Can iChat have video chat with Windows Messenger?

Hello Peter,

Is there any way to ... establish a video chat with an MSN Messenger user?

The best way is still with a Windows XP PC and MSN Messenger.

For use with your Mac, see the MSN, Yahoo, Win Messengers & iChat? FAQ. Jabber is text only.

There is a beta application called Mercury Messenger on Mac OS X that is an MSN Server client.

However, please note that the Mercury Messenger Webcam / Video Conference Support section, which I quote, in part, includes the following:

Video-conferencing is supported on Mac OS X, however it is receive-only, due to an incomplete JMF library for Mac OS X. The feature is still relatively new, and so some issues may occur in use.

Although Mercury Messenger (beta) will connect to the MSN Server, those comparing it with iChat AV's capability should certainly study the sections about the limitations and known issues.

If you get Mercury Messenger on Mac OS X working, please post back and let us know what you think of it.

... does anyone know if Virtual PC for Mac supports video chat with windows computers?

VPC for Mac does not support Firewire video, so it cannot use an iSight for video. Sorry, but I have not seen anyone post a method of using VPC that rivals the performance of using the same application on a Windows PC.

Also, VPC with the current version of Windows is so expensive that, at least where I live, it is often cheaper to buy a used, and sometimes a new, PC to run your PC software.

If you really MUST use PC software, I suggest running it on a PC.

EZ Jim

Alternatively, does anyone know if Virtual PC for Mac supports video chat with windows computers?

No. In short, you'd need a super fast computer to even get half of the processing speed for VPC. Remember, it's an emulator and won't be the same speed as your Mac's processor.

-Ryan

I just sucessfully completed a video chat from my machine (iMac) and my parents windows machine using iChat and AIM. It was almost effortless. There's a few bugs I need to work out, but it was very easy. I could not initiate the chat. I tried, but I kept getting a "waiting for respone" diologue box on my end and my parents never got the invite. Once they initiated the video chat, I responded and we were up and running. I can conform that it does work using iChat and the latest version of AIM.

You are welcome, Peter,

I also downloaded the iVisit lite software.

I though you were only interested in MSN Server clients. However, because you are willing to consider others, you may also be interested in other cross-platform video conferencing or messaging apps like those listed in the Some Applications you can use with iSight FAQ.

AIM on PC is lousy and there's a barrage of pop-up ads all the time that can't be turned off.

PC users can try Trillian on their PCs instead. You may also be interested in some of the other suggestions in Mac Video Chat with PCs.

PC users who want to do beautiful, high quality, full screen, multi-party video conference should buy a Mac and use the best!

Cheers,
EZ Jim