Twitter Cofounder Jack Dorsey Risks Life To Show Off Vine Video App

Twitter cofounder and chairman Jack Dorsey has either lost his mind, or he's just showing the obsessive devotion to his company's products he's famed for.
About an hour ago, Dorsey tweeted a six-second Vine video where he said he was "about to do something very interesting." In the video, he followed some men in construction-worker uniforms. Where he was going, we weren't quite sure.
The next thing we knew, Dorsey tweeted a torrent of Vine videos with no further explanations. From the videos, it seems Dorsey followed those construction men up the scaffolding of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco and has been taking six-second videos of the view from high above the Bay with his smartphone.


Kids, don't try this at home.
Dorsey appears to have followed safety protocols. He is buckled in and hooked to the wires that lead up the bridge, from what we can tell from his videos.
Really though, who scales the Bay Bridge and whips out their smartphone?
Dorsey may have just shown us the perfect example of when Google Glass is an essential gadget: when you are climbing large structures and presumably need your hands free on top of a windy bridge over large bodies of water.
ReadWrite has noted before that Vine could be the killer app for Google Glass. Jack Dorsey just proved it.

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Introduction of Tax Incentives for Using Video Conferencing Equipment

A recent report published by the WWF has highlighted the growing popularity of video conferencing in some of the UK's biggest companies. The "Moving On" report is part of the WWF's 'One in Five Challenge', a programme designed to help businesses as well as the government to reduce business travel, which in turn will reduce costs and cut carbon emissions. Over 150 companies took part in the survey for the 'Moving on' report, all of which are among the UK's top 500; the overall aim being to establish whether business travel and meeting practices among the UK's leading companies had changed in the last two years.

Survey Findings

Nearly 50% of respondents said that their company had cut the total number of business flights it had taken in the past two years. Surprisingly, from those companies which had cut their flying, 85% do not intend to return to 'business as usual' levels. In fact, 63% of companies that responded now have a policy in place to reduce business flights, or are intending to implement one.

What's evident is that the UK's top companies are changing the way they meet and collaborate. The use of video conferencing has increased by 75% and is expected to keep growing. The adoption of video conferencing would be further enhanced if the government take on board the recommendations from the study. The most popular government initiative to encourage alternatives to business flying would be the 'nationwide provision of high-speed broadband' which was favoured by nearly 85% of respondents. Also, a key recommendation of the report would be the introduction of tax incentives for video conferencing equipment and its use.

The report also highlighted that the UK's leading businesses are now looking beyond the associated cost savings from reduced travel that conferencing technology provides and are actually increasing productivity.

Other than the reduction of costs from cutting travel, some other key findings from the study were:

Reductions in companies' carbon footprintMore flexibility for staff and improved work-life balanceThe ability of staff to continue working during disruption to travel networksThe new culture of working and collaborating - where staff question the need to travel

Ultimately, the research shows that in the last few years, whilst the UK has been in a recession, the majority of those companies who took part in this survey have reduced their business travel and increased their use of different conferencing technologies - such as audio, web and video conferencing.

Conferencing technology is becoming even more sophisticated and it's expected that there will be yet more changes to the way businesses communicate and collaborate. The growing popularity of unified communications and desktop video solutions will make video conferencing more accessible to a broader range of businesses - particularly small to medium sized enterprises (SME's), who still account for 99.9% of the UK's private business sector!

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Free Video Chat - Video Phones Made Real

Science fiction has been peppered with this concept since before the television was even a widely, publicly accepted household technology. Video chat was featured in classics including H.G. Wells' novels, and early cinematic classics like Metropolis and Just Imagine.
While the technology was experimented with as early as the late 1940s, it wasn't until the late 1990s that such technology was practical, affordable, and in fact, easy to use. While telephone companies offered video conferencing and other forms of video chat technologies to businesses as early as the late 1970s, it was rife with problems, such as video and sound quality being poor and limited, the lines dropping, and the camera equipment being unacceptably obtrusive.
Like most technologies that become part of daily life, it sprung from something becoming practical to produce, and ultimately, affordable as well. Where once cameras that recorded video, of any sort, were inordinately expensive, now everything, from phones, computers and game consoles to HD front ends and televisions have small pinhole cameras more powerful and high quality than what movie studios had a decade previously.
Thanks to this, modern technology advocates can enjoy a wide array of video chatting tools. Instant messengers such as AIM, ICQ and MSN have offered video features for their chat room functions for a long time, and dedicated live video and audio chatting applications like Skype have been popular since around 2003 as well.
In recent years, now that the web experience itself has gotten more sophisticated thanks to things like AJAX, Flash and HTML 5, free video chat websites are immensely popular, and serve a wide variety of niches such as the random webcam chat system known as Chat Roulette, which allows users to randomly connect to millions of strangers on the same server and either see something regrettable, or make a new friend, either is entirely possible.
However, the web front end feature of programs like Chat Roulette is now being adapted to serve live video chat in more useful, or practical ways. Many websites have become increasingly popular means of free video chat, allowing users who either can't use programs like Skype?, or just only need to operate such features on rare occasions to easily do so without installing heavy applications and the frameworks to support them.
Another handy feature of these web-based free video chat services is that more devices can support them as there remain a handful of platforms, consoles and mobile devices that don't support the heavier application-based video chatting tools, which means that with this feature, more users can connect across a wider array of platforms.
In the future, several developers have announced that their free video chat web applications could even support cross-network chatting, allowing a user to log into the website, and chat with a Skype user, for example, or a video phone caller using a cable service's HD front end.
As we as a society look back, it's interesting to see that the future is a sneaky thing, not announcing itself one day as having arrived, cherubs trumpeting its glorious descent upon the world. One has to look at what one takes for granted as just part of "modern technology" to see that the mysterious and alluring technological wonders of the past in fact exist here and now.

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Live Video Chat - Learn How to Enjoy an Experience With No Downtime

Using a free video chat website often involves having to deal with downtime or server issues - these problems can be hard to avoid but there are services out there that strive to make sure you don't have to deal with them. This is why it is very important to make sure you look around carefully for the right website.

Don't Get Down with the Downtime!

Imagine if you had to make a very important conference call with some coworkers or family members and all of a sudden the website you use was down or having 'lag' issues. It probably wouldn't be very fun, would it? When a video chat website tells you that it is currently "undergoing maintenance," all it is really saying is "We are taking the day off."

Don't settle for this. Plain and simple. You can't expect to enjoy your webcam chat experience if you are logging into a website with plans to interact with your friends and then are soon finding yourself staring at a big "Sorry!" sign. If you have used a free webcam chat website before, then you are most likely already aware of how frustrating this can be.

Also, while server 'lag' and disconnection issues are sometimes unavoidable, it is absolutely crucial that there is a 24/7 moderation or administrative team available to assist people with technical problems - a free video chat website can't be managed properly if the people 'managing' it don't what's going on. Make sure you look into how a service handles technical obstacles before you sign up with them; doing so could potentially save you a lot of time and hardship.

Don't Spend Any Money!

Another thing you should make sure of before registering with a live video chat service is that you won't have to spend any money. There is absolutely no reason why companies should charge you for on-going use of their video chatting services - they have their own ways of making money through endorsements and advertising - your wallet doesn't have to become another one of their prospects.

Take some time to look around for the right website. There are several qualities that a video chat service should emulate before earning the privilege to have you as one of its subscribers - so don't rush your experience. Know your worth and know what you deserve, then make your ultimate decision.

Lastly, make sure to have fun using these kind of websites!

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Portable Video Phone Connects Parents With Son

A portable video phone kept us in visual touch with our son.

Erik was invited to go on a holiday to Mexico with his cousin, aunt and uncle. To say the least, he was excited. We were also excited for him and we were going to miss him a lot. Being that he is only 15 years old, staying in touch with him was very important to us, as it was to him. Naturally, we wanted to know that he was OK and what he was experiencing in Mexico.

We got a bright idea and sent a portable video phone with him on his trip. All he had to do was plug the phone into a high speed internet connection and we could communicate visually, to our heart's content. This made a huge difference to all of us.

We call it video calling. We were able to see and talk to each other... on the video phone... in living color. It was remarkable how clear the picture and sound were. There was no "lag" or jumpy picture, as you might expect using VOIP technology.

Erik "showed" us the sunburn on his back. We could clearly see the sunburn on his nose and told him to put some lotion on it. We laughed about that. He "showed" us what his hotel room looked like and also the view from his hotel room. He "showed" us the beach and the ocean with the waves crashing in. We could even hear the sound of the waves.

Erik was able to call us toll free, anytime he wanted. His aunt, uncle and cousin were also able to make toll free calls to their family members and friends back home in Canada. All of their family and friends from home were able to call them in Mexico toll free as well. They could do this because the video phone number has the same area code as their own phone number back home.

We were able to really connect and have more "presence" with our son and relatives. Video conferencing with these phones allowed us to have a "real" connection with family. We experienced emotions that would be missing on a normal phone call. Video calling was like being in the same room with them. It was priceless.

Now that we've had this experience, we are replacing our traditional analog phone with this portable video phone. We are doing this because it's better quality reception and it's cheaper, not to mention the benefit of being able to see who we are talking with. We can take it with us anywhere we go.

Video phones are starting to catch on. And for good reason. The best one on the market sells for about $180. You can call unlimited almost anywhere in the world for about $33 a month. Because this new type of phone replaces your existing home phone, it just makes sense. It's cheaper, it's better, it's light years ahead.

Like the introduction of personal computers, fax machines and cell phones, it's a paradigm shift from what we're all used to. We will all be communicating this way very shortly. Believe me, once you've have a video calling experience, you won't be able to live without it. You'll be demanding that your family and friends get onboard.

I'm not the first one to say, it's the way of the future.

One caveat: Be aware of the pros and cons of this new technology and which products to avoid.

You are welcome to share this article with friends or use it on your website, as long as the content and resource box remain intact.

For more information on what to look for in a video phone, see this free report.

You will love your video phone,

John Wannop

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Video Conference Basics

Whether you have taken part in a video conference before or if you have not, there are a few basic essentials that you should know as more and more companies are leaning towards video conferencing. First off, many people sometimes are a little bit confused as they may assume that video conferencing and video phone calls is the same thing. This assumption is actually false. Video phone calls were designed to just serve as a form of telecommunication between two people where as a video conference was designed to serve as a conference between many people at different locations.

As technology has advanced over the years, more and more companies are using a video conference in order to conduct very special and important meetings. A video conference saves these companies tons of money as well as time. With video conferencing, a company does not have to spend additional fees on travel where as in the past a large expense for companies used to be travel related in order to get employees to important meetings. Video conference is also a great resource for last minute emergency meetings for companies with several locations. This resource will allow for everyone to join in on a meeting without having to travel.

Now there are two different types of video conference systems. The first type of video conference system is a dedicated system. A dedicated system contains all of the required components of the system ll packed in to one piece of equipment. This piece of equipment is typically a console with a very high quality remote control video camera. The camera can be controlled from a distance and is capable of panning in many different directions as well as it is capable of zooming. Omni-directional microphones are connected to the system in order to transmit voices. Along with microphones televisions monitor and loud speakers may be hooked up to the system.

The other type of conferencing is the desktop system. This system is just what is sounds like as it is basically your desktop computer. Now your desktop computer will most likely have all of the components needed for a successful conference, however if your desktop computer does not have these components they may be easily added. These components basically include a microphone as well as speakers. Your monitor will be used to view the other participants as well as documents for the meeting. With a video conference you are able to attend a meeting anywhere in the world.

This article has been viewed 165 time(s).
Article Submitted On: January 27, 2011

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Video Conferencing Phone

I just got off a video conferencing phone call with my daughter, Katie, in Sweden and my friend, Gilbert, in Arizona. We were able to do this because each of us has one of these amazing phones.

I venture to say that most of us still think that video conferencing is complicated and expensive. The popular misconception is that this requires sophisticated know how. Those days are gone. It's a piece of cake and it's available to all of us ordinary people at a ridiculously low price.

It's called a video phone.

There are various models available on the market right now, but only one home video phone that offers true conferencing capabilities. You can have this for less than you are paying right now for your home telephone line. About $33 per month will get you unlimited local and long distance calling to over 60 countries. The hardware cost is about $180, it's a breeze to hook it up and a child can operate it.

This new phone replaces your existing home phone. Your cordless phone handsets will continue to work exactly as they always have.

This is possible because of a complete paradigm shift. A shift in technology. A new discovery of what is possible with digital video communication using the internet as a digital video backbone network.

You might be thinking like I did when the cell phone first arrived or the fax machine or the personal computer. Well, the same thing is happening with video communications. We will all be talking to and seeing each other via digital video technology, within the next few years. It's predicted this will happen by 2014 (66% of us worldwide, believe it or not). It sounds crazy, doesn't it?

My favourite video conferencing phone is the result of collaboration between Texas Instruments, Ojo Labs and Worldgate Communications. This phone is now in its fifth generation of development and represents, by far, the best quality and best value.

Look for these benefits and features that should come standard with your phone:
7 inch, live streaming video picture that runs at over 30 frames per second. (That's high definition).Stereo sound, hands free sound and high quality sound pick up microphonesNo "lag time". No more jumpy, pixelated video picturesReliable digital video network provider500 name and number speed dial memoryOne touch button for conferencingActs as rotating photo frame while not in use as a phoneShould have USB port to download favouritesWi Fi should be built in (where there is no hard internet connection)Interfaces with new generation video mobile cell phonesPortable, works anywhere in the world where there is a high speed internet connectionInterfaces with your Cordless home handsetsAuto adjusts to appropriate band width for optimum video and audio receptionHooks to your wide screen TV, see the person(s) you're talking to on your TV in high defSave money. Your local and long distance calling plan should be unlimited to at least 60 countries and should be much less cost than your existing home phone calling plan.Software updates should be automatic via the internet

When you travel, take your phone with you. It doesn't matter where you are in the world. Plug it in to high speed internet and you are ready make calls to almost any kind of phone almost anywhere in the world. It operates just like your regular home phone. Your video phone number resides "inside" the phone. This means that anyone "back home" with the same area code can call you toll free. It's a local call for them and you can talk as long as you want. It's unlimited.

Your correct choice of video phone will make the difference in terms of the quality and enjoyment of connecting with family and friends.

For more specific recommendations and/or advice, see this free report

Happy video calling,

John Wannop

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5 Ways Video Conferencing Makes Employee Training Simple

One of the most pressing issues a business executive faces is finding creative and innovative ways to keep employees trained and motivated. Ongoing training and development sessions not only provide a means for employees to grow on a personal and professional level, but it also assures team members will be equipped with the skills and knowledge needed for a profitable business.

Maintaining an ongoing training program is not always easy, especially when teams operate on an international level. In this situation, employees are either asked to travel to one general location for participation in a training session or the trainer must travel to the remote office and conduct the training there. With the high cost of travel, neither one of these options is a viable solution.

Businesses today are transforming the way company-wide training is conducted. Company personnel are no longer required to leave the comfort of their homes and offices. By introducing online training through web-based video conferencing, not only are businesses able to drastically reduce the cost of travel but they also see an increase in employee productivity and job satisfaction. Here's how:
Conduct new employee training: The first few weeks of a new job can be extremely stressful. Often times large organizations either have to fly a trainer in from their headquarters or send the new employee to a remote location, which adds to that stress. Using video conferencing for employee on-boarding helps to reduce the stress caused by starting a new job. New hires can participate in live job training from the comfort of their home office.Increase amount of learning and knowledge: On the job training should not be limited to new employees. The business world is constantly evolving. Having current employees up-to-date on industry trends and statistics allows them to adapt at a much quicker pace. This is even more important when multiple business locations are involved. Changes in an industry can take place over night. Online training through video conferencing allows businesses to face these changes immediately by giving them a unified platform to reach out to all their employees.Lower industry compliance risks: Keeping employees informed on workplace compliance laws is extremely important. Online compliance training keeps employees informed, reducing the risk of complaints, which helps to create an effective work environmentEducate, motivate and engage: There is nothing more damaging to a business than low employee moral and lack of motivation. Often times this happens in a poor economy. Keeping employees motivated during these times will help organizations stay successful and on task. With video conferencing, companies can instantly communicate with their staff and provide them with education that inspires.Build a training database and library: The great thing about video conferencing is you can record your training sessions and use them at a later time. This is useful when employees need to be retrained on a specific topic or company trainers are not available to meet face-to-face.

In order to run a fluent business, keeping new and current employees trained and updated on company policy is a must. Online training through video conferencing is a cost efficient and flexible method that every business should look into implementing.

This article has been viewed 58 time(s).
Article Submitted On: January 19, 2011

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Use Hosted Video Conferencing for Your Small Business to Beat the Competition

Small businesses have the advantage of being able to make decisions and take action more quickly than big businesses in order to seize a market advantage. One of the most rapidly evolving areas of competitive advantages is in communications. Advanced cellphones and VoIP phone systems have enabled businesses to communicate better internally, with customers, and with suppliers. The next big communications advantage, High Definition business video conferencing, is now available to small businesses thanks to hosted video conferencing cloud services.

As recently as 2009, high definition video conferencing was only available to big companies that were able to afford the investment in equipment, dedicated circuits, and IT staff that were necessary to operate the system. HD video was a large improvement over previous video conferencing, and allowed both sides to actually see facial expression so true communication could happen. Even as lower cost systems became available, it was still complex to set up high def video communications over the Internet that would work reliably.

Most small businesses were relegated to using services like Skype or Webex, both of which incorporated video, but at lower resolution and capability. Furthermore, these were running on workstations, and the video quality was not near the size and clarity of dedicated equipment with large LCD screens. As big companies were able to start making HD video calls over the Internet, small businesses fell behind.

Now small businesses have the opportunity to not only get to the same level as big businesses with regards to HD video conferencing, but have the opportunity to go one step further. Just like there are hosted VoIP services available, there are now hosted high definition video services available. Just like hosted VoIP, small businesses have an advantage because the system works best when every site has broadband Internet access. Furthermore, no expensive back end conferencing equipment or firewall maintenance is needed.

Small businesses now have the opportunity to gain better communications capabilities. They can just sign up for the service and start having HD video calls and conferences over the Internet to customers, suppliers, and other branches of their company. Advanced video conferencing can be initiated by a call that is as simple as dialing a cellphone, providing the face to face discussion capability everyone wants to have.

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Benefits of Video Conferencing With Expert Witnesses

Expert witnesses can make or break a case, and the best ones could be located hundreds or thousands of miles away! Even if your firm has the resources to fly the expert witness to your location, many experts are simply too busy to travel or unwilling to do so because of the time commitment and hassles involved. Video conferencing solves this problem, and a few others, too.

Video Conferences Connect Expert Witnesses with Attorneys

When an expert witness balks at the idea of traveling in order to provide expertise in your case, you have several choices: provide additional incentives, look for another expert, or book a video conference. Additional incentives cost money and it's doubtful the expert will bite. After all, the main objection usually centers on time and inconvenience. The expert's schedule may be such that taking a trip simply isn't feasible. Looking for another expert isn't always an option for your firm, leaving booking a video conference a compromise with real promise.

Video Conferencing Benefit #1

Offering a video conference option could persuade an otherwise reluctant expert witness to agree to a meeting. From the expert's perspective, all he needs to do is sit in front of a camera for a short amount of time and answer a few questions. When compared to booking a flight, traveling across country, staying in a hotel overnight, spending time in an unfamiliar city, speaking in front of other people, and then returning home where work has piled up in his absence, a video conference is appealing.

Video Conferencing Benefit #2

In addition to offering the expert witness the convenience of video conferencing, you can also include your partners and colleagues involved in the case. They too can participate remotely. For example, live video conferencing streaming video, instant messaging features, and even live transcript text can be incorporated into the video conferencing service that you use.

Video Conferencing Benefit #3

Another compelling benefit involves the video nature of the conference - you can record the meeting! This is a terrific way to ensure that the witness demonstrates "camera appeal" and exudes credibility while on camera. Let's face it, some people, no matter how accomplished they may be, simply freeze in front of the camera or when required to speak in public. Wouldn't you rather find out that an expert witness performs poorly at this stage of the case?

Other benefits include the cost advantage over travel and the ability to communicate with the expert witness throughout the case as needed without requiring additional travel. With so many benefits, many attorneys have embraced video conferencing with expert witnesses located locally and beyond. Have you?

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5 Ways Web-Based Video Conferencing Boosts Company Productivity

Time is of the essence, especially for businesses of today that are faced with mounting economic pressure and intense global competition. Minimizing company downtime and increasing company productivity consistently seem to be top of mind subjects for executives and business owners around the world. In order to grow and reach far above and beyond any set of goals, a business must make the most out of each passing minute throughout the day.

A major pitfall in business is caused by employees being absent from work and feeling unmotivated. Modern technology such as web-based video conferencing helps employees stay productive, no matter what the underlying issue may be. Here's how:

Too many business meetings - Well, not really too many business meetings, but business meetings which require employees and company executives to travel. Sitting in traffic, waiting at the airport and even spending the night in a hotel away from home causes unneeded stress on employees. It also takes away from valuable time employees could be in the office working. Conducting business meetings through a web-based video conferencing platform reduces the burden of travel on employees and allows them to participate in meetings without having to travel.Adverse weather conditions - Rain, snow, wind, and extreme temperatures lead to reduced productivity. This is especially true for employees who commute to work. A harsh rain or snow storm can force road closures or shut down other means of transportation, making it extremely dangerous and often impossible for employees to make it into the office. Video conferencing provides organizations with a backup plan. From the safety of their homes, employees can communicate with team members as if they were all together in the same office.Cold and Flu Season- One of the worst things an employee can do is come into work sick. Not only are they not at their full working capacity, but they are putting other employees at risk of getting sick as well. Many times employees will come into work sick because they can't afford to take time off. Allowing employees to telecommute on days when they are feeling under the weather will help assure a strong and productive workforce.Lack of communication and motivation - Having unmotivated employees is bad for business. Businesses can use web-based video conferencing to boost employee communication. This tool can also be used to broadcast a motivational speaker, or broadcast a motivational message from an executive, throughout many different office locations.Family issues - Having a sick family member can weigh heavily on the mind of employees. Rather than requiring employees to come into the office, where their mind will be on everything but work, through the use of web-based video conferencing, employees can be allowed to communicate from home. This will help keep their productivity level up and give them the freedom to help out their ill family member.

Online communication, such as email and chat allow employees to communicate remotely, but video conferencing makes these connections more powerful. Video conferencing is a direct way to communicate with employees as if they were sitting in the same room. It provides businesses with the power of increasing employee productivity, while maintaining the flexibility to get work done from anywhere, at anytime.

This article has been viewed 67 time(s).
Article Submitted On: January 28, 2011

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Features of the Video Phone

There are so many magnificent features on the video phone and I want to share them with you. All these features and functions come standard on the video phone, meaning no extra cost and on top of that, you get the already low monthly bill.

Here are some of the awesome features: seeing the person you are talking to, enhanced video clarity, enhanced light sensor camera, you can connect it to a larger screen, video voice mail, automatic bandwidth adjustment, Three Way Video calling, call forward, 7" screen, caller ID, call waiting, auto redial, Digital picture frame $80.00-$100.00 dollar value* (When not in use), unlimited calls...

Now what does this means to you? Well you can talk to anyone around the world using audio or video capabilities. Plus you get the digital phone service that includes video and all these wonderful features for the same price you are paying now or probably lower than what you are paying now.

So you no longer have to worry about your loved ones well being, because now you can see them for yourself.

You get to see and talk to them every day with no problem. Like turning on your computer to use the online video chat...that sometimes doesn't work because it freezes or it disconnects. With a video phone you just pick up the phone, dial and talk... it's that simple.

Plus if you don't want to use the video just hit the privacy button and the camera will shut off.

Also if you or someone you know, is hearing impaired you can now communicate easy with the real time video phone ?. It's amazing what this video phone can do!!!

Experience the brand new way of communicating don't get stuck using the out dated regular audio only telephone service. Remember all the features I mentioned above and many more are... Well the price you pay for all of these features is usually cheaper than regular phone service.

This article can be freely published on a website as long as it is not modified in any way including the author bylines and active hyperlinks. Modesto Colon and Giovanni Diaz are experts in telecommunications and have marketed dozens of telecom products and services. They have participated in helping many in this telecom industry. They have devoted themselves to the study of this art of communications and enjoy imparting the "lessons learned" to other like-minded individuals. To find out more information please go to http://www.telecomsecretsrevealed.com/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Modesto_Colon

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5 Great Android Apps for Amazing Video Conferencing

Video conferencing makes our lives easier. Connecting with people from school and business has also been made possible because of video conferencing. In line with this, Android also allows its devices to do just that. In no particular order, here are 5 Great Android apps for Amazing Video conferencing:

1. Qik Video Connect

The Android Qik's interface is different with that of its iOs counterpart. The Android version has four blocks on its screen each representing a certain function with its description. Its functions include Video Chat, Record and Share, Video Mail and Video Gallery. Although the Android version differs with the iOs version in its appearance, both have the same functionality.

Aside from its Video Chat function, another thing which you may find interesting is the Video mail. It's just like the Voice Mail but this time, it uses video. An advantage of the Video Mail is that the quality of the video is better than that of the live video chat since it is pre-recorded. The bad news is that you may not be able to use this service for free after June 1 since they will be charging an annual fee for this service.

With Qik, you can also upload your videos to the web and share them via email and SMS. Although Qik has good features, it may not have the best video chat experience. Right now, however, Qik is one of the best options among Video Conferencing Android apps.

2. Tango

The good thing about Tango is that it allows it users to have a cross-platform video chat. That means you can have a video chat with a friend using an iOs even if you're on Android-very cool indeed! Although Fring has this capability, Tango scores more points when it comes to video quality and ease of use. With Tango, one can also make calls over 3G and 4G networks as well.

Finding your friends using Tango is also made convenient by this app. Tango can search through your Android or iPhone Address book for friends who are on Tango and adds them into the app's contact list. Also, setup of this app is quite easy.

3. Fring

Fring is user-friendly. Its interface is neat and not cluttered. Even a first-time user wouldn't have a problem getting to know the app. Video Quality is good although not as good as FaceTime (iPhone). Its audio still has more room for improvement. The good thing, though, is that it can be downloaded from the Android website for free.

4. Knocking Live Video

Knocking Live Video lets its user share live video from his phone to another one's. This Video-sharing app used to be available only in the iPhone. Now, it's in Android-good news for Android enthusiasts! This is a cross-platform app which means that an Android user can share live videos to a family or friend who's using the iPhone. It's one of the most popular social network apps today and you can download this app for free.

5. Skype

Skype is undeniably one of the best in VoIP apps around. Unfortunately, Android Skype doesn't have video conferencing with the exception of 4G phones. A lot are hopeful though that this service would extend to non-4G phones in the near future.

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Start Utilizing Video Conferencing Today

Have you recently moved to another city or state, or possibly even country, and desire to communicate with those closest to you? Or perhaps you are the owner of a business that makes many different offers or has many meetings via video conference? If so, you should know that there are a large variety of different companies out there right now that offer the best in video conferencing technology, and could be absolutely perfect for your personal use or business.

Many people already use video conference personally, as it allows them to communicate with different people all across the world. Students in college often use certain Video Conference programs that can allow them to speak with their friends and family, and feel a little bit less homesick. Video conference is a fairly new invention, but only in the domestic sense. Video conferencing is readily available in many different platforms, and can different programs can even be downloaded from the Internet for free today to allow anyone and everyone to be able to hold a video conference.

Many people utilize these programs in order to hold meetings, interviews, and just to chat casually with many different people all over the world! Video conferencing is incredibly valuable to all of those that utilize it, If you are someone that wants to remain in contact with a large number of different friends, family, and loved ones, or have a business that needs to start utilizing conferencing services in order to reach a larger client base, then don't hesitate a minute longer in getting your video conferencing software today.

There are many different programs out there that will allow you to hold video conferences. All you need to do to find the perfect one for you is research online the different platforms and programs, and the features that they offer. Video conferencing is beneficial for anyone and everyone, and is an incredibly valuable tool and technology that should be utilized by anyone that is interested! You can remain in contact with friends, family, and loved ones, or enjoy video conferencing for business related reasons! Get your software today!

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Article Submitted On: January 27, 2011

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The Video Conference Provides a Window To the World for Any Business Organization

Video conference has become the norm and the standard for business practices all around the world. It saves time, energy, and mostly travels expenses. There is no longer an immediate need to bring people from different parts of the country or even the world face to face to hold a meeting. Your meeting can take place through interactive telecommunication technologies that are in fact convenient and inexpensive compared to the rigors and expenses associated with travel. This is the modern way to conduct business on a large scale for making quick decisions and discussing issues within a company. It is technology working at its best for companies to solve problems and to achieve their mission statement.

In was not until the 1980's when the video conference first came into prominence. During the 1990's the concept took off and many companies began to use video conferencing as standard practice for meetings. It let two people or a room full of people at many different locations to be able to communicate directly. In addition to hearing and seeing individuals other forms of technology could also be utilized during this process. Computer data, power point, videos, and other visual aids can be used to help make important decisions as well as information shared among employees and managers of any business.

In the 2000's the video conference became even more popular for large and small business with access to such sites as Skype and iChat. These have grown in popularity because they are essentially free of charge and open to both large business organizations as well as the small business enterprise. It was 2005 that marked the first high definition video conferencing and most likely will be the standard for years to come.

As technology becomes more sophisticated so will the video conference and all the aspects and potential it offers. The potential for video conferencing is unlimited and now extends for advertising, education, web sites, and informational programming. The future is bright for this advanced communication system that connects people and business so that they can do business, learn, make decisions, and stay informed. Tomorrow will result in better ways to communicate with the world and video conferencing is at the top of the list.

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Article Submitted On: January 27, 2011

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Video Conferencing And Its Basic Components

In a faster processing world where methods for easy contacts rule, video conferencing can help you get connected to more than one people at different locations in the same time. Not only you can interact with other call participants located in far distant places but also can listen, watch, send and receive files from them. This is the reason why many business houses prefer to use video conference system to keep in touch with their customers, employees and associates in the remote places of world.

Videoconferencing really facilitates easy communication and you can use it to save cost on business trips. Here is given a brief coverage of this easier communication mean so as to help you explore its basic components and use them to their fullest capacities.

How Effective Is Video Conferencing?

Video conference is a faster communication mechanism that lets you to speak, listen, see as well as share files, documents and important information with your colleagues, suppliers and investors over a LAN or WAN connection. The contact process is usually fast and effective as it takes place in a collaborative environment.

Who Can Use Video Conference?

Videoconferencing is recognized as a cost saving communication measure these days. So, it can help all those who use flights and other expensive communication modes to attend business meetings, seminars and events etc. They can save a considerable amount of money, time and chaos by interacting and meeting with clients and colleagues through video conferencing. Some of the globally recognized business organizations depend on web conference companies for making reliable and professional contacts with their counterparts. Small to medium sized business organizations are also coming to realize the powerful effects of teleconferencing. In addition to this, federal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, trade organizations, accountants, attorneys, educators, physicians, consultant agencies, executive law firms and human resource executives can use video conferencing services to communicate in real time.

What Are The Types Of TeleConferencing?

Video conferencing are of two types and you can choose the one depending on your communication requirement.

1. Point to point teleconferencing - In this kind of video conferencing, real time communication can take place among an unlimited number of users present in two separate locations. This type of teleconferencing works best for small businesses not having more than a single branch office. It does not require any major technical set up and you can start with simple dial-up, compatible codec equipment and switched network services.

2. Multi point teleconferencing - This communication method is adored by every business organization as it makes interaction possible among an unlimited number of users present in three or multiple locations. It can save both money and time of multinational companies having multiple branch offices throughout the world. However, different digital transmission signals, vendor codec equipment and network services will be required to start with multi point teleconferencing.

What Are The Basic Components of Video Conference?

The basic components of videoconferencing used to vary from one place to another, often transmitting signals at variable speeds and using different IP protocols. However the minimum components required for every kind of videoconference remain more or less the same. They include a camera, a monitor, a speaker, a codec and a microphone. When the microphone and camera capture sound and image, the codec converts the audio and video signals into digital signals and encodes them to send out properly. Again, the codec helps in decoding the signal at the other end and delivers the audio and video signal at the receiving end.

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Video Conference - Utilizing Futuristic Technology

Video conference equipment is being utilized by more businesses today than ever. The growth of this technology is expected to rise significantly over the next few years. Much progress has been made in just the past couple of years in the video conferencing industry. It makes communicating all over the world faster and easier. There are many applications and benefits for utilizing this futuristic technology, many of which are being used today.

Distance Learning - Education institutions from high school to higher education use video conferencing for students. This provides a way for students to benefit from lectures without having to be in the classroom. Even if you live in another country, you can get an online education as long as you qualify and can pay for it.

Business Meetings - The ability to communicate with people all over the world for business purposes through not only voice, but video communications puts people in the same location at the same time without the need to physically be there. This means it can be used for gathering co-workers and executives for meetings that are in various locations or meet with clients in other countries. The global benefits are amazing and far-reaching.

Employee Training - Much like distance learning, businesses can use this technology to allow several employees in various locations to get the training they need without being in the actual location where the training takes place. This makes business more productive because the employees do not have to be out of town for training. They can be at their location, get the training and go right back to work with only minutes of work interruption as opposed to days of interrupted work flow.

Private Meetings - Video conference systems can also be used for private meetings between board members of a corporation, sales staff or even between just two people.

One of the biggest benefits of video conference solutions is the lower costs. Without this kind of technology businesses would have to pay for employee travel and lodging. Plus, when the employees are not at their location they are not working which tends to decrease productivity. The use of video telecommunications goes above and beyond to help businesses all over the globe to effectively maintain productivity and lower expenses.

Video conference systems include monitors, telepresence audio/visual devices and software respectively. Some software can be used via instant messenger video calls where others can be added when necessary. Larger systems provide large display HD monitors and high-quality voice solutions for big meetings in large corporations. No matter what there is a cost-effective solution for almost any business for video conferencing.

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Video Phone - Is a Cost Effective Video Phone A Reality?

Growing up, one of my favorite Saturday morning cartons was the Jetsons. This program had a very interesting vision of the future. There were flying cars, robots that cook, clean and keep us company and I'll never forget George Jetson discussing dinner plans with his wife Jane over a video communications device. Well, parts of that vision of the future are today's reality. I don't know about you but I don't think most automobile drivers are ready to drive flying cars, but being able to communicate using video is something that's well past due.

The video connections have been around for sometime on the personal computer, through the use of applications such as SKYPE and MSN Messenger. Although the quality of the video has not been the best, it is jittery and pixilated. This is mainly due to the fact that these services are primarily free and thus used by a large portion of the video and audio marketplace.

Recently there has been some progress with video technology; this is mainly due to the advent of VOIP technology. VOIP, which stands for voice over internet protocol, allows the device to communicate voice and data over the technology which powers the internet Now as the speeds that are offered by internet providers have increased from dial-up to broadband, so has the development of digital devices that can connect without having to have a computer to host the connection. Now users don't have to be connected to their computer to make and receive phone calls.

The next logical step is to create digital devices that can not only send and receive voice signals, but can also add video signals to the mix. These types of devices have been quite common in corporate networks that utilize secure high-speed networks to accomplish high quality video teleconferencing, although the high cost of the equipment made them a luxury item at best. Recently the demand for high quality video communication for the home has increased and a few companies answered the call. They have started to develop and market various types of solutions.

The cost-effective, easy to use and a high quality video phone is now a reality. Even the most non technically savvy of us can easy and quickly learn to use today video phones, so they can be used by grandparents, parents and even children without having to be concerned that they will be intimidated by the technology. This is guaranteed since most of these new video phone devices work just like the traditional phones that Ma Bell has been providing for years, with an added bonus of providing a video feed. A few devices even completely replace the existing traditional phones, allowing you to call other video phone, traditional landlines both local and long-distance and cellular phones for a fixed monthly charge.

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Preparing for a Video Conference

Like professionals from industries of all types, lawyers have found that holding a video conference is a cost-effective alternative to travel. If your firm is involved in hosting a video conference, its success hinges on proper planning. Don't leave your video conference's success to chance - plan for it!

Book a Professional Videoconferencing Agency

Whether you host your video conference at your law firm or book a session at a nearby facility, make sure that you have a team of skilled videoconferencing professionals supporting you. Many litigation support firms will set up your conference room with professional, high-definition video equipment. This allows your attorneys to step across the threshold and create a telepresence virtually anywhere in the world. Leave the technical details to the pros to ensure a trouble-free conference and allow your litigators to focus on their presentation.

Schedule the Conference with Time Differences in Mind

While you may be in Texas, the other participants may be half a world away. This makes scheduling tricky. Ideally, you'll be able to schedule a time that falls within normal business hours for all parties involved but that's not always possible. If the distances are such that some participants must attend at odd hours, use a world time zone map and your common sense to determine the best compromise possible. If you are hosting important clients, you'll want to cater to your client's scheduling preferences. While it may be inconvenient for your attorneys to come in after hours, it could be the smartest choice from a customer service perspective.

Create and Follow an Agenda

Just as you'd never hold a meeting without an agenda, you should never "wing it" during a video conference. Plot out your agenda in advance and share it with all participants. This ensures that all participants are aware of the topics and time allotments; it also allows them to formulate questions or provide input. If you need another attorney to present information during the conference, make sure that the attorney is aware of what you need in advance so that he can arrive prepared.

Arrive Early for Technical Testing

Arrive early enough for technical testing. The equipment will be set up and monitored by the technician, so you do not need to speak loudly or lean forward into a microphone. The technician will give you simple instructions, such as showing you where the camera is located so you can "make eye contact," and run a couple of sound and video checks before the video conference goes live.

Stick to Your Schedule

As with traditional meetings, sticking to the schedule shows respect for other people's time. If you've allotted one hour for the video conference, then the meeting should last no longer than one hour. Refer to your agenda throughout the conference and enforce all time restrictions you've put in place. If you've built-in time at the end of the video conference for questions and answers, you can use some of this time to return to items requiring additional discussion. Not only does sticking to your schedule show respect for your participants' time, it is also important because of facility rentals. You firm and other participants may not have access to videoconferencing facilities for much longer than the allotted time. Even if you do, you may have to pay overtime charges, causing your video conference charges to exceed your budget.

With proper planning and a professional videoconferencing support team, a video conference can be one of the most cost-effective ways to communicate across long distances.

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Review - iWowWe Video Communication

With the tremendous popularity of the internet, people have become increasingly overwhelmed with the overload of information exchanged via emails, text messages, blogs, articles, social media sites and the other thousands of information sources out there on the world wide web.

Given this information overload, over the past few years, people's attention spans have decreased thereby making video communication an effective tool for getting the message across. Though video sharing sites like YouTube, Metacafe, Daily Motion, Vimeo and others have come to the forefront in terms of video sharing, video email is starting to make its way to the mainstream.

I've been researching video communication during the past year and have tried several video communication platforms. These platforms mainly offer video email and video conferencing as tools to communicate online with one or more persons. One such video communication platform is iWowWe which offers video email and conferencing.

Video Email

The iWowWe video email platform is available free and I found it quite user-friendly and easy to use. Some video communication platforms charge a monthly fee that could range from $10 to $20.

iWowWe has hundreds of pre-designed video email templates to use in their library so you can customize each video email to your recipient. For example, if you're sending a birthday greeting to your friend or family member, you can choose one of several birthday templates.

If you're the creative type, you can even create your own video email template by using your pictures and embed your video message to personalize your email. The platform offers drag and drop functionality, so customizing your templates is quite simple.

In order to create and send your video email, you follow the steps below:

Add your recipient contact email addresses;Enter the Subject of your email;Schedule when you want to send the email (i.e. now or later);Choose a video (record it now or upload one already recorded);Choose a template (pre-designed or customized);Enter a signature (optional); andSend the video email.

Video Conferencing

The iWowWe video conferencing is similar to the WebEx platform (GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar) wherein you can use it to do one-on-one video chats or conduct online video meetings or conferences with several people. Through the video conferencing platform, you can share presentations, collaborate using a whiteboard and even share you screen with your audience.

The WebEx platform charges approximately $49 monthly, whereas, iWowWe charges $19.95 monthly. The iWowWe video conferencing platform offers a 50 seat room as well as unlimited number of people can join the meeting via teleconference. A phone number for teleconferencing is offered free of charge in case you would like to use this feature when setting up a video conference or webinar.

One good feature that I particularly liked about the iWowWe platform is that participants don't need to download any special software to attend the video meeting. All they do is click the link and enter the meeting.

To set up a video conference and invite participants, you follow the steps below:

Choose a meeting title or name;Set a password to enter the meeting (optional);Choose a scheduled time for the meeting;Enter a brief description for the meeting;Choose the participants by using their email addresses;Invite participants for the meeting.

So far, I've been enjoying using both video email as well as video conferencing to keep in touch with friends and family as well as for business and professional purposes. There is a learning curve to people who have never used these sorts of platforms, however, it not difficult to learn watching the video tutorials.

In fact, you can take a look at these short video tutorials to find out whether this is something you would like to use.

Worth mentioning is that, one important aspect of any company or product I use, is credibility. Through my research about iWowWe, I found out that they have been in operation since October 2007 and have received BBB (Better Business Bureau) accreditation in August 2010.

Anthony Godinho is a Human Resources professional, Trader and Entrepreneur. One of his passion is health and wellness, healthy living is a lifestyle to him. He also loves philanthropy and desires to do all he can to reach out to the less fortunate. His vision is to connect with like-minded individuals and organizations to work together to help people in need. CLICK HERE to learn more about him.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anthony_Godinho

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