Qik to power T-Mobile’s mobile video chat service

mobile

Qik, the mobile video company that is often most closely associate with Sprint’s Evo 4G, will be playing a serious roll in T-Mobile’s Android lineup. A press release, fresh out of the oven, reports that:

The integrated T-Mobile Video Chat powered by Qik will be the first to offer integration into the native Androidâ„¢ 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 integrated video chat service, which will be available on the upcoming myTouch 4G handset, will “allow users not only to conduct live two-way video conversations from their mobile device, but also will allow users to leave video messages.” Video messages are supported on over 200 phone models.

“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, T-Mobile’s VP of product management. Hit the jump for the full press release.

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 Androidâ„¢ 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.

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9 Comments
  • http://www.facebook.com/kickitwithkyle Kyle Phillips

    I feel I’m gonna start using this video chat feature when I’m grocery shopping and can’t remember what color tampon box my gf wanted.

    • http://www.bgr.com Andrew Munchbach

      Silly Kyle… you don’t have a girlfriend. Your Facebook pages say so. Problem solved!

      • Mgl323

        hahaha

      • http://twitter.com/VDubb722 Vic Webb

        That’s some hardcore ownage. Kudos, Andrew.

  • Donny

    Does Qik work well on EDGE or GPRS? Cause that is mostly what your experience is like on T-mobile.

  • Jpwillis269

    Aaahhh T-Mobile while it is true your HSPA+ network is fast, it is still NOT 4G anymore than Sprint’s Wimax is. There are many fact filled documens to support this reality with the GSM alliance. Thank you for the massive improvements in technology you have made in the last couple of years, but please stop the false advertising.

  • Anonymous

    Qik sucks on sprint so I don’t think it’s going to get any better on tmobile.

  • Enigma

    I had an Evo and used qik and it was choppy at best but this hspa in Los Angeles is fast and snappy so I am sure qik will be better I have no worries about that … I am on my way to Costco to return my G2 and grab my white mytouch … That’s why I love Costco …90 day return policy no questions asked! And yeah u guessed right I am a phone whore lol ;-)

  • http://twitter.com/VDubb722 Vic Webb

    Is it true two-way video calling, or the lame two-way video, one-way voice solution on the EVO 4G?

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