AT&T considering video conference calling?

by Sean Cooper, posted Jul 27th 2007 at 4:52PM

We're hearing whispers of a focus group held by AT&T where they were showing off a video calling service on an unknown mobile. The handset was described as a BlackJack-like handset, but thicker, with a forward facing camera -- of course. When in-call, the main screen showed your caller, but a sidebar apparently held other smaller video feeds. We're really hoping this is rumor-becomes-truth, because the only thing better than AT&T offering video calling, would, of course, be multi-person video calling. iChatMobileAV anybody?

[Thanks, prettyboyy]

Filed under: Handsets, Messaging, Multimedia, ATT

Tags: rumor, video calling, VideoCalling

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Highly Ranked

Taylor Alexander @ Jul 27th 2007 6:06PM

to above:
Umm... "new" if you mean new to us and so old in other countries that HTC has had to remove the user facing camera on most devices for US carriers for years now... Then yes, they are "new".

Also, with edge and no user facing camera, good luck with iPhone video conferencing...
-Taylor

Neutral

k_otix99 @ Jul 27th 2007 8:09PM

Who needs the iphone anyway

Neutral

derX @ Jul 29th 2007 12:44PM

...you both missed the point because of the accompanying graphic. The picture is there just to show what they would dream multi-person video calling would look like.
------------

Also, the iPhone pwns....now only if I could afford it. xD

Neutral

chadow @ Jul 27th 2007 7:35PM

Hmmm...makes me wish my Blackjack had a forward facing camera. Im not sure I have seen any phone that has one on the same side as the main screen, come to think of it.

Neutral

k_otix99 @ Jul 27th 2007 8:07PM

first to strike!!!!!

AT&T is coming out with pretty cool new features if this holds true.

Neutral

Mark @ Jul 27th 2007 8:52PM

chadow - The Samsung 1600 has a front facing camera, if you like your BJ so much, look into it.

So does this mean all of my HTC phones that have 3G video access will eventually work?

Highly Ranked

Starkenator @ Jul 27th 2007 9:46PM

It is most likely the HTC Kaiser (AT&T 8925). It has a forward facing camera and HSUPA so it is probably the first AT&T phone that can handle video conferencing.

Neutral

intokkabire @ Jul 28th 2007 8:12AM

I second this idea... The Kaiser would seem to fit the bill perfectly.

Neutral

ShortFuse @ Jul 27th 2007 10:22PM

The CU500v has a rotating camera and supports video sharing atm. The camera can rotate to shoot front and back. I guess this'll be the first one (though a firmware update will be required)

Neutral

Jonathan Bruha @ Jul 27th 2007 11:17PM

Again, the iPhone lacks both the video recording and UMTS data capabilities to do this.

Neutral

carlos @ Jul 28th 2007 12:00AM

Maybe they're testing the iPhone v2 with 3G and forward facing camera. :-)

Neutral

Mike @ Jul 28th 2007 12:03AM

I heard about this (or something like this) at a tech conference last year- Cingular (now AT&T) wanted to make video streaming from one cell phone to another, but said that they didn't yet have the infrastructure to do it yet, or something like that. They didn't mention anything about a special videoconferencing handset, though. I haven't heard anything else about it since then; perhaps they're finally trying to make it happen?

Neutral

Surur @ Jul 28th 2007 5:01AM

Its probably the HTC Cavalier, which would look like a thicker Blackjack.
http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2007/01/16/unboxing-htc-cavalier/

Neutral

Surur @ Jul 28th 2007 5:02AM

... and anyone else think using an iPhone to illustrate a rumoured 3G , keyboarded smartphone is stupid?

Neutral

longthai @ Jul 28th 2007 11:11AM

A buddy of mine works at AT&T and he told me that they discussed this in a meeting yesterday. I think they are going to have video conference.

Neutral

wicked @ Aug 4th 2007 12:26PM

longthai - did your friend give any hint as to when they are going to make it happen? i am so excited about it, i am willing to hold off on buying another phone until they come out with the video conference calling service.

Neutral

mitul_patel76 @ Aug 2nd 2007 2:26PM

i have a E50 handset & i use video call on my mobile & what prise of this scheme

Neutral

mass notification system @ Sep 1st 2007 7:02AM

AT&T is giving a new way to boost up the business by providing such type of video conferencing.

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