Video conferencing is yet to take off, though it has been threatening to do so for a long time. Superior video and audio compression, and massive improvements in internet speeds means that products like Polycom’s PVX have a better chance at appealing to the home user than ever.

PVX is designed as an office application but could as easily appeal to people wanting to make personal video calls. The installation process is very easy and includes helpful hints which explain some of the networking jargon used. Little networking knowledge is required, though configuring IP addresses and available ports is necessary to conference between users on independent networks. To make an outgoing call you will need to know the other person’s IP address though – but helpfully the main screen displays your own address quite clearly.

The interface is friendly and enables easy changing of settings and calling features. Using Logitech QuickCams on the local network the video and sound quality was very good, and the call quality is configurable for outbound calls.

There is no screenshot option, but there is ‘VideoMail’ which enables you to send a short message through your email client – a 30 second mail takes up about 1MB.

The problem for PVX is that there are several free conferencing tools out there, as we previewed last month, with quality that is just as good. And even if it’s not free, the full version of iVisit only costs US$40. Its main ‘free’ rival in this regard, though, is the newly upgraded MSN Messenger 7 with enhanced video conferencing abilities. The difference being that Messenger’s focus is still on text chat while PVX is voice – with no text abilities at all.
 
A good program for use at home or in business, but which faces some stiff competition from other quarters.