As expected, Yahoo updated its popular Messenger app for the iPhone and included support for two-way video calling over WiFi or a 3G cellular connection. The new feature supports both the front and rear camera on the iPhone 4 and iPod touch 4G. The iPhone 3GS lacks a front-facing camera but users will be able to take advantage of the rear camera to make a video call. Video calls can be made to anyone using Yahoo Messenger, including those who are on a desktop PC or an Android-based handset.
Yahoo Messenger is only one of a growing number of applications offering video calling over WiFi or 3G. Apple launched its FaceTime service with iOS 4.0 and rolled it our to its camera-enabled devices including the iPhone 4 and the iPod touch 4G. The video calling app is expected to debut on the iPad when Apple’s refreshes its tablet device and adds a front-facing camera in 2011. While FaceTime has the advantage of being an integrated application, it is available over WiFi-only, not 3G. It is this gap that products like Yahoo Messenger, Fring, and Tango are looking to fill.
Outside of video calling the new Yahoo Messenger adds inexpensive VoIP calling to standard phone numbers, free SMS, and audio chat. Multi-tasking is also supported on the iPhone 3GS/4 and iPod touch 3G/4G.The updated app is available now for free from iTunes and the App Store on your mobile device. Download it, give it a whirl, and let us know what you think in the comments.
[Via Yahoo]