Video Chatting Using Yahoo for an Android

You can use Yahoo Messenger for video calls on Androids, iPhones and PCs.
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If you're attempting to video chat using Yahoo Messenger for Android, you need to install both the Yahoo Messenger application and the latest Yahoo Messenger Voice and Video plugin to take advantage of the feature. As of early 2014, video chat is still in beta mode for Yahoo Messenger. The Messenger app and the plugin are available to download from the Google Play store.

1 Installing Yahoo Messenger

Before you can use the video chat feature on Yahoo Messenger, install Yahoo Messenger from the Google Play store. The app is available as a free download, and includes chat with Facebook friends, free international SMS, photo and video sharing and chat with Windows Live friends. You can log in on your computer and Android device at the same time and only receive messages to the device on which you're active. The Yahoo Messenger app requires Android version 2.0.1 and up, and is incompatible with previous versions of the Android operating system.

2 Install the Voice and Video Plugin

After you install the Yahoo Messenger app, you can install the Yahoo Messenger Plug-in to give you access to voice and video calling. The plugin is available from the Google Play store as a free download. The plugin cannot be launched directly on its own, and requires the Yahoo Messenger app to function properly. Video calling requires Android version 2.2 and up for most devices. If you use a MyTouch 4G or EVO 4G smartphone, you need Android version 2.3 and up.

3 Launching a Video Call

When you have both Yahoo Messenger and the Yahoo Messenger plugin installed on your Android device, you can start making voice and video calls. To start a video call, click the "Menu" button within a conversation and tap on the video option to launch the call. The person you're attempting to call must be using Yahoo Messenger for Android, iPhone or a Windows PC for the video call to connect. If your Android device doesn't have a front-facing camera, the video call will not work correctly. You can still use voice calling if your device doesn't meet the minimum camera requirements for video calling.

4 Problems With Video Calling

The video calling feature on the Yahoo Messenger app is still in beta. There have been reports of volume issues for incoming calls. According to their website, Yahoo is aware of the situation and plans to address the problem in future updates. Keep the Yahoo Messenger app up-to-date by regularly checking for updates in the Google Play store.

Based in the Washington DC area, Brian Flax holds a Master of Science in education technology, and a Bachelor of Science in entertainment business from Full Sail University. His articles have been published on FindTheBest.com, where he was a daily writer in the smartphones and tablets section.

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