The reason: large file size means mails take too long to leave your computer and even download. Attachment video mails come with their own problems. But a US company last week launched a service which is pure video mail and it's called ISV Mail, otherwise Internet Streaming Video Mail. Telares is the division of Internet Global Services/iGlobal which in turn, you guessed right, is part of the Murdoch firm eVentures Group.

Telares has designed a program which automatically opens with the recipient's Real Player, unlike current video mails which have to be downloaded or retrieved from a Website. Telares allows you 5 MB of free online storage space (enough to store about 25 video mails of poor quality or six to eight video mails of high-res video mails.) You can check it out at http://iglobal.net. What does the arrival of video mail herald? Mum can see your video and know you are well even if you are in Timbuktu.

Advertisers, film-makers can use it to test films they want to release for public viewing later. Based on responses from the video mail group, they can make modifications before releasing on more expensive mass media like television. Market researchers can also benefit immensely using it for focus groups. Of course, the gimmicky side of video e-mail will always crop up wherein porn sites will now send you short movies to your mail box in a bid to titillate you. Many may quite welcome that if the picture quality is good.

Venture catalysts
They call themselves coolstartups.com. "We are venture catalysts, not capitalists" is its motto. Patterned along Garage.com, the start-up guide in the US was launched officially last week. Its purpose: provide an online arena where wannabe dotcomers and entrepreneurs can come and place their profiles, business plans and simply browse around to stay better informed. The organization is headed by three young executives with experience in advising and funding Net ideas. The trio have themselves got funding from Infinity. Guess, they use their own advice for their own venturepretty well.

The Internet community
An informal Internet community is developing: the Sula eTuesday Club. Organised by Sula Vineyards, the first of the dos was organised this week for what will hopefully be a once-a-month affair in a cool hang out joint in Mumbai. Later it could spread to other cities too. Rajeev Samant, the man behind the concept, makes wines in Nashik, along with his American partner Kerry Damskey, a renowned winemaker. Samant is a techie himself having worked with Oracle Corp in the US for several years.

He conjured up the event as Sula Wines, he says are targeted at the wired generation. And sampled a couple of glasses of his wine free to invitees. His company is offering two brands: Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. "The eTuesday Club is basically for Internet users - right from VCs to lawyers to dot.com companies to Web designers to technology providers to come and chill out," says Samant. He points out that dotcomers are normally lost in their work and have time for little else. "The eTuesday Club is our effort to take their mind off their slogging. Start-ups can come and network with VCs and angels without the pressure of business plans or a formal atmosphere." On the whole, he put his money where his mouth is: the mood was really relaxed, and a slight drizzle made things pleasant. The Club has got a lot of interest from dotcomers wanting to attend, who have even come forward with their offers of sponsorship. Hopefully, the next event will not decay and become another wild Internet affair.

Internet access devices
The Strategis group, a market and information research group, tells us that alternative Internet access devices are flooring US consumers. So much that they are willing to pay $13 more per month to access the Internet from their phones and $61 per month more for Internet-ready land line phone. 30 per cent of mobile users say they would like to access the Internet from their mobile phones.

The author is CEO of India's cable, satellite and terrestrial television portal www.indiantele-vision.com, E-mail: television@vsnl.com. television@hotmail.com.