Video Conferencing App (Like FaceTime For iPhone) In The Works For The BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet

By Mauricio

Since we first heard that the BlackBerry PlayBook would have dual-cameras it was assumed that video conferencing would be an option but we still don’t know how RIM plans to do it. Considering that the PlayBook is rumored to launch on April 10th we’ll know soon anyway but Al Sacco over at CIO found out that RIM is working on their own video chat app which should be available soon:

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion’s (RIM) much-anticipated BlackBerry PlayBook tablet launch is right around the corner, and the company will release a new BlackBerry video conferencing app along with the tablet, or shortly thereafter, according to a RIM executive.

While it is no surprise that the PlayBook tablet will support video conferencing–its telltale rear- and front-facing cameras are clearly meant for video conferencing–it was uncertain until this point whether the PlayBook would employ some kind of third-party app, such as Skype, for the functionality.

The PlayBook will use a new, peer-to-peer video-conferencing app, not unlike Apple’s FaceTime video chat app, meant for consumer use, to enable BlackBerry video conferencing, according to Heit. And it’s expected to be released “very soon,” the RIM executive says, which suggests the app will launch along with the PlayBook.

Would any of you actively use video conferencing on a BlackBerry device?

source