I was under the impression that the front facing camera does not work other than with the mirror app.

Wrong, it can be used for video calls!

If you initiate an "internet call" via a gmail account with an N810 you will notice that the camera icon is available on the 810. Click on it to enable the camera and observe that a similar option pops up on the 900. Click on the N900 one and a video chat session begins using the front cameras of both devices.

Sweet.

The only strange thing is that the video chat can only be initiated by the 810.

Both of my devices are standard, extras-testing enabled on the 900 but not extra-devel.

Can anyone else confirm this? it seems that the N900 is ready for the front facing camera to be used.