Visitalk

Visitalk.com seems to be having some difficulty at the moment -- operationally (it seems they filed for bankruptcy on December 6,2000)

I suggest wariness.

What is visitalk.com™?

visitalk.com™ is a company providing a free web based directory service, presence information and call connection functionality for NetMeeting, Intel Video Phone and CuSeeme users.

They provide a web based personal buddy system allowing you to categorize your contacts and track their online status. They provide a online voicemail service, allowing you to send and receive non real-time voice mail.

Their system provides a log of all calls sent and received.

They also, at least during the initial test period, are providing free access to private and public multi-user MCU based chat rooms for NetMeeting clients.

How are they doing this?

They assign each individual a 12 digit PCN number and store your connection information in a massive database ( at last check 500,000+ member numbers and growing rapidly) of static and dynamic information.

They supply a multipurpose "Connector" applet that runs on your system connecting to their service supplying your current whereabouts (your IP number) and checking regularly for messages voicemail messages and waiting for requests to initiate or receive NetMeeting ( Intel Video Phone and Cuseeme are also supported) calls. The applet also has a recorder to record and upload voicemail messages for other users and a player function to download and play voicemail messages.

Why are they doing this?

Well the perhaps inevitable has happened -- Visitalk is now charging for services ( February 2,2001). With the collapse of the internet advertising market I guess the previous advertising model is no longer feasible.

What do I think?

This service has the potential of being the perfect directory service for NetMeeting users -- a large world wide directory with many users and a buddy system for those that don't want or need the large directory plus a voice based answering and message leaving system.

With the multi-user NetMeeting functionality (this has long been a feature requirement in my mind) added in it becomes a seductive and unbeatable package.

With the fee based revenue model currently in place I am not sure if this service is worth it though.