Microsoft's Research division is busily working on a mobile video communications project that signals an effort to bring presence information, instant messaging, voice and video chat together in a single interface, to a wide variety of devices.
The most conspicuous feature of the project's centerpiece -- Microsoft Portrait -- is the application's support for communication sessions via local area networks, dialup and wireless networks. The application, now in version 2.0, can maintain a connection with bandwidth as low as 9.6 kilobits/second -- roughly the speed of current GSM and CDMA data services.
Under those conditions, Portrait displays what it terms "portrait-like video," a special format that the program's developers say offers clearer shape, smoother motion, shorter latency and lower computational overhead than most other video compression technologies (like MPEG). In broadband environments, the application scales up to deliver full-color video.
In addition to the desktop flavors of Windows, Portrait supports Microsoft PocketPC and Handheld PC operating systems -- enabling users of those devices to not only receive and display full-color video, but also capture and send full-color video in real-time.
Some tweaking is required to get a workable video and audio connection. One, or perhaps both chatting parties, might have to shift down to the super-low-bandwidth Mobile Voice codec, which supports audio at 2.4 kilobits per second. One side might also have to forego seeing video altogether, although video can be throttled down to 4.8 Kbps (resulting in a five frames-per-second rate at 128x96 pixels.)
In situations where video isn't possible, due to bandwidth considerations or missing hardware, Portrait will support voice communications. If voice similarly doesn't work, Portrait will support text-based IM, as a last resort of communication.
The application derives much of its power and ease-of-use through integration with MSN Messenger and Windows Messenger. Users are required to input the IP address of the person with whom they wish to start a text, audio or video chat. However, Portrait is able to share a Buddy List with Messenger, and users can launch its communications services by clicking on a Buddy in its list. (Users also can launch Portrait from within Messenger.)
Additionally, if a Portrait user wishes to begin a video or audio chat session with a recipient who does not have the software installed, they receive an invitation in an MSN Messenger window to download Portrait.
In addition to supporting .NET Messenger, the protocol used in MSN Messenger's public network, Portrait also supports Session Initiation Protocol -- a protocol responsible for launching IP-based messaging sessions, championed by a host of players in telephony, videoconferencing and instant messaging.
In late November, Portrait 2.0 was updated to include connectivity to public SIP servers. Such a move makes Portrait suitable for Voice-over-IP-type applications, the sort of uses anticipated by players in the SIP and IP Telephony camps, who include networking and communications players like Cisco and Dynamicsoft.
The newest version of the application also supports file sharing, and compatibility with the latest versions of Windows Messenger and MSN Messenger -- although it does not work with MSN Messenger on Windows XP.
In addition to supporting SIP, Portrait also is compatible with Internet Locator Service, enabling users to rely on an ILS server as a member directory -- to initiate conversations with others who are not on a user's Buddy List.
Microsoft is mum on whether Portrait will ever become a product, although it's more likely that the technology developed in the application -- especially its video compression and SIP compatibility -- will resurface in coming months as the Redmond, Wash. software colossus prepares to launch its Greenwich "Real-Time Collaboration" technology.
According to Microsoft, Greenwich will include SIP support and OS-level services for videoconferencing, presence and other messaging applications -- though the company has been similarly reluctant to detail the product, which is now expected in the middle of the year.
Christopher Saunders is managing editor of InstantMessagingPlanet.com.
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