Videoconferencing Kits Click With Home PC Users -- Many Are Adding
Video to Online Chat Sessions, E-Mail
Computer Retail Week - August 10, 1998, Issue: 214
When manufacturers introduced videoconferencing kits, they envisioned busy
executives holding virtual conferences in their offices. But the products fizzled
in the corporate world, falling short of professionals' expectations.
Consumers, on the other hand, have begun to embrace the technology as a
means to enhance recreational activities, such as adding video to their e-mail
messages and online chat sessions.
The kits can handle videoconferencing, capture still images, work in video chat
rooms, or be used to make video e-mail. 3Com, Sony, Panasonic, Kodak,
Toshiba, Creative Labs and Connectix sell videoconferencing kits priced from
roughly $100 to $200 (ESP).
About 1 million videoconferencing units are expected to ship in
1998, three times the 1997 shipments. By 2002, this figure will reach
12 million units, said Kristy Holch, an analyst with InfoTrends,
Boston. However, most of the future models will be bundled with PCs,
rather than sold as standalone videoconferencing kits, she added.
techweb.com
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