Los Angeles (CA) - iVisit launched its video conferencing app at
Mobile Focus yesterday. It allows multiparty videoconferencing across
mobile phones and desktops. But, it’s not just a videoconferencing
platform on your phone, even though that is cool enough. It’s a
complete telepresence package in your pocket. Eventually, mobile phone
users may not only be able to distract themselves constantly from driving by checking email, but they
can let their friends watch them crash when they miss a stop light. Oh, but we kid. There are serious applications, too.

The service has current users in the Telehealth market. The company is currently working with the National Institute of Health (NIH) on a research project involving the National Institute of Ageing that targets remote assistance and telehealth applications for the elderly care. In addition, iVisit believe that the push-to-talk market can be enhanced with the ability to send live video and high resolution images.

Personally, I liked the idea that iVisit could use this service as an application for remote assistance for visually impaired users. In partnership with the VA, under a National Institute of Health grant, the company is developing applications whereby a sighted assistant can remotely provide a pair of eyes for visually impaired users and assist them with way finding, shopping, reading signs etc. etc.

iVisit believes that a number of exciting applications for businesses are possible
given the lower costs of broadband in the mobile space, and the
evolving sophistication of handheld communications devices. However,
the company presently only supports Windows Mobile, although they are
going to roll out Symbian, Android, and the iPhone – deep breath,
kneel, look to the sky and cry, Hallelujah! You can download the beta at iVisit now.