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General discussion

Broadband video call

May 20, 2005 2:24AM PDT

I want to see and talk to my mother 8000 miles away from me in the other country. I did lot of research to place a video call free. I got different options such as 'Pocket8' service; purchase 2 video phones around $100 each and pay around $20 a month for each phone with 2 years contract agreement . When we pay this much, we dont need a computer but just video phone. There are other plans like 'Sight Speed' and 'Logitech Voice Call' work with a webcam, charge a low monthly fee.
There are some other type like 'MSN Messenger' and 'Yahoo Messenger' offer free video calls. I cant understand what is the difference in paid video calls as 'Logitech Video call' and a free video call as 'Yahoo Messenger call'. If there is no difference, why should we pay a monthly fee. thanx

Discussion is locked

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Same problem
Jun 11, 2005 8:07PM PDT

I want to video call my mother some 10,000 miles away and am encountering the same confusing problem of whether to sign up for a service like logitech and don?t know what the advantages would be.
Have you found anything out since May 20th?
Greetings, Soleij

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video call
Oct 15, 2005 3:10PM PDT

yes, purchase 2 D-link divices from Best Buy or order online from D-link, I cant remember the name of that device now and I cant remember the exaact price but I think it comes in around $50 each. You can check that on D-link website. Place that device on the top of your TV and using the Broadband connection, you are always connected with your mom. Both of you can see each other all day on your TV.
You can also use your camcorder which has the feature of webcam, as Canon ZR-300 or ZR-400 using MSN Messenger or Yahoo Messenger but you should have the latest version of these Messengers as Beta. Your mother must have broadband connection in the other country too. If some technical issues arise on the other hand, someone should be there to help your mother to resolve those issues. Good luck and serve your mother as much as she took care of you when you couldnt speak.

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It's this simple.
Jun 11, 2005 10:23PM PDT

Many can't get the free setups to work and need technical support. For those that can't get it to work, the paid services are the way to go.

Bob

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I use. . .
Jun 13, 2005 7:38AM PDT

Yahoo IM. Set up the voice connection, add web cam. Works for me.

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Yahoo Messenger Easy, Free, the Way to Go
Jun 24, 2005 10:57PM PDT

I've been using Yahoo Messenger for about four years. I have a brother in San Diego, one in Houston and relatives in Hawaii and Florida, as well as local friends and relatives that all use Yahoo.

Even to the novice the new versions of Yahoo are easy to use.

I tried a couple of the pay programs, and they don't work any better.

As long as you and your friend's connection is cable or DSL, Yahoo will work great. (Check out CNET's review on Yahoo Messenger. The download is there also.)