Skype Entering the World of Videoconferencing (Part II)

(Migrated weblog post from LSR)

Ok, it looks like the fun just keeps on coming today. I have just been checking my private e-mail and I have found a very interesting announcement in my e-mail where it seems that there is a new plugin out there that will get to talk to Skype in order to do videoconferencing. If you remember, not long ago, in elsua I have actually weblogged about Video4Skype, the first plugin to become officially available to provide some fantastic quality video and audio during the same call.

Well, we seem to have a new option available. It is called vSkype and can be downloaded from here. And by the looks of it I think I am going to enjoy this one a great deal, actually. I haven’t been able to test it out yet as most of my Skype contacts seem to be offline at the moment but you just have to check out the following quote from the Homepage:

“Getting started is simple. Just connect a camera, download our free vSkype plug-in, and invite up to 200 buddies to a video call – even if they don’t have a camera. But wait, there’s more! You can also share anything you see on your screen, even your entire desktop! Whether you use Skype for business or to connect with family and friends, now you can show a presentation, work on a spreadsheet, or share photos of your weekend fun while seeing everyone on the call!”

And know that the folks behind vSkype are on to something ! WOW ! Having up to 200 folks being able to follow up on your video conversations and how you are doing demonstrations on particular tools you like or presentations you need to give or just simply share some of your best pictures with your family and friends. This is just fan-tas-tic !. I know that many people would say that this is a similar functionality that is current offered in other tools like Netmeeting, but have you ever managed to host a call with a list of over 50 participants without the system crashing ? I doubt it. At least, I have yet to meet the first person who has managed this.

So by the looks of it, now vSkype seems to be taking collaboration and social networking into the next level of achievement: scalable and resourceful. I will be testing it out over the next few days and will probably share my experiences on the overall look and feel, functionality, scalability and so forth. It promises to be an interesting exercise and I am certainly looking forward to it.

So what are you waiting for? Go and grab vSkype now, install it, play around with it and let us know what you thought about it. I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I will, whenever I get a chance, that is.