Q. What do I need to use Max video chat?Q. What if I don’t have a web cam?Q. Is it available for Mac?Q. How much does video chat cost?Q. How do you install video chat?Q. How do I start a video chat?Q. What if someone calls me? How do I answer a call?Q. How do I end a video chat?Q. What features are available to me during video chat?Q. How does the video chat keep kids safe?Q. Can I see more than one person at a time with video chat? (The ability to have multi-party video chat)Q. Can the video chat be recorded?Q. Can a user video chat with a non-MouseMail member?Q. Do I have to have a video camera to participate in video chat, or can I use my microphone only while still seeing the other person on my screen?Q. Sometimes when I’m chatting the video of the person I’m talking to disappears and all is see is the grey outline of a person. What’s going on?Q. How can I prevent this? Is there something wrong with my connection? I know I have broadband.
Q. What do I need to use Max video chat?
A. To use Max video chat all you need is a MouseMail account and a web cam, speakers and microphone (standard equipment on most all recent notebook and desktop computers). You’ll also need to be on a broadband connection (Cable, DSL, etc.) to enjoy the video experience.
Q. What if I don’t have a web cam?
A. You can purchase a Max video chat web cam package from us – just click here. [we need to link to the web cam offer page]
Q. Is it available for Mac?
A. Unfortunately Max video chat is not yet available for the Mac. However, we are working hard to support the Mac platform as soon as possible. Please check back for updates on our progress and release plans.
Q. How much does video chat cost?
A. Max video chat is only $3.95 per month per household! You can also choose an annual subscription rate of $39.50 per year, which gives you two months for free.
Q. How do you install video chat?
A. Max video chat is built into MouseMail. The only download you may require is a java plug-in for your browser. If that is required it is a simple and quick process. Simply follow the on screen instructions when you first launch video chat.
Q. How do I start a video chat?
A. If you’re a parent click on “My Account” on the left navigation bar and then click on “Video Chat”. For a child they simply click on the “Video Chat” icon at the bottom of their left side navigation. Once the Video Chat link or icon is clicked a list of your approved contacts will appear. If the person you want to chat with is online they will appear in the list with the status “On line”. You can simply call them by clicking the radio button to the right of their name and pressing the “Call” button. If the person you want to chat with is Offline they will appear in the list with the status “Off line”. You can still send them an invite so they can get on-line and chat. To do this simply click the radio button to the right of their name and press the “Send Invite” button. You’ll be prompted for an invitation message to type and it will be sent to that person and await their response. Once you initiate a call or send an invite the screen will notify you if the person you have called has accepted your invitation to chat. If so that person will appear on the screen and you’re ready to go!
Q. What if someone calls me? How do I answer a call?
A. If someone initiates a video chat with you a dialog box will pop up regardless of where you are in MouseMail. When this happens you can either accept the call and start chatting or ignore the call and continue what you were doing.
Q. How do I end a video chat?
A. Simply press the hang-up icon at the bottom of your video chat window. This will end the call. If the person you are speaking with ends the call the video chat session will stop automatically.
Q. What features are available to me during video chat?
A. Max video chat is extremely easy to use and offers very simple functions while chatting. Basically, you can adjust your speaker volume, microphone volume and hang-up. All of the functions are easily accessed at the bottom of your chat window.
Q. How does the video chat keep kids safe?
A. Like all MouseMail features our primary focus is to make sure that children are communicating in a safe environment. With Video Chat kids can only call contacts that are already set up in their approved contacts list. Likewise, if your child receives a call from someone that is not on their approved contacts list you are notified of the call attempt and can then take action to either approve the contact or not. Both kids must be approved contacts to each other in order to conduct a video chat.
Q. Can I see more than one person at a time with video chat? (The ability to have multi-party video chat)
A. Max video chat currently only supports one-to-one communication. The technology supports multi-party video chats (rooms) and it is a feature we may release in the future. The main reason it currently isn’t offered is because every child in the video chat would have to be an approved contact of every other child and we felt it would be very confusing to coordinate for the kids. We are looking at approved “groups” or other associations that would make this easier to implement going forward.
Q. Can the video chat be recorded?
A. No. You currently can’t record your video chat.
Q. Can a user video chat with a non-MouseMail member?
A. No. Both people involved in the chat need to have a MouseMail account. This is required to make sure we can confirm that both are approved contacts for each other.
Q. Do I have to have a video camera to participate in video chat, or can I use my microphone only while still seeing the other person on my screen?
A. You really need both. Max video chat looks for a web cam when it starts so if it doesn’t find one it won’t allow you to initiate or answer a video call.
Q. Sometimes when I’m chatting the video of the person I’m talking to disappears and all is see is the grey outline of a person. What’s going on?
A. On occasion your connection speed may not support a video quality that produces a good viewing experience. In these cases you can continue to chat over your microphone but the video of the person on the other end is replaced with a “placeholder” graphic. The video of the person on the other end will re-appear when your connection speed returns to a level that will support acceptable quality.
Q. How can I prevent this? Is there something wrong with my connection? I know I have broadband.
A. There’s probably nothing wrong with your connection. Broadband connections often suffer speed fluctuations (up and down) based on a number of factors – the main one being increased usage. For example, someone in your home may be watching streaming video or listening to streaming audio. This takes up more bandwidth and it may reduce the amount of overall bandwidth available at that particular time. Stopping those activities or not performing them at the same time will help return your connection speed to its normal level. Also, many cable connections are shared between multiple homes in a neighborhood. When internet usage goes up (i.e. at night when everyone is home and on the web) you may see your connection speed slow down. If you suffer consistently poor connection speeds you should contact your connection provider.
