Fring for iOS Gets Major Update

Fring for iOS got a major update today, version 5.1.1.2. For one, it's a new, iPad optimized version.

Padmini Harchandrai|Jun 28, 2011, 17:05:51 IST

Fring for iOS got a major update today, version 5.1.1.2. For one, it's a new, iPad optimized version. It is the first group video calling app for the iPad (Skype is still to come and FaceTime works only between two devices). The app can be used, of course, between various platforms. An iPad user can video chat on both 3G and Wi-Fi to another iPad user, an iPhone user and/or an Android user. Group video chat goes up to 4 people. Other updates include drag and drop navigation, which facilitates being able to chat along with being on a voice or a video call, and Bluetooth support. Fring claims that the Bluetooth support will allow users to hear each other clearer. There are also connectivity improvements and bug fixes.

Fring is now iPad optimized

Optimization for the iPad 2 is definitely the game for most chat/VoIP services. Of course, what all of this means is FaceTime really needs to step up its game if it wants to work on the iPad. Granted, right now, it is arguably the best quality of a video call between devices but its restrictions almost make it not worth it. For starters, it needs to move beyond Apple devices, it needs to allow multiple user calls and it needs to work on both 3G and Wi-Fi (which is coming soon, but it should have been here already).

By Padmini Harchandrai

Paddy does not, we repeat, definitely does NOT belong in the category of Mac-head (yeh right!). She does get excited by her iPhone and her iMac and her iPod Nano and her Macbook and Bali's iPad and her future iHouse (patent pending). Ok, so maybe her head is a little bit forbidden fruit shaped. She likes shooting video (iPhone 4 camera zindabad!) and editing montages (Final Cut Pro zindabad!), whether the scene calls for it or no. In her spare time, she's either kicking it on stage with KB the keyboard or kicking butt at Taekwondo.