Thankfully I managed to install skype from OVI store. Its working absolutely fine. But when I select a skype contact, the option of video calling is not there. Any reason why?

The day since PR 1.2 was launched video calling option was there in N900.

I am using GPRS for internet (not 3G). does that make any difference?

only contacts with recent skype version and a webcam at their end will show video call option on n900. IIRC, as of PR1.2 mac users didn't work either but I don't know if that is still the case. Do a search for the minimum desktop skype version that allows n900 video calls, it's been posted on forum many times.

.EDIT lack of 3G would make video calling pretty pointless - test on wifi to verify that it works with a given contact & then try again with GPRS. i suspect you will still get the option but it won't have enough bandwidth in practice.

OK for example one of my friend is online using skype on his desktop and he has a webcam. So how will my N900 know that he has a webcam and thus enable skype on it.

skype will be enabled either way. Skype is running at both ends, it already knows the capabilities of your contacts (that's how it updates their status on your n900j. I don't know the inner workings of its proprietary protocol but I imagine that when you go online on n900 skype, all of your skype contacts are refreshed according to what the skype client they are currently logged into reports as their current (hardware, O/S, skype version) capabilities. try with wifi (or to a laptop on your own LAN) to get the hang of it.

There's an official Skype support page for N900. Don't use Skype myself, but could be useful for you.

https://support.skype.com/faq/FA1061...-my-Nokia-N900

PR 1.2 is a must

If you would like to give your video from n900 to the skype person (I will need to assume the other party is using skype 4.2).

If the other party does not have a webcam enabled -> there is a possibility that your n900 skype will not have the video option enabled.

So I use this trick to make it work.

Option 1
1. Ask the other party to use "screen sharing"
2. Right click on your skypename -> Share Your Screen -> Share Selection
3. Click on Start Sharing.

4. Then your n900 will ring -> Pick up the phone
and you will see the camera option will "appears" on your n900,
5. Click on the camera to send your video to your friend
6. Stop Screen sharing (from your friend)

then you will be able to send video from your n900 to your friend.

Option 2:
1. Establish a skype call to the person (a normal skype call)
2. Ask your Friend to use the screen sharing
Right click on your skypename -> Share Your Screen -> Share Selection
3. Click on Start Sharing.
4. Your N900 screen will change to allow video call.
5. start the camera on your n900
6. stop the sharing


PS: DO NOT try to use share your screen -> Full Screen because the call will be aborted.

Have fun for video calling :-)

I haven't used Skype after PR 1.3 for video calling. And just noticed that Video calling option disappeared completely. When i open contact and the other party is online i cant make video call. Theres no such option. Does anybody having same problem?


EDIT:

Found solution. Just delete and recreate your account. Will solve the problem.

http://talk.maemo.org/showpost.php?p=784078&postcount=1

I tested the video call on Skype:

Ac1 N900
Ac2 Laptop with webcam
Ac3 Laptop with no webcam

N900 contact will only display video call with Skype when Acc2 is active. If Acc2 is not logged on, you will not see that option in your contact also. Acc3 will not have video call option.

Also, it is not possible at present to make video calls from Skype for N900 to Skype for Linux. The other party has to use Skype for Windows, unfortunately.

OK at present is it possible to make video calling Skype if 3rd person is using N97 or any other Symbian device that has 2ndary camera alongwith skype?