Forget Skype: TinyChat Launches Dead-Simple Video Chat

 By 
Ben Parr
 on 
Forget Skype: TinyChat Launches Dead-Simple Video Chat

When you want to do a one-on-one video chat with someone else, what do you use? The first thing that probably comes to mind is Skype.

While Skype is a great service, it isn't practical for when you just want to get a video chat going (both sides must have the software). Plus, they've got some legal troubles brewing. Web conferencing system and even Google chat via video require plugins or some getting used to.

Perhaps that's why we like TinyChat's new Peer-to-Peer chat service that allows you to set up a one-on-one conversation with a friend in literally seconds. No plug-ins, no software, not even a username required. The only thing you literally have to do is pick a URL for your video on the p2p.tinychat.com domain.

To test this thing out, Mashable's Christina Warren and I just went to the same link (let's say http://p2p.tinychat.com/anyroom). Once we were there, TinyChat connected to our webcams and ... presto! The live chat was working. It even blocks others from entering once there are two participants, so you know your privacy is protected.

TinyChat's system is dead-simple, and we love that. It's an easy solution when you just want to chat with your friend or colleague with no hassle. And we're fans of anything that takes hassle out of our lives.

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