The Intel Video Phone will be available in PCs from major manufacturers such as Compaq, Packard Bell, Siemens Nixdorf and Vobis. It is based on Intel's industry leading ProShare videoconferencing technology in combination with Intel's recently launched MMX technology. MMX technology greatly enhances the video quality of the calls by delivering clear video images of the callers on the PC screen. The Intel Video Phone is designed to be easy to use. It opens up new ways for people to meet and communicate using their home-PCs.
Users can initiate or answer a phone call and then move to the PC to add video to the same call.
Users can also send a high resolution snapshot during the video call and then store it for future reference. The Intel Video Phone comes as pre-installed software, and hardware in many new PCs. Only one analogue phone line is required to make a video call. Intel is proud to add value to the PC by bringing this new way of meeting people to users. The consumers surveyed saw video communication as an effective way to stay in touch with family members living in other cities or catching up on the latest news with their friends.