Thanks to Niels Damgaard for pointing my attention to the newly released Logitech VideoCall for Broadband videoconferencing service.

Here is a sleek-looking one-to-one videoconferencing, image-sharing and presentation tool that is ready for any non-technical user. The interface is probably the best one in its class, and not only it is simple but it is also extremely professionally-looking.

Logitech VideoCall for broadband combines high quality audio and video with a digital image sharing integrated facility. To share a photo the end user needs only to drag and drop the image(s) to be shared on the VideoCall interface. Image file formats supported are BMP, TGA, JPG, as well as Microsoft PowerPoint presentations.

This feature allows the delivery of presentations with extreme ease while seeing exactly what the other person sees on the other end. Transitions and effects can be added with extreme simplicity and images can be organized into folders for maximum efficiency.

"Installation and registration are a breeze, and starting a call is as simple as clicking on a picture in your video contacts list.

Once your contact answers, there are no more buttons to push and nothing to get in the way. You can settle back and catch up -- uninterrupted and face-to-face."

Logitech VideoCall integrates an extremely basic presence awareness facility allowing end users to see with ease which one of their VideoCall contacts are actually online.

Contacts can be added and grouped together in a neatly organized Contacts section.

VideoCall can be used also without a webcam and while utilizing only the audio portion of its facilities. Audio and video channels can be manually muted/freezed at any time during a live conversstion. According to Logitech, VideoCall requires a broadband connection of at least 128 Kbps.

A free 30-day try-out is immediately available here.

Download the Logitech VideoCall software here. (4.7 MB)

Pricing is as follows:

One-Month Membership Plan
USD $ 7

6-Month Membership Plan
USD $ 35
12-Month Membership Plan
USD $ 65

These are the System Requirements:

A PC with Intel® Pentium® III 700 Mhz or higher
Microsoft® Windows® 98 SE, ME, 2000 or XP
Internet Explorer® 6.0 or newer browser (see below for PC specifications)
A USB webcam
A PC headset
Broadband internet access such as DSL, cable modem, or T1 line