Talkway.com is a video e-mail service that works in conjunction with a Web camera. A sender with something to say or show can go to Talkway's Web site and click a record button on a little applet -- a built-in program -- on the Web page. The applet records up to three minutes of "Talkmail" through the Talkway weeCam, a Web video camera installed on their system, or through any other brand of Webcam. The sender specifies a recipient and an optional custom message and the Talkway system saves the video and audio (or audio only, for those without a Webcam) and sends an e-mail notification to the recipient. It's kept on file for 30 days for the recipient to view. The recipient retrieves the Talkmail message by going to a custom Web address provided in the notification. The video message can be viewed with just a Web browser and an Internet connection; no special extra computer equipment is required. A sound card with speakers is required, however, to hear the audio. A video greeting card -- with cute animated messages -- can also be created on the Talkway service and delivered via e-mail. The sender needs to install the Talkway weeCam or other compatible Webcam, a computer microphone and sound card on the sending computer, and needs an Internet connection no slower than 28.8 kilobits per second. While the service is geared more toward consumers (grandkids talking to grandmas comes to mind) than for small business, Talkway.com certainly has some business utility. The service is free, to start, which is great for any business, and it's a good way to demonstrate or verbally explain something that won't otherwise get across in regular e-mail. It's certainly not for mission-critical messages and is not a secure way to send trade secrets, but it could be used to communicate with colleagues or employees. It would be useful, for example, if you need to show someone on the other side of the country a computer part that you need but don't know how to describe. The optional weeCam, which can be ordered through Talkway.com, is a monitor-top Web camera that records almost fluid video. It's no Sony, though. The video it records is smudgy, appearing as if the lens has been smeared with petroleum jelly. The audio playback through Talkway.com is also out of sync with the video from the weeCam. The weeCam comes in a USB (Universal Serial Bus) version or parallel port version. The latter version requires external power. It achieves this by drawing power through a keyboard port with a pass-through keyboard cable. This produces extra unwanted wiring behind the computer, but is a clever workaround, as it eliminates the need for an extra wall or power-bar socket. Stick with the USB version, if your computer has a USB port. It's a new kind of computer cable plugin that takes less space and uses one cable to draw power and input data into the computer case. The recipient can use a Mac or a personal computer using Windows, but senders require a PC to create video messages. The Talkway.com site says it has a Mac version of the product on the way. Despite its cleverness, the grandma connection may cause Talkway.com to have credibility problems with the small business world. Upgrade the camera and offer a premium small business version of the site, however, and this product will probably fly. Reviewer's rating: 4 / 5 for the Talkway.com service, 2.5 / 5 for the weeCam. Comments: The the Talkway.com service is an impressive idea and a natural extension of e-mail for people with fast Internet connections. Lose the grandma effect and go for a better camera and you'll have a winner. Price: Talkway.com service: free; Talkway weeCam $49.95 US, $75 Canadian. Camera is free if you sign up for a year of Internet access with U.S.-based EarthLink Sprint Internet.
  
Copyright © Cyberwalker Media Inc. 2002
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