Video Messaging beyond e-mail
The Video Messaging plug-in for Outlook/Thunderbird is another component in Orb's larger streaming-media application. For example you can send Video Messages via SMS to (Skype links) to any mobile phone. The recipient clicks the link and your video message is streamed to the browser in the Mobile phone:

"What about Skype? Can I send Video Messages via Skype?"

Yes you can. Just copy and paste the link from Outlook/Thunderbird into a Skype SMS message or Chat Window. In a few weeks a plug-in for Skype will be available (watch this space for a review). Copy and paste is a simple enough work around allowing you to test out the power of pushing video content to yourself and your Skype buddies. Whether you are sharing or showing off this is cool technology. I am told a version for AIM is in the works too.

This Sunday's New York Times article by Lorne Manly, "For Tiny Screens, Some Big Dreams", provides an in-depth look at the future of streaming media.

Personally speaking, I sense the future is very bright for the streaming of media to the mobile phone. When you read about or think about mobile and video it is hard to get past the idea of the "tiny" screen. But once you have the technology in your hands you are unlikely to put it down.

Think about the value for 34 million American kids (plus their divorced/separated -parents and grandparents) who live in different cities. Surely as demand for mobile video grows so too will the screen sizes. Technology is already coming available for mini-size projectors being built-in to your mobile phone creating a 7-inch screen.

Video mail was not really a practical option till now. Many ISP limit the file attachments sizes to less than 5 MB. Now Orb's streaming technology makes it simple, secure and convenient. Anyone who has tried Skype video knows how powerfully video enhances communication by conveying the nuances of spoken language and facial expression. Now Orb brings this power to your asynchronous communication in business or personal relationships.

Simple to use...

Just three clicks...

1. Open the Video Messaging application

2. Press the red button to start and stop recording

3. Send the message

Mycasting
The Orb web site talks about how Orb takes the "home" out of "Home Entertainment". Orb turned my "always-on" desktop into a "mycast media server". All my media files are available to me via my mobile phone or my "on-the-road" laptop. When I send a video message the recipient needs nothing. They receive a link and click on it and the video message or TV show is streamed directly to them.

I think this is exciting and important.

Get it here. Play with it. And let's hear from about whether you think streaming video be the next snowboard or skateboard for the digital-Skype-MySpace generation.