Grown-up Ways to Communicate

I came across two very different new ways to communicate via the web at DigitalLife, but each share something in common: they make it easier for people who have not adopted social networking or video chats to do both in a streamlined, grown-up kind of way.

OoVoo -- If you still think chatting via webcam and VoIP (voice over Internet protocol) is too tricky and not worth the trouble, this free service has been designed for you—non-techie family members who want to communicate (and see) far-flung family and friends.

With a simple download onto a Windows PC (a Mac version is in testing), you can build an address book and call/invite up to six people into a video chat. What struck me during the demo of ooVoo at DigitalLife was how simple it is to use, the clean, clear look of the display, the intuitive tools, and the nice quality of the video. (Of course, a good headset and good light make a better experience.)  

You can also send video messages via email or IM, and an IM chat feature is easily accessed so you don't have to communicate via webcam all the time.

OoVoo launched in June, and the New York City-based business has clocked 3 million video conversations in the past two months. The audience is global—only 12 percent are in the United States. For a closer look at how it all works, here are some video tutorials that walk you through ooVoo's set up and use.

iYomu -- This social network originated in New Zealand with the aim of providing a space for adults who are in the midst of mid-career change to network and help find the next step in their work lives. At the same time, they can set up profiles that include many of their interests and hobbies and use matching tools that help them find like-minded people with similar personalities. Sort of a LinkedIn with Facebook features.

iYomu definitely has a more global feel to it, linking people from throughout the world. The site offers 1GB free online storage for documents, photos, videos, music, email, and music. In fact, that's how the site plans to make money—via subscriptions for storage space for those who want more and choose iYomu as their web backup source: $12 a month for 2GB of storage up to $30 a month for 8 GB storage. There are no ads on iYomu.

To build up membership more quickly and spread the word, iYomu is staging the "iYomu Challenge," an online competition that mixes puzzles, strategy gamjes, and reality TV to end up with a winner chosen by the community to win $1 million (USD).