Stuck with an outdated PC but don't want to spend the money on a webcam? Ateksoft's WebCamera Plus lets you turn your smartphone into one. You can use just about any Windows Mobile Smartphone or Pocket PC handheld, too. It's cheap, it's cheerful, and it works.

WebCamera Plus is compatible with Skype, AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, and other IM chat clients, over USB ActiveSync, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. Here's the basic setup process: Connect your smartphone to your PC via ActiveSync (unfortunately, BlackBerry, Palm OS, and Symbian devices aren't supported). Download the software from Ateksoft's Web site and install it on your desktop or laptop PC. The installer will take care of both the Microsoft Windows XP client and the Windows Mobile client. Then check your handheld's screen and press OK to finish the installation.

To test it, fire up WebCamera Plus on the phone, and then again on the PC. You can adjust the size of the view window from the Windows Mobile client, though when connected this way, I couldn't get smooth animation past a resolution of 176-by-144. I did better over video chat. To use the application in an IM client application (such as Skype or Yahoo! Messenger), you'll need to set each program to use WebCamera Plus. If you leave your favorite app set to "default device" for video, you won't see anything.

I ran some tests using a Motorola Q, a USB ActiveSync connection, and Skype 3.0. Images looked just about as good as you'd expect. Most webcams serve up fairly washed-out images with muted color, but these days you can get at least a decent frame rate out of them. WebCamera Plus doesn't disappoint in that regard. The only trouble I had was finding a way to prop up the Motorola Q while it was still connected via USB, so that the camera still pointed at me. Bluetooth users will prefer this setup because it doesn't require a cable. If you're using a laptop, you'll need a nearby wall, book, or some other vertical surface to prop up your phone.

The program can also save video captures, which I was able to do without a hitch. Interestingly, you can also "flip the script" and capture screenshots from your smartphone, if you ever have a need to. I sure do—for product reviews, for example. WebCamera Plus also has an Overlay mode that lets you control your smartphone's user interface from your laptop. This worked on occasion, but more often than not, it froze up during my tests.

Unfortunately, WebCamera Plus doesn't make use of your smartphone's built-in mic. You'll still need another solution to transmit audio, such as a laptop's built-in mic or a headset. Since many people chat with video while typing on their IM clients, this isn't necessarily a deal-breaker. Compared with full-featured desktop cams from Creative or Logitech, you won't find any special extras here such as adaptive mics, lighting compensation, or spiffy "Avatar" animated graphics. But you're not paying $100, either.

In short, WebCamera Plus is a boon for laptop mavens who would rather travel light and for desktop users who don't feel like forking over the extra cash for a hardware webcam. If you already have a Windows Mobile smartphone, this is a neat solution—providing that you have a spot to place the phone.