It has been announced that Fring are offering selected Symbian devices an updated version of their social communication application that enables Skype video calling.

If you need to be clued up about Fring, it is a mobile internet communication service that allows friends to connect and share experiences. One way in particular is Fring video which enables users to make video calls with other fringsters as well as with Skype contacts over their device’s Wi-Fi or 3G internet connection.

This service is the first consumer ready implementation of Skype video calling on mobile phones available. You can place and receive Skype video calls from other users (including other Fring users). This new service is a great example of what is possible with mobiles running on the Symbian platform.

Video calling has been much hyped over the years, and Skype has become more and more popular due to the very attractive, non-existent price that video calls are to make (free), and are the ideal way to keep in contact with others either on business trips or in your personal life. The implementation of Frings’ Skype video calling on mobile phones will be even more useful than regular operator enabled video calling for some users, so the launch of this is new service for Symbian is a big one.

Let’s talk about the quality of this video calling service. You can’t expect HD quality that you will find on your 40” TV screen. The display quality is relatively low, but no different than what you would find on operator based video calls. If you are making a video call between a mobile and a desktop you may find that there is a slightly better video quality which will be down to the quality of the web camera.

Fring already has a range of communication options available across different bearers and servers including Skype Google Talk, MSN/Live, ICQ, SIP, Yahoo, Aim, Twitter and Facebook. Skype Video calling is treated as an additional communication option, which can be chosen when you select a fring contact to call.

The Skype video calling functionality is available on the Nokia X6, N97 Mini, N97, 5800, N95 8GB and N95 devices. More devices will be supported in due course. If you fancy trying out Fring for yourself you can download it from m.fring.com

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Skype video calling comes to Symbian phones