Cheap long distance calls (webcamnow.com)

Member Name: Asylum

Product:	webcamnow.com
Date:	19/01/03 (1669 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cheap, global, easy to use

Disadvantages: limitations without broadband

Webcams have become quite popular over the past couple of years, but most people purchase the webcam before checking out the available options of use.
In order to transmit live video over the internet from your webcam to another user on a two way basis it is necessary to install software and use a linking site. This is where WebcanNow becomes useful.
You need to install the basic software and link to their site, from here you can link to another user on the same site and transmit and receive audio and video.
For most people this is of little value beyond the novelty level, although for those with friends or relatives resident in another country it becomes an excellent form of cheap communication. Imagine the cost of telephoning someone on the far side of the planet and chatting for a couple of hours, then compare the cost of a local call to your ISP for the same period. All that is required is for both people to arrange to link via the site at a given time.
WebcamNow offers 2 levels of service:

A: The free service will provide audio plus a video link at 6 frames per minute. This is a very slow video speed and constitutes a fresh picture every 10 seconds which will appear static. However, if you are using a standard 56 kps modem then this is really the only sensible option. The data transfer capability of a telephone line for home use will not sustain good video and audio at the same time so trying to achieve a live video link will result in jerky video and broken audio.

B: For a cost of $9.95 per month you can have a 60 frame per minute video link along with the audio. This will provide a respectable live picture but will also require a greater bandwidth to support it, so this option is only of any real value to anyone with broadband access. Remember that this will require broadband access for both users because you can only receive at the rate that the other user can transmit.

All in all this is a very good service offerin
g an excellent rate for telephone calls and added features for those with faster access.

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