It was a half year ago (see review HERE) that Microsoft released the first beta of their VoIP / video phone / SIP program Microsoft Portrait. Microsoft has, in the meantime, released version 3.1.

I was very eager to check it out as 3.0 didn’t support front cameras on any Pocket PC’s, which would be essential for TCP/IP-based video phoning.

Microsoft Portrait is one of the best VoIP / chatter apps for the Pocket PC. Also, it’s the only Pocket PC application to offer video phoning capabilities. I’ve often elaborated on (see for example this) its excellent capabilities and compared them to the alternates (for example, 4Talk or Gphone).

Up to now (as of version 2.3), the biggest problem with MS Portrait was the absolutely lacking support of built-in cameras (old versions only supported external, CF- and SD-based cameras as can be seen in here and here). Fortunately, the excellent folks at Microsoft have listened to for example my complaints and have come out with a beta version that already supports some (but not all – more on this later) built-in cameras.

(This is the app showing the HTC Wizard in action, showing what the Universal is sending it; a Universal screenshot HERE while in active video phone connection with this Wizard)

It’s available HERE and is a free download.

Compatibility and co-existence with version 2.3

http://discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=120938