Skype and video conferencing are a match made in heaven, so it's a wonder it took so damn long for integrated video conferencing in the Skype client. The Skype video feature comes not via Skype, but rather courtesy of a third-party plugin from DialCom Networks.
Dialcom's Spontania video plug-in is designed to be integrated with any 3rd party Internet-based communication solution.
Dialcom selected Skype, a premiere VoIP solution, as the first integration candidate. The product is called "Spontania video4skype" and best of all it's free. I'm not sure how they will make money off of "free", but perhaps like the "Skype" model they will have a "free" version and a "paid version" later on. For now go download the free Spontania video4skype while you still can!
Update:
Skype now has their own built-in video conferencing.
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The plugin is not working !!!
I tried it Video4Skype -- fuzzy video for me. There's another new Skype plug-in called vSkype (www.vskype.com) -- it offers group video and sharing. But it's not live yet.
I've tested this product around 50 times with my colleagues. I was invited by a friend during a skype conf, and I didn't have any problem to install it (around 20") during the conf, and we inmediatly started a videoconf. I think that it's really great. The question is why Skype hasn't launch something like this. Congratulations to the the people that brings cool features to the Skype communitie. Jamie
we tried it today, but it always says "connecting spontania" thats all. my firewall gave me an ip which the program tries to connect to and it is in madrid/spain. i think their server is down. so it is not working bc of that.
DVdriver software ($20) supports the new Skype video. This means you can use practically any webcam or firewire Camcorder with Skype.
Did you all know that INVENTEERING, Inc. has just released AVACON™ for Skype™. This software is an add-on to Skype™ that turns Skype’s audio only telephone conference calls into a video telephone conference call through the use of the Skype™ Avatar. . A FREE 15-day Trial Version is available for download at: http://www.inventeering.com/Product_AVACON.html
I'm sure this technology will continue to improve. Bandwidth is always a consideration - as is the hardware/software codecs. Given time, this will be a daily part of our lives.
situation:party on one end has regular old fashioned video conferencing set up. party on other end has skype and webcam. Can there be a video call? Does it matter which paty initiates cal if call is possible? thanks
cj
I am a new Skype user and have family in various different parts of the globe. I'm wondering if it's possible to video conference with multiple users on Skype at the same time. Myself and two other family members tried this and we could hear each other, but couldn't see each other's video.
yes, a skype client can join a video conferencing session hosted by a standard solution. check here:
http://www.tmcnet.com/enews/e-newsletters/Unified-Communications/20081103/44428-skystone-video-revolutionizes-business-communications-using-skype.htm
Thanks for the comment Robert. This is a bit of an old article (2005). I should point out that Skype still currently only supports 2-way videoconferencing.
They need to offer at least 3-way. Sightspeed supports up to 9-way. (paid version)
Fortunately, SkyStone's newly launched product (which Robert linked to) -- called SkyStone Video supports many more Skype video participants due to their MCU. They even support non-Skype video clients from Polycom, Cisco, and more.
check out my article from yesterday:
http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/skype/skystone-video-enables-video-skype-gateway.asp
How to use video conferencing in skype. Is video conferencing facility is available in skype. Kindly guide us, how to use skype video conferencing