A growing number of companies communicate with each other via video conferences in order to save time and money that would otherwise be incurred by traveling employees. Video servers, whose databases can be used in virtually every business field, are also becoming increasingly important. For example, companies use them for further education of their employees (tele learning). Hospitals use videos in connection with patients' records, insurance companies use them to evaluate damages and companies in the sex industry have extended their product palettes using video servers. These companies are sending their system administrators and IT employees to training courses for digital video technology in flocks.

As far as private users are concerned, only real freaks or so-called 'video-age senior citizens' use the new media. What many don't know is that the technical requirements needed for digital video processing are often readily available when you buy a new PC. Despite this, the number of video enthusiasts remains small. A lot has been done in recent times to improve the usability of corresponding software, and the prices for the equipment have fallen to a level that makes it attractive to the broad public. The home user market has gradually started to grow, however the spectrum of hardware for digital video is still small. Before we report on the situation on the business market, we'd like to introduce you to a few products.