From...

December 9, 1999
Web posted at: 10:56 a.m. EST (1556 GMT)

by Paul Heltzel

(IDG) -- What do folks think of your Web site? If you add the VoicePresence plug-in from HearMe, visitors can share their opinions on the spot.

VoicePresence is a free browser plug-in that allows people to speak with each other over the Internet. First, your visitor downloads and installs the small program; it typically takes less than a minute over a 28.8kbps modem connection. Then the person surfs over to your Web page to start chatting.

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Although VoicePresence supports multiple users, only one person can speak at a time. To begin speaking, click a talk button and you have the floor. Despite this limitation, I found that conversations tend to flow smoothly. The sound quality is very good, and distortion and break-ups occur only infrequently. The software's performance is certainly comparable to that of Yahoo's free voice chat service, which comes bundled with Yahoo Messenger.

Adding VoicePresence to a Web site requires that you enter a few lines of code to an HTML document. When site visitors view the page, they are prompted to download the plug-in, and then to register to use the service.

If your organization wants to add voice chat to your intranet, or your Web site is suffering from the blahs, VoicePresence is a simple way to enhance your page. Note, however, that the program is Windows only, leaving Mac and Unix users silenced. The program contains a rudimentary text chat feature to allow the mute to participate, but it's not the same.

VoicePresence is available now at the HearMe Web site. Potential chatterboxes will also need Netscape Navigator or Microsoft Internet Explorer, versions 4.0 or higher.