Several web-sites provide video mail facilities on the internet. The mechanism for accessing the video mail service usually necessitates one to login to the site directly or via a desktop application software. The service is often bundled with other components and priced in diverse ways and may even be offered free subject to some constraints.
The video message is transmitted to the recipient as a link that can be followed to a video stream that is played off a remote server. In another format for delivery of video mails, it is sent as an attachment to the recipient embedded in an executable file that includes a player. Such an arrangement is more useful for mobile devices where such a feature could be important. Using standard email to deliver video as an attachment is the other alternative but will be somewhat constrained by attachment size limits.
Video mails provide several advantages over traditional text based e-mails. The one obvious benefit is that your message no longer needs to be keyed in on the keyboard. Instead, one can use their regular conversation (albeit to your webcam) to set the tone for messaging via a video email. Add to that the fact that the intonation and posturing conveyed in a very personalized manner is more likely to create the desired impact with minimal confusion. Communications regarding special occasions or expressions of emotion may be more meaningful for the recipient when conveyed via video. As they say, a picture paints a thousand words, so imagine what does a video clip do?
But, using video mail can also have a deleterious effect in certain situations. For instance, some people who are not very cogent in the vocal presentation medium may require multiple re-recordings before the message is satisfactory and placed in clear context. Perhaps this is more challenging from the perspective of procedure and habit which repeated use could overhaul. Yet, people with limiting verbal communication skills or those who are more inward drawn and less comfortable with orally presenting information may still prefer good old regular text-based messaging.
Several internet fora are replete with discussions on how video emails are likely to gain center-stage and revolutionize the way we exchange information online. Perhaps it's time to try out something fresh!