Qik Video Chat Embedded On T-Mobile's MyTouch 4G Android Phone

T-Mobile USA is really blowing things out here lately. They just proclaimed to be America's largest 4G carrier, and they're also pushing the new myTouch 4G phone as a major competitor to the iPhone and a host of other handsets on less speedy networks. Now there's one more reason to consider that combo over another: Qik.

Qik is a video streaming and video calling application that has thus far been a third-party download for Android devices. It's actually an upcharge to use it on the EVO 4G with Sprint's WiMAX network, but it allows for video calling over cellular networks, whereas the iPhone's FaceTime calling is available only over Wi-Fi.

Now, Qik has found a new home on T-Mobile. The myTouch 4G is becoming the first phone to have Qik embedded at a hardware level, with the phone itself being used to help smooth out the video calling process. This is a new, deeper level of integration, and it's expected to make the experience far better for video callers. The integrated T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik will be the first to offer integration into the native Android address book with the benefit of indicating live presence allowing customers to connect with friends and family through live video conversations and video messaging over T-Mobile's network and Wi-Fi. That means that one glance at your Android contact list will let you know if someone is available to video chat, which is a first for Android.

It's also a free service and free to use on the carrier's cellular network. Let's see AT&T or Verizon offer something like that…

T-Mobile and Qik Launch Breakthrough Mobile Video Chat Service
 
First to Offer Native Android Address Book Integration with Video Chat including Presence, and Industry-Leading Performance through Deep Hardware Integration

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Nov. 3, 2010 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Qik and T-Mobile USA, Inc. today announced details of the next generation live video communications, sharing and messaging service to be available to consumers across with the U.S. through the upcoming availability of the T-Mobile® myTouch® 4G.  The integrated T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik will be the first to offer integration into the native Android™ address book with the benefit of indicating live presence allowing customers to connect with friends and family through live video conversations and video messaging over T-Mobile's network and Wi-Fi.

The deployment of new higher speed networks, like T-Mobile's 4G mobile broadband network, together with the introduction of devices like the new T-Mobile myTouch with 1GHz CPU and 720p video capability, now makes possible a new social video experience providing consumers with new ways to communicate and share using video with their friends, family, and through social networks.

T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik offers dramatically improved video quality and frame rates compared to other video calling solutions on the marketplace through deep hardware integration.  Further, this is the first video communications service that is integrated directly into the native Android address book including live presence indication.  From the device address book, users can view if their contacts are available to engage in a live video session, and can directly initiate a session from the native device user interface.

Unlike existing video calling solutions, T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik allows users not only to conduct live two-way video conversations from their mobile device, but also allows users to leave video messages.  Similar to leaving a voice message when a recipient is not available for a voice call, users are demanding the ability to leave video messages when they attempt to share an irreproducible moment with their friend or family member.

The service also allows friends and family members to receive video messages on over 200 supported phone models, and also allows users to share moments through social networks, to stream live to the web, and to archive their important memories through a dedicated video management site at www.qik.com.

"Qik is proud to bring this game-changing new service to market specifically for T-Mobile customers," said Vijay Tella, CEO of Qik. "We have answered the need for both live and asynchronous capabilities, which is the hallmark of any complete consumer video communications service, and we have done it at a level of quality and performance that simply needs to be experienced to believe."

"T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik is the ideal showcase for the capabilities of our network and is an example of our focus on providing innovative new solutions to enrich the lives of our customers," said Andrew Sherrard, vice president, product management, T-Mobile USA.

More information on Qik can be found at www.qik.com or www.qik.com/blog. For press inquiries please email press@qik.com or call +1-650-279-8619.

Customers can visit http://mytouch.t-mobile.com for more information about the myTouch family of smartphones including the myTouch 4G.

T-Mobile and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG.  myTouch is a registered trademarks. Android is a trademark of Google, Inc.