14 DAY TRIAL // Yahoo! Messenger, the immensely popular social networking app, has reached version 2.0 on the iOS platform, adding free video call support over WiFi, the ability to place and receive voice calls, and multitasking, for devices running firmware 4.0 and greater.
“Connect with your IM friends using video and voice with the newest Yahoo! Messenger app for your iPhone,” reads the update from Yahoo!.
“Make free voice and video calls to your Messenger friends, low cost calls to land line or mobile phones, video calls—plus get new features like multitasking, instant notifications and free SMS.”
The app’s features list has been updated to include references to the new additions.
According to the developers, Yahoo! Messenger for iOS can now be used “to make video calls and stream live video one-to-one.” The feature is exclusive to iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 users running iOS 4.1.
Surprisingly, Yahoo! says nothing about the fourth-generation iPod touch being supported, although the device is known to boast not one, but two cameras for FaceTime calling.
Video calls can be placed between mobile devices equipped with a camera, as well as between the iPhone and Mac or PC. The only requirement is a working WiFi connection for the iPhone user.
As noted above, the app also does voice calls now. Users can either make free voice calls to their Yahoo! Messenger friends, or place and receive low cost calls from friends on their landline or mobile phone.
Users can also make low cost international calls with a Yahoo! Voice Phone Out account. Unfortunately, this feature is available to premium users in select countries.
Finally, multitasking support allows the Yahoo! Messenger iOS app to work with other iPhone apps while Messenger itself runs in the background. This is also a feature supported on new-generation devices only.
As users should already know, there is also the option to send free SMS messages via Yahoo! Messenger. However, in some territories, recipients of SMS may be charged by their carriers.
