Elluminate is hoping to remove the telephone from the Web conferencing equation with the release of Elluminate Live version 5, a Java-based product with voice-over-IP capabilities that is said to work over connections as low as 28.8K bit/sec.

Formerly dubbed vClass, Elluminate Live features the typical Web conferencing tools such as screen/application sharing, white boards that allow all participants to draw at the same time and text chat while delivering audio via the data network rather than having participants dial into a phone bridge. Participants - including Windows, Solaris and Mac users - join a conference using a standard Web browser with a Java client downloaded for first-time users.

Elluminate is using its own codecs and protocols for delivery, rather than building on standards such as Session Initiation Protocol or H.323. This allows the company to buffer audio in the event of dropped packets and deliver the buffered audio in a sped-up fashion (giving the speaker’s voice a Chipmunks-like effect) when normal bandwidth levels are restored. This helps keeps all users in synch with the presentation, says Rajeev Arora, vice president of strategy at Elluminate. Live uses a walkie-talkie metaphor for speakers, allowing only one participant to talk at a time using a push-to-talk button. An entire conference session, including visuals, can be recorded for future playback.

Arora says the key to delivering audio to dial-up users is to prioritize the audio on lower-speed connections, while users coming in over a LAN get the application-sharing features getting higher priority since there’s plenty of headroom for audio.

Elluminate believes its leg-up on competition such as WebEx or Microsoft Live Meeting is the ability to eliminate the need for a phone call. “Because of the fact there are no telephone charges, the price of product is unlimited usage for the number of concurrent seats purchased,” Arora says. “We don't stop you from using it. Always-on Web conferencing will result in a different usage pattern that in a pay-by-the minute [service].”

There are three versions of the product available: Enterprise, for corporate communications and training; Academic, which adds a graphing calculator and math symbol library; and Team for small meetings and one-on-one sessions. Both the Enterprise and Academic editions can be purchased and installed locally or through an ASP model. Team Edition is only available in an ASP model.