fring, the application that lets allows internet communication over mobile internet on mobile devices, today announced that, only 2 months after its launch, its mobile video calling usage rates are already a substantial percentage of its users' mobile internet calls. Video over Internet calls account for more than 40% of fring's global call traffic, on supported devices, and more than 60% of its call traffic throughout top Western European countries, where fring mobile video call usage doubles the leading PC-based video call services.
fring launched the world's first fring and Skype mobile video calls last November, enabling users to conduct video calls to other fringsters as well as with Skype contacts over their device's Wi-Fi or 3G internet connection. This video feature is embedded within the fring application that enables free voice calls to other fring users, Skype and GTalk buddies as well as friends on regular phone lines via Skype-Out and hundreds of popular SIP services.
fring video calls solve many challenges that previously prevented significant uptake of GSM video call services. fring video is fully integrated into the whole social communication experience whereby users communicate with friends on all their favorite social networks – able to see their online presence, chat with them, upgrade to a voice call, and now, enjoy a full video calling experience. Understandably, the majority of fring's mobile video calls are international – something that was unheard of over the GSM network due to a lack of rate clarity. With fring, all communication is free over Wi-Fi, or on their data-plan. Finally the convenience of being able to receive as well as make video calls from a mobile device while the other person is on their phone or their PC, anywhere around the world, is a compelling use case that has made fring an instant mobile-video success.
Avi Shechter, Co-Founder & CEO of fring: "fring is proud to revive mobile video calls. Since introducing the world's first fring and Skype mobile video calls over internet last November, fring has been providing users the video call experience they enjoy on their PC, on the go."
Shechter continued, "The overwhelming usage of fring video calls is another testament of user demand for the Internet communication choice from their mobile devices, and we will continue pushing the innovation envelope to bring users more choice, richness and always-on connectivity of Internet communications, to the convenient mobile interface."
Following fring's video call success, fring is ramping up the number of devices that support video calls over internet to include all Symbian 9.2 & 9.3 Nokia devices such as the popular E71, immediately available for download. This comes as an addition to the already supported N95, N95 8G, N83, N97, 5800 and other Nokia touch-screen S60 devices and the iPhone and iPod touch.