Videoconferencing For Apple Computers

Video conferencing for Apple computers is not only possible; it is as easy as it is on a PC. There are Instant Messenger programs that also have streaming video. They provide Mac to Mac and Mac to PC video streaming, making it possible to stay in the loop in an overwhelming PC world. A visit to a Macintosh friendly website reveals several easily obtained programs that support videoconferencing for Apple computers.

CU-SeeMe: The first videoconferencing for Apples on the Internet was CU-SeeMe. CU-SeeMe is an internet video-conferencing client written by Tim Dorcey and students at Cornell University. It was first developed for the Macintosh in 1992. The company has been sold several times, and filed for bankruptcy. However, There is still a small but active community of users who continue to use CU-SeeMe. Although there had been no releases of software from the various incarnations since 2000, there are freeware alternatives available for both Windows and Macintosh platforms.

VChat is a CU-Seeme video conferencing client for use with the Apple MacOS X operating system. With VChat you can participate in videoconferences by connecting to a CU-SeeMe reflector, or you can also have one-on-one conferencing. It is Freeware, and the system requirements are Mac OS X 10.2.5 or higher. The download file size is 1.7 MB.

Marratech: Any number of users can join videoconferences and e-meetings by downloading the free client software to their laptops or Macs. Your organizations web conferencing rooms are configured in a licensed Portal, which is set up on your company server. Marratech can be tailor made for the user. The License Fee for the server is $650 a month or $10,000 outright. Keep in mind that Marratech is a Freeware Client. System requirements are Mac OS X 10.4 or higher. The download file size is 7.3 MB.

Elluminate Live 6.0: Elluminate Live! 6.0 delivers industry-leading videoconferencing and multimedia capabilities in one collaborative solution. Elluminate Live! enables you to chat online, share whiteboards, and share applications. The license fee is free for one demo, three additions for $240 a month, and a ten-seat addition for $700. System requirements are Mac OS X and Mac OS 9. Elluminate provides the servers. The download file size is 4.6 MB.

iChat AV: The newest major release of the Apple operating system, Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger, features iChat AV. Tiger iChat AV brings multi-way video and audio conferencing directly to your desktop with stunning, true-to-life picture and crystal-clear conversation thanks to advanced graphics built in. Patented resizing techniques can fill the entire screen without distorting the images. iChat allows up to 10 participants for audio conferences .

In addition, iChat video conferencing is completely integrated into an iChat buddy list, so initiating a videoconference is easy. A simple click on a buddy list will invite and connect the meeting attendees. Any type of file can be transmitted with this system. Sent photos are displayed in the Message window instead of launching a disconnected window from another application.

The license for iChat is included with Mac OS X. iSight is a state-of-the-art video camera that can be paired with iChat AV. ISight makes it easier to videoconference over broadband. It has an integrated microphone, making it the eyes and ears of iChat AV. The cost is under $150.

OhphoneX: OhphoneX (pronounced as oh-phone-ten) is an H.323-compliant client application for video conferencing. Its goal is to bring standard based video conferencing and IP telephony application to Mac OS X. OhphoneX is designed to be a simple application that does Mac-to-Mac and Mac-to-PC (i.e. NetMeeting) audio/video conferencing. OhphoneX is free to download, with a file size of 6.2MB.

Collaba 4.7.6: Video and audio conferencing server features of the Collaba system cannot be run on Macs. However, Collaba provides dozens of easy-to-use communication and collaboration tools. It is designed to provide digital workspaces to virtual educational, corporate and governmental communities, making it a companion program for any videoconferencing program. The license is a freeware VL version. The download file size is 24MB.