video calling


video calling

A visual communication between two people. Skype popularized video calling, which enables any two individuals in the world who have access to computers, the Skype software and decent Internet connections to place a video call to each other. Aiming at the enterprise in 2010, Skype introduced software that let five people participate in a video call.

Also in 2010, Apple introduced FaceTime video calling, and Skype and FaceTime are the two most widely used video calling services. See Skype and FaceTime.

Calling, Chatting, Phoning, Conferencing
"Video calling," "video chat" and "videophoning" generally mean two people are visually communicating; however, "videoconferencing" implies support for more than two parties communicating simultaneously. In practice, all four terms are used synonymously. See video chat, videoconferencing and videophone.