Windows 7 - Video Conferencing between PC and MAC

Asked By Anal Surprise

19-Jan-08 02:21 PM

Is there a way to have a full-on audio/video call between a MAC and a PC
other than using Skype?

A friend of mine has a MAC. He uses iChat to conference with family that
also has MAC. He uses Live Messenger for everyday chatting (typing), but
must switch to Mercury to see video (no audio) with a PC. For the full-on
audio/video call, he uses Skype.

That 4 software items just to chat.

Meanwhile, the PC can easily interact with other PCs via Messenger alone.
But when we want to interact with MACs with audio AND video, our only option
(that I'm aware of) is Skype.

You'd think that installing Live Messenger on MAC would allow it to
audio/video with other Live Messengers on PC, but it doesn't.

Has anyone had to audio/video conference between MAC and PC before, and if
so, how did you solve it? Did you turn to Skype, or is there another way
both myself and my friend are unaware of?

19-Jan-08 11:29 PM

Greetings,

Another option is to use AIM (on Windows) which has video/audio support that is backwards
compatible with iChat.  I've used this before and it works okay.

Or you can use Yahoo Messenger which works on both platforms.

The next version of Messenger:Mac is "supposed to" have audio and video functionality, which
should fix this problem.  For my Mac contacts though, we generally use Skype at the moment.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--

20-Jan-08 03:02 AM

Are you saying that AIM can connect to iChat? How does that work? If someone
is online in iChat, they show up as online in AIM?

Or are you saying both parties need to use AIM?

I'm trying to reduce the amount of unnecessary software on either computer.
Right now, my friend uses the MAC version of Messenger, as well as iChat. On
my end, I use Live Messenger. I don't mind adding an extra piece of software
(though I'd prefer avoiding it) but it has to be on my end only.

Guess I should just wait for that next Messenger for Macs version. Any
estimates?

20-Jan-08 02:14 PM

iChat doesn't have its own network.  It either connects to the AIM network, a Jabber server
or Bonjour.  As such, it operates on the AIM network just like an AIM client.


Nope.


Well typically the Microsoft Mac Business Unit concentrates on a specific product.  They've
just finished Office 2008, so Messenger is probably next on the plate.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--

21-Jan-08 12:26 PM

So AIM on my end can connect to iChat on theirs? Mac users would see me
appear just like I was using iChat on a Mac? No distinction made? That's
kinda cool if it's true.


Are we talking weeks or months? Unofficially. Give it a wild guess. If
weeks, I'll wait. If months, I'll install AIM and bloat my Windows even
more. D'oh. :-/

21-Jan-08 10:37 PM

It's true and it's been like that since they released iChat.


Months - lots of them.  Hopefully this year though.

--
Jonathan Kay
Microsoft MVP - Windows Live Messenger
MSN Messenger/Windows Messenger
MessengerGeek Blog: http://www.messengergeek.com
Messenger Resources: http://messenger.jonathankay.com
(c) 2008 Jonathan Kay - If redistributing, you must include this signature or citation
--