With a set of new features, Qik Video Connect becomes a must-have application for your Android phone.
Qik, the company recently acquired by Skype, started simply as a multiplatform real time video streaming service, allowing its users to stream on the internet what they were filming and to share it on their favorite social networks. Today they announced an important update to their Android application that makes possible to start a videochat over 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi with anyone else using Qik on another Android (2.1+), iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch with camera. But that’s not everything.
Qik integrates with your smartphone’s address book to see who among your contacts is a Qik user, and shows who is currently online and able to receive a live videocall using both the front-facing camera or the back camera to show what’s around you. But if the person you need to talk to is not available no worries: you can still record a video and send it to your contact, which will be able to watch it as soon as they get back online and to access it also later on a threaded video mail conversation. Sending video mails is free until June 1st then it will be available for an optional monthly or annual charge, while receiving will always be free.
Furthermore, Qik integrates with your social networks allowing you to record a video and sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or on your blog.
Qik’s co-founder Bhaskar Roy said they are working with handset manufacturers (HTC, Samsung, LG, Motorola, Dell) and chipset vendors (Qualcomm, TI, Samsung, Nvidia) to improve battery life and video quality through harware integration, but declined to comment on how Qik would be integrating its technology with Skype.
Qik for Android is available for free on the Android Market, or scanning the QR Code:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERvpp0fMyYs
via Qik Blog