Until recently, the reality of video conferencing didn't live up to the marketing hype. That's all changed. The network infrastructure and broadband capacity is now in place to deliver clear, real time video and voice feeds between multiple points of contacts, with market leaders such as Cisco and Microsoft continuing to invest heavily in development. In addition, newcomers Skype and Google are poised to launch services and products targeting this market.Video Conferencing over IP is the perfect guide to getting up and running with video teleconferencing for small to medium size enterprises. Topic coverage includes how to determine bandwidth needs; configure network routers, gateways, firewalls and switches; and configure, secure and troubleshoot your deployment. Major software solutions from Microsoft, Yahoo, AOL, VidiTel, iVisit, Vibe Phone and Skype are also covered.
Author(s): Gough M.
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 338
Cover......Page 1
Acknowledgments......Page 7
A Word from the Author......Page 9
About the Author......Page 10
Dedication......Page 11
Technical Editor......Page 12
Contents......Page 13
Foreword......Page 21
Part I: Getting Started with Video Calls......Page 23
Introduction to Video Calls......Page 25
Types of Videoconferencing......Page 26
What Is a Video Call?......Page 27
Where Can You Perform Video Calls?......Page 30
Summary......Page 32
Getting Started......Page 33
Requirements for Making Video Calls......Page 34
Broadband High- Speed Internet Connection......Page 35
Existing Computers......Page 36
Frame Rate and Picture Quality......Page 37
Security and Privacy......Page 39
Summary......Page 42
Selecting a High-Speed Internet Provider......Page 43
Selecting a High- Speed Broadband Provider......Page 44
Networking Your Home......Page 54
What Type of Wireless to Use......Page 55
Wireless Routers......Page 56
Testing and Troubleshooting......Page 57
Summary......Page 59
Part II: Taking Video Calls to the Next Level......Page 61
Just Tell Me What I Need......Page 63
Broadband Internet Connections......Page 64
Broadband Routers......Page 65
Windows-Based PCs......Page 66
Apple Mac......Page 67
Windows Webcams......Page 68
Headset or Microphone and Speakers......Page 72
Personal Videoconferencing Solutions for the Mac......Page 77
Security, Privacy, and Parental Controls......Page 78
Summary......Page 82
Selecting a Computer or Dedicated Videophone Device......Page 83
Which Solution to Select?......Page 84
Cost......Page 89
Video Call Software Solutions......Page 90
Video Telephone Options......Page 94
Video Telephones That Require a Service......Page 95
Video Telephones That Do Not Require a Service......Page 103
Dial-up Video Telephones......Page 116
Typical Video Telephones......Page 121
So What Solution Should You Choose?......Page 127
Additional Accessories......Page 128
Companies That Have a VoIP PBX......Page 129
Summary......Page 130
Free Video Call Software......Page 131
Overview......Page 132
One-on-One Video Call Solutions......Page 133
Multiuser Video Call Solutions......Page 156
Multi-IM Video Call Solutions......Page 159
SIP Video Call Solutions......Page 164
H.323 Video Call Solutions......Page 169
Chat-Room-Based Video Call Solutions......Page 170
Other Video Call Solutions......Page 174
Summary......Page 176
Commercial Video Call Software......Page 177
Introduction......Page 178
One-on-One Video Call Solutions......Page 179
Multiuser Video Call Solutions......Page 188
Multi-IM Video Call Solutions......Page 194
SIP Video Call Solutions......Page 202
H.323 Video Call Solutions......Page 215
Chat-Room-Based Video Call Solutions......Page 220
Summary......Page 229
Part III: Advanced Videoconferencing......Page 231
Other Videoconferencing......Page 233
Company Videoconferencing......Page 234
Web Videoconferencing......Page 244
Summary......Page 260
The Future of Video Calls......Page 261
The Future of Video Calls......Page 262
Video Telephones......Page 263
Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC Devices......Page 264
Video-Call-Capable Cell Phones......Page 266
Providers of Gateways for Cell-Phone-to-PC Video Calls......Page 274
Summary......Page 276
Firewall Port Information......Page 277
Video Call Software Solutions......Page 285
Software Add-ons for Skype......Page 291
Voice Mail......Page 292
Recording Skype Calls......Page 300
Integrating with Outlook......Page 304
SMS Text Messaging......Page 308
Forwarding Your Skype Calls......Page 310
SkypeCasting......Page 311
Skype Web Toolbars......Page 316
Other Plug-ins......Page 318
Index......Page 327
