OoVoo, cameras and the end of cool

Headnote

GEARHEAD

INSIDE THE NETWORK MACHINE

In my Network World Web Applications newsletter last week (www.nwdocfinder.com/9126) you will find a review of a free video-calling and -conferencing system called ooVoo.The word "cool" is incredibly overused on this page (both Keith and I are guilty of the careless, callous abuse of it, and I am unrepentant), but ooVoo definitely qualifies for this adjective.

Anyway, whether you have a video camera or not (you can use any standard USB video camera), I encourage you to try ooVoo out (if you don't have a camera, you can simply watch).

With ooVoo you can have a one-to-one video call or you can set up a videoconference with as many as five other people. OoVoo also provides text chat, as well as the ability to send a one-minute-long video message, send and receive files, and send and receive ooVoo contacts or lists of contacts to other users.

OoVoo's video quality is remarkable, and what is so cool (darn!) is the way...