Radvision gets PCs in on video calls
By Chris Ziegler 
posted Aug 4th 2006 1:08PM
posted Aug 4th 2006 1:08PM
While lack of product (and network, in most places) is the US' biggest roadblock to acceptance of video calling, the technology hasn't exactly captured the hearts and minds of consumers where it's been rolled out, either. There are a few believable theories why it hasn't taken hold: size of the screen, quality of the video, cost, the fact that you're making the call in your skivvies, et cetera. Radvision thinks it might have a lot to do with the fact that PCs are already well-established in the video conferencing game and they've been unable to play nice with 3G handsets thus far, prompting the company to develop "PC-to-Mobile," a PC client enabling video calls to handsets and vice versa. The solution appears to require carrier acceptance and implementation, meaning that unless your operator of choice decides to sign on Radvision's dotted line, you might not be able to get on the action -- but given that video calling likely hasn't made anyone a dime yet, these guys might make quite a splash.[Via The Inquirer]
uh, here's another reason why video conferencing on a cell phone hasn't become the biggest boom: when do you use a cell phone? when you're on the move. duh! so, do you really want to be talking to someone while you're walking through a busy tunnel or on a noisy subway? oh, and as nice as that picture is, it is by no means an accurate representation of what you would look like in a video conference call on your phone; the vga cameras typically make you look like an idiot, and the light from the display shining on your face and creating shadows doesn't exactly help, either.
I think it's abou time someone develops this. I'd love to be able to have a video call on my nokia N-80 with someone who's at home on MSN or Yahoo or else. Someone should develop an application like that which could utilize WCDMA or WiFi found on some of the N-series nokias. The question is if there's a possibility to link Video features on N series to WiFi....
I actually spoke with an engineer at Radvision today about the possibility of video calls on my treo 700p (yes, I know the camera faces the wrong way).
It seems there are some roadblocks to this on this (in the US at least) is that US carriers have not implimented the full 3G standards for audio/video and such. In (most) of europe, there is better support. But they tell me it will be coming here soon and when it does it may be even better. Lets hope!