Fring has just stolen a big march on Skype, releasing an iPad optimized version that can do 4-way video calling. That’s right, a 4-way video call can now be made on an iPad 2 and you can see all the participants at once; as the screen is quartered to accommodate the four separate streams.

You can make the video calls over 3G as well as WiFi and as an added bonus, it is a multi platform app. You can use it to talk and video chat with your friends even if they have an Android or Nokia device.

Take a look at the video of Fring in action after the break. Let us know if you currently use Fring at the moment or plan to after seeing this update?

[Free – iTunes link]

Fring has just updated their app to allow iPhone 4 users to chat with Android and Nokia/Symbian S60 users with the appropriate camera hardware. So while FaceTime remains easier and slicker if you're both on iPhone 4 on Wi-Fi, if you want to get some cross-platform chat on, this is your go-to option.

To test out the new Fring, Phil Nickinson from Android Central and I fired it up, Phil on his HTC Evo 4G and me on my iPhone 4. Hey, if Jobs and Schmidt can take coffee, I can talk to Phil, okay?

The quality wasn't bad considering he's in Florida on Sprint and I'm in Montreal on Wi-Fi. I did have a problem with the speaker volume, however. I couldn't get any real speaker phone action going on, which meant I couldn't hear Phil unless I put the iPhone to my ear -- thereby destroying the whole point of a video call.

That might have been me not knowing which button to tap or setting to swipe, but we're looking for an answer and will update when we get on. Apple made FaceTime's underlying protocols open, so maybe we'll see a future update employing those as well?

If you want to see Phil's side of the call, head on over to AC.

So now that we live in a world where iPhone's and Androids can talk together, who's going to give it a try?

UPDATE: Due to every iPhone 4 owner jumping on the new 2-way video calling, Fring has had issues and had to pull their Skype service. Sorry folks, more as this develops...

[iTunes link]

The first of Apple's big iPhone OS 4 announcements was multitasking, and the first set of multitasking announcements were APIs to let streaming music (think internet radio), location services (think navigation, check-in games, social networks), and VoIP services (think internet telephony) register threads in the background. For users this means you can keep listening to your songs, getting your turn-by-turn directions, and answering your virtual phone all while surfing the web or playing a game.

To find out what it means for developers, we asked some. Read what they had to say after the break!

NAVIGON, which makes MobileNavigator [$79 -- iTunes link]:

We are very excited about the background location feature and will work on implementing this into our app, so that the app can run in the background and provide directions when, for example, taking a call. We’ve really been waiting for this, so it’s great to see this happening now.

TeleNav, which powers AT&T Navigator [Subscription - iTunes link], Rogers Navigator [Subscription - iTunes link] and other location-aware services and apps:

Overall, we are very excited about the new multitasking and background location features as it opens up a variety of new capabilities for navigation and other location-based services on the iPhone. We’re actively working on new features and capabilities and look forward to sharing these with consumers soon.

Slacker, which offers Slacker Radio [Subscription - iTunes link]:

Right now 4 out of 5 of our mobile apps are on platforms that support multitasking and our listeners have let us know they enjoy being able to utilize their smartphone's functions while listening to their favorite music. We are elated that soon Slacker listeners using their iPhone will have this same capability.

Fring, which makes the VoIP service of the same name [Free - iTunes link]

fring is congratulating Apple for reaching this decision, which will only enhance the iPhone/ iPad's user experience. With the allowance for VoIP calls over 3G and now the background VoIP functionality, Apple is taking great steps allowing for the freedom of choice fring has been a big supporter of, since day one.

Seems like they're happy. While some internet chatter has revolved around whether iPhone OS 4 is providing "true" multitasking or not, the end result for the user is that they're getting these 3 types of functionality in the next update. Of course, we'd enjoy other services as well, including persistent connections for SSH and like protocols, and background updates for timelines like IM, but from zero to this for 3rd parties is certainly a good start.

VoIP over 3G apps for iPhone are now beginning to show up in the iTunes App Store. After AT&T said they would allow VoIP over 3G, all that remained was for Apple to follow through with an amended SDK, and that happened with iPhone 3.2 SDK for iPad.

So far iCall Free VoIP [Free - iTunes link] and Fring [Free - iTunes link]

We're not seeing the monster in the space, Skype over 3G yet, but we're willing to bet that's incoming.

We're also happy to see that the iPad is indeed pushing things along for the iPhone as well, and we're wondering if this means we'll have VoIP over 3G to go along with those new AT&T iPad data plans they announced yesterday?

If you try out VoIP over 3G on your iPhone let us know how it works for you!

Fring [Free - iTunes link] dropped us a note to let us know that with version 3.0.0.4 -- now in the App Store -- they've delivered on their promise of video calls for the iPhone.

Now, since the iPhone doesn't (yet?) have a front-facing camera, you're limited to seeing the other person on a Skype or Fring Video call using their PC webcam (or Nokia phone -- sigh, jealousy), but it's still a wondrous step towards the future.

If you give it a try, let us know how it works for you.

[Thanks to Icebike for the link!]

Jaadu VNC [$24.99 - iTunes link] adds support for cut, copy, and paste, remote copy support, and full screen view.

AutoStitch [$1.99 - iTunes link] includes cropping and support for higher resolution out for iPhone 3GS

PCalc [$9.99 - iTunes link] highlights include 3 and 4 line display modes, more memories, option to prevent rotation (Apple needs to add this system wide!), HP48-like mode, copy tape to clipboard, "easier to read" now even easier. to. read. and button easier to press.

QuickOffice [$12.99 on sale - iTunes link] now supports iPhone 3.0 cut, copy, and paste and shake to undo/redo, access email attachments, text wrapping, aligned overflow, and user-friendly indent and align control for docs.

Fring [Free - iTunes link] now offers Push Notification.

Sure some Skype-come-lately may be making a big splash right now, but Fring has been serving up a lot of goodness to a lot of users for a while already (including those in Canada!) and they're by no means done yet. They've just let TiPb know about their latest update, which not only includes a ton of great new features, but lays the foundation for notifications, which will be getting a huge "push" come iPhone 3.0:

You can now choose whether to show or hide your Offline contacts and regular GSM buddies. And for convenience, we’ve moved fring settings to the general iPhone settings, so there’s no need to open fring each time you want to make a small change.

You’ll also notice a small flag symbol in the top left hand corner of the dialer screen, Tap this and you’ll get a list of countries. Select the one you’re calling and the International dial code will automatically be entered making overseas Skype Out and SIP calls even easier.

We’re also just finishing off a notification add-on for this version. This add-on will notify you when your friends are trying to connect with you whilst your fring is closed. This of course includes all the different services (Skype, MSN, Google talk etc)

To make this as useful as possible, we are conducting a gradual roll-out, starting with the UK and US. This service will eventually be in line with Apple’s 3.0 firmware and new notification feature.

Fring is available for FREE from the iTunes App Store. If you've already updated, give it a try and let us know how it works for you!

Man, the wait for the iPhone 2.0 software update is getting rough for those of us who aren't keen to jailbreak our iPhones. The latest: Voice over IP from IM-maker Fring. Go on and check out their instructions page. Fring is actually a way to use all sorts of different Instant Messenger clients like Yahoo, AIM, etc. Another client it's compatible with: Skype. It will also work with a standard SIP for VOIP as well.

Anybody given this a shot yet? Reports around the web seem to indicate that it's better than expected -- as long as your WiFi connection is decent.