Here’s Looking at You - with Video Webmail from NuBlue

NuBlue Digital Web Solutions ( http://www.nublue.co.uk ), based in Lancaster, becomes the first UK hosting company to provide video webmail - so customers can keep abreast of loved ones and colleagues, complete with image, motion and sound, from anywhere worldwide.

The new NuBlue service is offered to hosting customers at no extra cost, and avoids the need for expensive software or video phones. Users can, quite simply, send and receive video emails through a browser interface (similar to Hotmail). All the user needs is a computer, a webcam and a NuBlue hosting account.

As well as being invaluable for those who are geographically separated from their loved ones, the service is ideal for home workers who can use it for business communication - putting a ‘face to the name’, without the need for expensive and time-consuming travel to meetings.

Michael Ashworth, director of NuBlue Digital Web Solutions, says: “Video email has been around for a number of years and often involved costly additional technology, such as phones and software. However, the technology has advanced and simplified, making it easier to deploy. As a result, we’ve been working on integrating the webcam application into our webmail system for a number of months. We believe we’re the first UK hosting company to offer this service to customers - free of charge and with unlimited video emails - as part of our overall hosting package.”

He adds: “More than 3.1 million workers in the UK are regularly home-based and, of this number, 2.4 million use computers and telecoms for their jobs. In addition, 39% of small businesses are home-based*. One of the main barriers to home working can be finding a viable substitute for face-to-face discussions. Although people may live in Spain or even on a beach in India, but work in London virtually, they need to keep in touch frequently with colleagues, friends and family - and normal email doesn’t always cut the mustard. With this in mind, we believe our video mail application really does help the world become a smaller place!”

NuBlue believes the timing of its video email launch is perfect, as the latest laptops are being released with built-in webcam technology. “People have become accustomed to webcams,” says Ashworth, “and the ‘vmail’ industry looks set to grow and grow.”

Notes to editors:

NuBlue Digital Web Solutions is based in the InfoLab21 building at Lancaster University; a renowned international centre for internet and communication technologies. The company offers a full range of internet services - from tier one hosting packages to award-winning web development and search engine optimisation.

For details and screenshots about the video email service, please see:

www.nublue.co.uk/video_email

www.nublue.co.uk/video-email-screenshots

* Source: http://www.flexibility.co.uk/flexwork/location/Homeworkers2005.htm