If you've read here for more than a week or two, you know I'm keen on SightSpeed, both as a solution for voice & video, and as a company. I'm really excited about this announcement of a new enhanced version 5.0 of SightSpeed. First, remember that. This isn't a new release. It's an enhancement to version 5.0. I will tell you I've heard whispers of a new version in the works, but that will come later.

(Update Edit: I logged back into SightSpeed just moment ago and find the server side enhancements are up and running in production. I wanted to be among the first bloggers to use them, in part because I've been such a vocal proponent. This is something I'll be using more myself and I hope you explore the advances the good folks at SightSpeed are making every day.)

This enhancement set is of particular interest to me, because I've bugged the SightSpeed team about enhancements quite a bit. The video blogging changes in this release are something I feel like I personally really pushed them for. In fact, I'll update this post with a SightSpeed video blog insert using the new feature as soon as I can. But the click-to-call and other enhancements are important too. This is just an example of how SightSpeed continues to show the way in video solutions

SightSpeed Enhancements Increase Ease and Enjoyment of World’s Best Personal Video Services

• A multitude of upgrades to Version 5.0 make award-winning SightSpeed service even better
• Basic and Pro plan subscribers will benefit
• Enhanced ordering system makes it easier to give the gift of video calling for the holiday

Berkeley, Calif.–Dec. 7, 2006—SightSpeed, the leading provider of personal video services over the Internet, has announced numerous enhancements to SightSpeed 5.0, the current version of its award-winning Internet communications software.

“Based on feedback received from users and bloggers, we’ve been working on a lot of improvements since we released version 5.0 in July 2006,” said Peter Csathy, SightSpeed CEO. “Now we’re announcing them all at once as part of Enhanced SightSpeed 5.0.

“There’s something here for all SightSpeeders, whether they’re on the SightSpeed free plan or have upgraded to our premium SightSpeed Pro service,” Csathy continued. “The best news is that users don’t need to download anything to take advantage of the enhancements. These are all SightSpeed server-side changes that don’t reside on user software.”

Here’s a summary of the changes available with Enhanced SightSpeed 5.0:

• SightSpeed Pro plan subscribers (i.e., small-business and power users) will now be able to record three-minute video messages for e-mail or video blogs (vlogs)—a 50-percent increase in recording time, and six times more recording time than available to free users.
• All users who want to share their SightSpeed-produced video messages (in particular, bloggers who wish to vlog) can now easily copy and paste the relevant HTML snippet for the video player directly into their Web site or blog for a significantly more compelling overall user experience.
• SightSpeed “click-to-call” video buttons will now have greater visibility and usability, and can easily be pasted into community or social-networking profiles (such as MySpace, Facebook and others) or other personal or business Web pages. The benefit is that subscribers can give others the ability to easily click-to-call the SightSpeed user through a Web interface, without the need to download any software. This is significant for individuals and business users alike.
• The notification that is automatically sent to video-message recipients has been redesigned with a cleaner, more compelling look and feel.
• Checking out the latest SightSpeed beta service, SightSpeedTV will now be easier because the link is no longer hard to find. Users who want to experience this truly live video place-shifting functionality will now find SightSpeedTV front and center within the SightSpeed interface, thereby giving them a uniquely compelling personal television experience anywhere in the world.
• International users who want to upgrade to the Pro plan or make voice calls to regular and cell phones will now have an easier way to pay for those services and become power SightSpeed users. SightSpeed has now significantly improved its billing and transaction-processing operations to make it easier for users outside the U.S. to subscribe to fee-based SightSpeed services and pay securely by credit card.
• With the holiday season upon us, there’s no better way for far-flung friends and families to stay connected than with a gift of SightSpeed. An enhanced online ordering system now makes it much easier to give SightSpeed starter kits and have them shipped anywhere in the U.S.
• And finally, thanks to an agreement with Commission Junction, online referrals from independent Web site owners will now be eligible for commission when the referrals result in a sale of SightSpeed services.

When it was released in July, SightSpeed Version 5.0 became the first complete suite of easy-to-use personal video services delivered over the Internet. The services are available for both Windows PCs and Macintosh personal computers, and are interoperable between both.

“While other providers offer video calling, SightSpeed prides itself on its call quality based on 10 years of video experience and continuous advancements,” said Lynda Starr, senior analyst, IP Communications, Frost & Sullivan. “It’s SightSpeed’s commitment to staying front of the pack that makes its services best-in-class.”

Through SightSpeed, users can place free video calls, leave video messages, or post videos to their blogs or personal Web pages. SightSpeed also offers unlimited PC-to-PC voice-only calling (works great for Macs, too), and provides calling to and from traditional and cell phones. And users can try SightSpeedTV, now in beta, for personal viewing of TV on a computer equipped with a TV capture-card—anywhere in the world, complete with real channel-surfing.

To learn more about SightSpeed or to download SightSpeed for Windows or Mac, visit www.SightSpeed.com.

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About SightSpeed
SightSpeed offers consumers and small businesses the most complete and compelling suite of personal video services over the Internet. SightSpeed’s award winning free and premium services include best-in-class video and voice over IP (VVoIP), voice over IP (VoIP), and text messaging (IM). SightSpeed offers advanced community features, including a public directory and an easy to use video creation platform that gives users the ability to record and publish original user generated content to blogs, websites and emails. SightSpeed also offers SightSpeedTV place shifting features, as well as support for mobile personal video. SightSpeed’s suite of industry-leading video services offers unique opportunities for video-enabled advertising and e-commerce, in addition to communications, content creation and publishing.

Founded in 2001 and based in Berkeley, California, SightSpeed is a privately held company funded by The Roda Group, best known for launching the company Ask Jeeves. For more information about SightSpeed, visit www.sightspeed.com.

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