14 DAY TRIAL // Mountain View-based Internet giant Google has just announced the availability of a new feature for Nexus S smartphones out there, namely video and voice chat, which comes as part of the Android 2.3.4 software update.
The new capability would arrive on more devices in the near future, Google announced, while unveiling the fact that Nexus S devices would receive it over the air in the next few weeks.
“Sometimes, the expressions on a person's face can mean much more than what they say. To help you stay in touch with your friends and family, we’re launching Google Talk with video and voice chat for Android phones,” the company notes in a recent blog post.
As soon as the new software arrives on Nexus S by Samsung devices out there, users would be able to video or voice chat with their friends, family and colleagues, all straight from the Android-based handset in their hands.
One of the requirements here would be that the video chat partner would be on a compatible Android tablet or phone, or would be using Gmail with Google Talk on a desktop computer.
With the new feature, video calls can be made through Wi-Fi, or via a 3G or 4G data network, as long as the wireless carrier offers support for it.
The new video or voice chat button would appear in the Google Talk friends list next to contacts, and all that one would have to do would be to hit the button to connect with them.
“Any text chats from the person you’re talking with will be overlaid on your phone’s screen so you can read them without having to leave the video,” Google explains.
“And, if you need to check something else, the video pauses automatically so you can go back to your phone’s home screen or another app. The audio will keep going even though the video has paused.”
More info on how the new application works can be found in the video embedded at the bottom of this article.
As stated above, Google Talk with video and voice chat will be delivered to Nexus S through the Android 2.3.4 over-the-air update that would arrive during the next few weeks. Other Android 2.3+ devices should receive it in the near future as well.
