Peter Skouhus

Yesterday I tested a video e-mail system.  I have been playing with the thought of using a video mail system for some time. I want to use video e-mail as an icebreaker when introducing 1902 and its services to prospective customers. In the IT outsourcing industry getting the foot in the door and you almost always have a new customer. Everything is about making the right impression the first time, make the customer take notice of you, and using video e-mail is one way to differentiate 1902 software from our competitors.

I was hoping to find a plug in for Outlook 2007, something which would allow me to click a button, record video then send the video e-mail. I did not find anything. (if you know anything working that way please leave a comment on this blog)  I did however find out that there had been something like this for Outlook 2003 but it was discontinued with version 2007, I don’t know why.

There are many services offering video e-mail.  All the services I looked at work the same way:

1. You set up an account
2. You use your video camera and flash to record the video e-mail
3. You enter the recipients e-mail address and the subject line
4. You press the send button and off goes the video mail

The service I tested was called Eyejot (http://www.eyejot.com/)

As you can see below the interface is very intuitive and easy-to-use:

The intuitive video e-mail interface

The following image shows what the e-mail by in the inbox. Alle that the recipient has to do is to click the play icon to open up a webpage where the video is then played.

Video e-mail in the inbox

The conclusion

The system works very well, it is easy to set up and on my broadband connection worked without any problems. The system is also very light having only one requirement:

Flash version 9 must be installed on the computer because it uses flash to record videos and voice.  There may be other requirements I have not seen, take a look at http://www.eyejot.com/

The ideal video e-mail system

The ideal video e-mail system for Windows should be as follows:

1. It should be integrating with Microsoft Outlook 2003 and above as well as other popular e-mail clients. The integration must be installed through an add-on.
2. It should use the built in video camera found in many if not all new notebooks.
3. It should record all videos in flash video format (*.flv).
4. With the add-on, a flash video player must installed to ensure that the videos can be played on the e-mail client.
5. In the likely event that the person receiving the video e-mail does not have the video e-mail client installed, a link should open up a browser window where the video e-mail can be played. (the person sending the e-mail decide if a password is required).
6. The browser window opening up should be customizable by the person/company using the e-mail system (for branding).

I’m sure there are other things to consider, but something like would do the trick for many. Of course the service cannot be free, I would gladly pay $9.95 per month for 100 video e-mail credits.

I hope the above will inspire someone to make the ultimate video e-mail system!! Should you ever come across something like this then please leave a comment here, or contact me directly by filling out the contact form (see image above).

Advantages of video e-mail

• You can send much more exciting e-mail, your personality can shine through!
• You can differentiate you e-mails from that of your competitors (especially in the beginning).
• It is much easier to talk than it is to write.
• If you’re describing something in your mail, you can even show the object on the video, i.e. if you’re selling something small like cell phones or ball pens, you can make a for product demonstration right there in your e-mail.
• Your company gets a technological edge, showing that your are modern.

This blog was written by Peter Skouhus. Peter Skouhus is president of 1902 Software Development Corporation, an IT outsourcing company based in Manila, the Philippines.

You can read more about 1902 at http://www.1902software.com in English.

You can read more about 1902 at http://www.1902software.dk in Danish.