Tango Text, Voice, Video Calls
by Antonio Wells
Oct 5, 2010 8:00 AM –
Install
Tango Voice & Video Calls offers Free Voice and Video Calls! Now you can leave your friends video messages when they don’t pick up your call! To send a video message without calling, long press on your friends name and follow the prompts. Watch your video messages by tapping the Messages tab in Tango.
Price: Free
Pros & Cons:
Pros
- Free video calling on Android and iPhone over 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi
- Supports phones without front-facing camera
- Decent video quality
- No cell minutes used
- No account signups (for now at least)
Cons
- Some kinks need to be worked out in the app such as audio and reports of battery drain
Features:
Tango Video Calls is an impressive video calling app that allows totally free (for now) video calling between Android and iPhones, and supports phones with or without the front-facing cameras. What’s that you say… why use it without a front-facing camera in your phone? Well… if stationary you can get creative and use a mirror to see the other caller. Unfortunately this is what I had to do with my puny Nexus One when chatting with iPhone and HTC Evo buddies.
Once connected the app allows you to toggle the video and mute buttons, if you have a front-facing camera you can swap the either front and back cameras, and end the call.
Video & Audio Quality
I found even over 3G the video quality is just above decent, however audio is horribly low unless you use earbuds or Bluetooth headsets.
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Tango Video Calls in Use 1
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Tango Video Calls in Use 2
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Tango Video Calls Contacts List
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Tango Video Calls Invite Friends
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Tango Video Calls Settings Options
Usefulness:
Tango Video Calls is more WOW factor, but definitely useful! With similar apps I’ve seen deaf people communicate, family members connect across countries, soldiers see loved ones and lift spirits, so I’m sure the same and more can be applied here. What’s unique about this app is not only did Apple allow it in their app store, unlike Apple’s product it works over cellular networks.
Ease of Use:
I was shocked that there was no sign up process nor ads in this free app (that remains to be seen later I guess). Once you install the app it auto-fills some simple information about yourself like name, phone number, and email address associated to your phone, you confirm and start inviting friends. Once you’ve populated with friends you simply tap their name to connect.
Once connected be sure to tap the icon in the lower right corner represented by video camera icon and the letter “T”, to toggle your camera.