Group Chat is extremely popular on mobile devices to increase communication from within a group of people.  Fring announced they have brought group video chat to their messaging application.  Skype is defeated for the moment.

fring is launching the world’s 1st Group Video chat App for the iPad

4 friends video chat at the same time. That’s at least 4 times more fun than regular 1 to 1 video chat (But fring lets you do that too…)

• Its FREE
• It’s cross platform: Video chat to any Smartphone platform including iPhone, iPad, iPodTouch, Android, Nokia…
• It works everywhere, on any connectivity (WiFi, 3G & 4G…)

Download it on your iPad to discover all the tailored fun features like drag & drop navigation to add friends into Group Video calls & simultaneous chat while you video call.

From: Fring Blog

In my opinion, this is the first step to making the iPad a conference call device.  It’s not easy to keep them entertaining, especially if you can’t see people from the other end.  I like people, and want to see them.

Being the only group video chat mobile application, it makes me wonder if the compatibility between devices will have any consequence during calls.  This is well maintained with text messaging apps.  With video, has the potential to start with hiccups just as group testing has.  Being the Kik or GroupMe of video, is a large spot to fill.