Video calling is on the way, are you ready for it?

Video calling is on the way in USA. Cingular is planning to launch video calling service this year. I am sure other providers will not be far behind. But are you well equipped for that? Is your mobile phone has all minimum requirement what video calling need?

First of all let us take a quick look at what video calling is? In short it can be describe as “ a service that allows wireless phone users to see each other in the mobile phone screen while talking ”. The service allows users to send a live video stream to a recipient during a standard voice call. Beginning with a normal phone call, customers can hit one button to add a live video stream, allowing the called party to see caller while they're talking. The service also allows customers to switch the direction of the video stream during the same phone call.

Currently mobile service providers in USA mostly using 2G network. The 2G (second-generation) networks of the 1990s handle voice, caller ID, and text messaging, but the data transfer rate is not capable of transmitting video. The more recent 2.5G networks are faster, but their speeds of 30 to 90Kbps aren’t quick enough to support full-motion, real-time video. For video calling 3G network is the solution, with transmission speeds ranging from 144Kbps to 2.4Mbps, 3G is nearly as fast as high-speed cable modems.

While service provider going to use 3G network to transfer data, your mobile also should be compatible with 3G. You should have 3G mobile phone which is HSDPA(High-speed Downlink packet access) enabled.

Also your phone should have a front and back camera. The back camera shoots photos and videos, and the front camera focuses on the user to transmit the user’s image to the recipient.

Pretty interesting huh!!!! But if you don’t have 3G mobile now, don’t worry, your current mobile is good enough until video calling is supported by service provider. But if you are planning to change your current mobile phone, may be you should think about buying a 3G one.