Tango beats Skype to Windows Phone

A third-party software maker may beat Microsoft's newly acquired Skype to the punch in bringing video calls to Windows Phone gadgets. Tango.me received help from Microsoft in bring its service to the platform, according to an article posted on The Next Web. "(We) think Microsoft sees video-calling as a killer app for holiday season (handset) sales," it quoted Tango as saying. It said this could mean Microsoft is merely ensuring the video-calling feature is in order while Skype, Microsoft's newly acquired videoconferencing giant, readies its own app. The Next Web said Tango is expected to land on Nov. 7, and will have plenty of time to ramp up its cross-platform service on one more mobile line before 2012. On the other hand, it said Skype at this time is remaining mum as to how far along its integration into the Windows Phone platform is to launch. Interestingly, The Next Web said Tango is also the name of a forthcoming Windows Phone update, after Mango. Working closely with Microsoft The Next Web cited an interview conducted by Forbes, where Tango said it worked closely with Microsoft not only on its own application, but also on the Mango update itself. It said the two companies collaborated closely over the past few months, with Tango helping Microsoft "work out some kinks" in Mango. For its part, Microsoft gave Tango advice on user interface design and technical issues. — TJD, GMA News