Chris, I understand what you're saying about feedback but if we can make a conference call with a telephone, which is essentially how I'm presently connected (via a phone line) and (btw I'm paying much more for this service than I ever have for my regular phone service), then why is it that we can't do the same via this hunk o' junk in front of me? I've paid enough for this thing that if I wanted it to get up and dance a gig it should comply.

We're using the same phone line to connect to web. Is it the varied abilities of each indiviual's equipment that's the issue. If so then certainly those who have cameras will be able to see each other, just as those who have speakers can hear each other, and those who have mics can speak to each other, while those who have merely a keyboard or wish to only use it and not the rest to communicate could

Is it because, with a phone we have a headset to our ear that separates the signals produced audibly and vocally so that feedback is not an issue? Or is it that there are not enough standards yet in place to allow connecting in this way?

It just seems to me that there have been enough folks who have invested enough cashola in all of this that the idea of communicating in a conference manner should be possible without delay or feedback problems being a great issue.

Via television news casts I've seen the delay factor you mentioned as reporters have used satellite phones and cameras to send info back from remote locations. It often takes a few extra seconds for the audio signal to be heard and for the field person's response to be received.

As it stands now what we have a kind of walky talky way of communicating where only one person can be heard at a time. Is the problem not enough bandwidth? Will this idea be possible at some future date? Am I just wanting all those scifi movie scenes of people communicating in that way to become a reality when it is presently impossible? Should I just take a chill pill and lower my expectations and come back to earth?