AT&T is to support any mobile video chat app on its mobile network by the end of 2013, reports The Verge.

The US number-two operator said in a statement that in the second half of 2013, it plans to enable pre-loaded video chat apps over its mobile network for all customers, regardless of their data plan or devices.

It had previously said video chat could be supported for downloaded apps but that for pre-loaded apps, companies would need to work with the operator.

As part of this, AT&T customers using Android devices are currently unable to use the video chat capabilities of Google Hangouts on the mobile network. The Android version of Hangouts is pre-loaded onto devices while the iOS version is a downloaded app.

An AT&T spokesman told The Verge that pre-loaded apps have a higher usage than downloaded ones, and so it decided to go for a ‘deliberate’ approach for pre-loaded versions as it phases in video calling on its network.

In its latest statement, the operator said it currently supports pre-loaded video chat apps for all OS and device makers on its mobile network. Apple, Samsung and BlackBerry have all chosen to enable this for their pre-loaded video chat apps.

“Today, all of our customers can use any mobile video chat app that they download from the Internet, such as Skype,” the statement said.

AT&T blocked iOS users from accessing Apple’s FaceTime service via its network for some time after its launch. Customers on non-unlimited plans were soon allowed to access it, however.