A typical low-cost webcam (a Microsoft LifeCam VX-3000) for use with many popular video-telecommunication programs (2009)
This list of video telecommunication services and product brands is for groupings of notable video telecommunication services, brands of videophones, webcams and video conferencing hardware and systems, all related to videotelephony for two-way communications with live video and audio.
the last section at the bottom of this page lists defunct brands and services for historical research purposes.
The products below are listed by their normal and intended purpose, even though their names or descriptions may differ from the categories shown here (refer to terminology within general article pages).
Hardware, software and related product brands[edit]
Videophone hardware brands for person-to-person (point-to-point) use[edit]
Stand-alone videophones are point-to-point units not employing Multipoint Control Units (centralized distribution and call management systems). Earlier models make video calls utilizing older analoguePOTS telephone lines, while later models use newer, higher quality, ADSL, ISDN or cable broadband technologies. Some videophones also employ Internet calling (IP) capabilities which can dispense with the need for telephone service.
Polycom: VVX1500, VVX600 and VVX500 Business media phones (United States)
Videoconferencing and telepresence hardware systems meant for multiple participants[edit]
A high resolution telepresence system and a developer in Colorado, U.S. using telepresence to coach a teacher in Utah during research for Project thereNow.
Video conferencing systems allow multiple participants by use of a Multipoint Control Unit (a centralized distribution and call management system) or via a similar non-centralized multipoint capability technology embedded in each unit. Some multiple party systems utilize Web-based bridging service providers, which can incur slight time delays.
CoroWare Inc.: CoroCall HD Video Conferencing Service (United States)
Webcam hardware brands for use on personal computers[edit]
A pre-2006 Apple iSight webcam, with software drivers written specifically for Apple's operating systems and a 2009 LifeCam Cinema USB video device for use with standard drivers.
Brands, manufacturers and other services listed here are no longer in production or no longer exist, and are listed for historical or research purposes.
Picturephone, world's first commercialized videophone for individual and business use, developed by AT&T and Bell Labs
Cisco Umi,[3] a home consumer version of their enterprise offerings (see above), briefly marketed in 2010-2011
Defunct videoconferencing system hardware brands[edit]
HP: Halo Telepresence Solutions (United States), acquired by Polycom in 2011
IBM Person to Person, a software-only collaborative conferencing system interoperable between OS/2, Windows and AIX developed and marketed between 1991 and 1995.[4]
Tandberg: T3 Telepresence of Norway, acquired by Cisco in 2009
Videotelephony descriptive names and terminology[edit]
The name [videophone]is not as standardized as its earlier counterpart, the telephone, resulting in a variety of names and terms being used worldwide, and even within the same region or country. Videophones are also known as videotelephones (orvideo telephones) and often by an early trademarked name "Picturephone", which was the world's first commercial videophone produced in volume. The compound name "videophone" slowly entered into general use after 1950,[5] although "video telephone" likely entered the lexicon earlier after "video" was coined in 1935.[6]
Videophone calls (also: videocalls and video chat),[7] differ from videoconferencing in that they expect to serve individuals, not groups.[8] However that distinction has become increasingly blurred with technology improvements such as increased bandwidth and sophisticated software clients that can allow for multiple parties on a call. In general everyday usage the term videoconferencing is now frequently used instead of videocall for point-to-point calls between two units. Both videophone calls and videoconferencing are also now commonly referred to as a video link.[citation needed]
Webcams are popular, relatively low cost devices which can provide live video and audio streams via personal computers, and can be used with many software clients for both video calls and videoconferencing.[9]
Avideoconference system is generally higher cost than a videophone and deploys greater capabilities. A videoconference (also known as a videoteleconference) allows two or more locations to communicate via live, simultaneous two-way video and audio transmissions. This is often accomplished by the use of a multipoint control unit (a centralized distribution and call management system) or by a similar non-centralized multipoint capability embedded in each videoconferencing unit. Again, technology improvements have circumvented traditional definitions by allowing multiple party videoconferencing via web-based applications.[10][11] A separate webpage article is devoted to videoconferencing.
Atelepresence system is a high-end videoconferencing system and service usually employed by enterprise-level corporate offices. Telepresence conference rooms use state-of-the art room designs, video cameras, displays, sound-systems and processors, coupled with high-to-very-high capacity bandwidth transmissions.[citation needed]
Unified communications, the integration of non real-time communication services such as unified messaging (integrated voicemail, e-mail, SMS and fax) with real-time communication services such as instant messaging, etc.
Saint Louis, Catherine. With Enough Bandwidth, Many Join The Band, The New York Times, January 10, 2012 (online), January 11, 2012 (in print, New York Edition, pg. A1). Retrieved online January 11, 2012. Synopsis: a look at the pros and cons of videotelephony used for private, individual, music lessons.
