|
Home >
Internet Video
Conferencing
Internet Video Conferencing -- the next step in communication
As technology marches forward, our long distance
communication choices continue to expand. Internet video
conferencing is poised to take communication to the next
level.
What is video conferencing? Using your home or office
computer, you can interact via video and audio in real time
with other users, regardless of their distance. The signal
is transmitted over a telecommunications line, usually
cable, DSL, or higher.
The equipment needed for a video conference is pretty
basic: computer, monitor, speakers, microphone, webcam, and
high-speed web connection (or network connection for
in-house conferencing). The affordability of this equipment,
coupled with the ever increasing Internet speeds available
to consumers, has brought video conferencing out of the
corporate boardrooms and onto home desktops. Furthermore,
many applications now offer options that go far beyond
simple verbal and visual communication.
The benefits of real time audio and visual communication
with friends, family, and coworkers are obvious. In fact,
many industry experts predict that video conferencing will
be among the fastest-growing computer industry fields within
the next few years. New technology and products now offer
consumers a myriad of choices.
Three of the many choices available
We can’t possibly begin to tell you about all the many
solutions available out there, so we’ll focus on three
noteworthy ones:
3wVP,
SightSpeed,
and
Microsoft Portrait.
Based on Flash communication technology, 3wVP is a web
based video conferencing platform. It allows you a direct
one-to-one video conferencing link, either via a web page or
e-mail. 3wVP works across all computer platforms and
browsers. Their CEO refers to it as a World Wide
Web-Videophone, and it promises to be as easy as logging in
and entering the IPN or the keyword of whomever you wish to
call.
SightSpeed is software that turns your computer into a
video phone. The download is free, as is their Basic plan.
Other plans offer a wealth of further options. These include
smooth audio and video quality, video answering service and
Video Mail (essentially video enhanced e-mail), four person
Multi-Party Video Calling, free worldwide audio calls, and
the “My SightSpeed” feature, which provides a personalized
user web address and video calls to non-SightSpeed members.
As with 3wVP, SightSpeed is both PC and Mac friendly.
SightSpeed has scored well with
PCMag.com, receiving 4 out of 5 stars.
Never one to be left out, Microsoft offers Microsoft
Portrait, a research prototype for mobile video
communication. It’s designed mainly for Pocket PCs, Handheld
PCs, and Smartphones. Since wireless connection speeds may
vary, Portrait is specifically designed to offer scalable
video solutions. Portrait-like video is offered for low
bandwidths (the minimum being 9.6 kilobits/second), with
full-color video available for broadband speeds. This
portrait video is optimized to present clear shape, smoother
motion, less computing power, and less latency than
conventional video technology, making wireless video
conferencing a much more reliable medium.
So whether you’re at home or on the go, communicating for
business or for fun, video conferencing just might be the
perfect solution for your long distance communication needs.
Also See:
[ VoIP Voice
Conferencing Solution ]
[ Online
Conference Call Services ]
[ Cheap
Teleconferencing Services ]
Home Page:
[ Web-Conferencing-Zone.com ]
[ top of page ]
|
