SightSpeed: VoIP and Video Calling

SightSpeed is an SIP-based soft VoIP app for Windows and Mac OS X that allows users to make free PC – PC video calls, free PC – PC internet phone calls and cheap PC – landline calls. It has garnered quite a few active users who use SightSpeed as a very capable Skype alternative.

While SightSpeed is extremely capable to make internet phone calls, it has a reputation for excellent video conference calls. Users can participate in a video conference with up to 4 attendees with very little lag in the video feed due to a proprietary artifical intelligence algorithm (originally developed at Cornell University) that is used to clean up images on the fly and an H263 codec. SightSpeed claim that this combination of technologies allows for 30 frames per second of live video via a typical broadband connection without any perceivable loss of quality.

SightSpeed offers a service called Phone Out (similar to SkypeOut) where you can make cheap long distance phone calls, US – UK / US – Germany for just 2¢ per minute for example. For $3.95 per month users can also receive calls through a local US phone number, much like SkypeIn. Interestingly, SightSpeed Phone In also allows users to get a 1-800 number for an extra $1 per month, a feature which will be attractive to SMEs.

But one of the features I like the most about SightSpeed is the ability to record a quick video message and send it off to your friends via email. Callers can also leave video messages if you are not available. It’s features like this that will really appeal to the consumer / family market. Click here for a full list of SightSpeed’s capabilities including video conferencing, call conferencing, IM, SMS and podcasting.