now! Hopefully “later this year” is closer to now than it is December.

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