free video-conferencing

[papaschtroumpf]

I've got family abroad that doesn't get to see my kids but every few years.
I'd like to be able to do video conferencing so that they can talk/see each other more often.

What video conferencing software is out there (I want it to be free) and what do you recommend and why?
Desired features include:
- video optionnal
- point-to-point connection (for example IP address) rather than having to register with a directory service. If using a directory service I want o make sure you can only authorize the people you want, I'm not interested in "making new friend" through that system.

I know of the following programs but I'm not sure what differentiate them:
- NetMeeting
- ICUII
- CUSeeMe
- Dwyco
-JoinPhone lite
- iVisit

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[Slugbait]

You can easily connect a NetMeeting conference using an IP address. In fact, click Help->About, and NetMeeting tells you what your current IP address is. Plus, you can create a speeddial from the Call menu, and then email or IM the speeddial for easy-squeezy connectivity...double-click, other party accepts, you're connected.

If using a downlevel OS, you can use MSN Messenger to start a NetMeeting conference. Right click your buddy (or use the Actions menu), choose to start NetMeeting, and Messenger will send the invite...NetMeeting will auto-launch on both sides, and auto-dial (this entry point is not available on XP).

Of course, you could use WebCam in MSN Messenger, but that's kind of cumbersome. If you're both using XP, an easier one-click solution would be to use video conferencing, which automatically invites two-way video, and includes audio with a minimal number of clicks.

I used Messenger's webcam feature to show the siblings and grandchildren unwrap gifts this year for xmas...my mom was viewing 1000 miles away. Video wasn't perfect, it fluctuated between 10 FPS and 2 FPS, but she was thrilled.

 

[funggorgor]

i think microsoft stop develop NetMeeting
and embed the netmeeting into MSN messenger which now becomes the most popular choice for video-conferencing

 

[papaschtroumpf]

isn't netmeeting a bitch to use through a firewall?

 

[imported_waldo]

I've used MSN messenger for video conferencing, and it has worked great....getting more like 10 to 15 FPS. Ivisit is supposed to be decent, but I haven't used it.

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: funggorgor
i think microsoft stop develop NetMeeting
and embed the netmeeting into MSN messenger which now becomes the most popular choice for video-conferencing

Not exactly. NetMeeting is still a core system component in XP, although entry points were removed from the Start menu...but you can still launch it via Run->conf [enter].

NetMeeting was not embedded into MSN Messenger. On downlevel operating systems, the best you can do in MSN Messenger is right-click a contact and choose Start NetMeeting, or select Start NetMeeting from the Actions menu. With Windows Messenger 4.x and 5.x (and later MSN Messenger v5.x, v6.x and v7.x), you get menu items that allow you to simply start app sharing, desktop sharing and whiteboard...without the NetMeeting interface. Yes, NetMeeting components, but they are simply "tied into" the Messenger clients via individual entry points. But NetMeeting's A/V is not tied into the Messenger clients at all...