Apple FaceTime vs Google Talk vs Microsoft Skype

The war has began among the Video Chat applications over Internet. The first company that introduce it is Apple that launched the FaceTime application for iPad. The new iOS 4.3 will be equipped with the FaceTime application in the iPhone 4, iPad 2, iPod 4, and Mac.



The second company is Google that launched the Google Talk with Video Chat for Android. The application will integrated with Android operating system since Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). All smartphones and tablets that operates with the operating system will be equipped with Google Talk with Video Chat.

The last company is Microsoft that acquired Skype last month. The biggest software company in the world has launched the new Windows Phone 7, code name "Mango", that will be equipped with Microsoft Skype. Skype is the oldest and maturest video chat that have millions of users, including 8 million monthly paid users.

Some companies are predicted to join this war soon. They are Yahoo Messenger by Yahoo, WebOS by HP, BlackBerry by RIM, and the new WhatsApp by Nokia.

The partnership between Microsoft and Nokia will make the users can choose between Microsoft Skype and Nokia WhatsApp applications. Both applications will be available for the some operating systems such as Android, Windows, iPhone, BlackBerry, and Nokia.

I think the competition in the Internet Video Call will make the direct Video Call application from handphone less used by the users because of the call price. They will prefer to use Video Call from Internet that offers flat price.

Google launched Google Wallet

Google launched a mobile payment service called Google Wallet. This service allows phone owners to pay and the dilute coupons via mobile phone with Android operating system.



The goal is to increase the pace of innovation for consumers and merchants alike. Google envision a marketplace for payment instruments, commerce and loyalty services, and point of sale equipment compatible with Google Wallet. They believe that consumer and merchant choice will facilitate the growth and adoption of the next generation of commerce and payments technologies.

At launch, Google Wallet will support payments via PayPass-eligible MasterCard cards issued by Citi, and via the Google Prepaid Card. Google Wallet will support additional payment options as soon as we are able to do so. Google are working closely with First Data whose Trusted Service Manager enables over-the-air provisioning of payment card credentials to Google Wallet. First Data is also helping reach out to merchants about contactless payments.

The technology was available in the Nexus S Android phone from Sprint, the third largest wireless operator in the United States. Google uses a technology called short-range communication or near field communication (NFC). This technology allows users to pay via mobile phone at the cash register equipped with NFC.

Google are partnering with Verifone, ViVOTech, Hypercom, and Ingenico to enable offer redemption, loyalty, and receipts via NFC at the point of sale. And They’ve worked with NXP and Samsung to produce the NFC-enabled Nexus S, the first phone to support Google Wallet.

Google will launch this service in five cities, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC.

Visit Google Wallet official website at http://www.google.com/wallet