Call and see whom you're talking to

By Andy Walker

One of the most exciting ways to use your PC is to try it as a video phone. By simply installing a microphone and webcam, you can use your computer to communicate like the Jetsons! It’s not hard to set up and the cost is minimal. Plus, once the system is operational, it’s really usefl to be able to see and talk to distant family members or, at the office, to have a video conference with distant colleagues for free.

There are lots of software and hardware packages you can use to do this, but the easiest way I’ve found is to set it up using MSN Messenger, which is a free Internet chat tool which supports webcams and audio connections in its Windows version.

Many people already have this set up for Internet chatting where two people can communicate live by typing messages to each other in real time. What you may not realize is that upgrading to video and audio is easy.

Here’s what both you and the person at the other end of the connection will both need to do, in order for you both to see and talk to each other across the Internet.

You’ll need:

1. A Windows computer, preferably Windows XP , but this system will work on older versions of Windows such as Windows 98 and ME and Windows 2000.
2. MSN Messenger installed (this is a free download at Windows Live Messenger)
3. A high speed Internet connection such as DSL or cable Internet. You can use a dial-up Internet connection via a 56K modem, but your video and audio will be very choppy and generally very unsatisfactory.
4. A web camera (Logitech and Creative Labs make good ones)
5. Earphones with a microphone, or a microphone attached to your sound card. Note that some webcams have built-in microphones. If you are buying a webcam specifically for the purpose of audio-video chat, choose a camera with a mike.

MSN Messenger 6.1 is the critical piece of software here.

There are other programs that will help you video conference, but we’ve found that MSN Messenger is the most common service available and that it’s the easiest to implement.

Once you have MSN Messenger downloaded and installed and you have an account, which you activate during the installation process, confirm with the person you want to video-conference with that they have done the same on their computer.

When you both have the program installed, you can add each other as a “buddy” in the program. To do this click Add a Contact at the bottom of the MSN Messenger screen and choose Create a new contact.... Type in your friend’s email address (the one they used to sign up for MSN Messenger). When you do this, they will receive a request to add you as their buddy the next time they log on to Messenger. Once they have accepted the request, your buddy will appear in a list in your MSN Messenger main screen and you will appear in his.

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