Call a computer using voice and video

Windows Messenger .NET

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To call a computer using voice and video

You can converse with an online contact using microphones to talk and cameras to see each other—unless one of you is in a corporation and the network administrator has turned this feature off. You must also both be using Windows XP and have a full-duplex sound card with a headset (or speakers and a microphone) or a USB port with a USB headset (or USB speakers and a USB microphone).

In the conversation window, click Start Camera at the top of the sidebar. If you do not see this option, your corporation or network does not allow video in Windows Messenger.

To see your picture inset in your contact's picture, click Options below the picture and make sure that Show My Video as Picture-in-Picture is selected.

To stop sending your video image, click Options, and then click Stop Sending Video. You will continue to receive the other person's image, but your image will freeze in your contact's conversation window.

If you do not see the sidebar, click the View menu, and then click Show Sidebar.

If a contact does not accept your invitation, it may be because the person does not have the necessary sound hardware or a camera.

Notes

To end the conversation, click Stop Talking or Stop Camera.
If the person you are calling doesn't have a camera (and you do), then they will see you, but you won't see them.
If you invite someone to a video conversation and you don't have a camera, you will see them if they have a camera.
If the person you are calling doesn't have Windows XP, they won't be able to accept the invitation.