Is this the world's fastest video phone?

Ashod Apakian is quite likely the most brilliant programmer you've never heard of.

But if you want to use video over your Skype connection, this is someone whose work you might want to become familiar with.

He's come up with VWHO, a new 10-party video conferencing system that runs over Skype and is downloadable as well as described in detail on the wigiwigi.com site where Ashod is admistrator.

Skype Journal's Bill Campbell used it yesterday, and he's quite impressed. 

"For each participant my upload bandwidth is 120 kilobits per second and CPU is only about 15%. That is pretty phenomenal performance," he writes. "The frame rate appears to be around 30 Frames per Second."

Campbell is so upbeat about the experience he says that once you try it, you are likely never to use Skype video again. But keep in mind, you run wigiwigi over a Skype connection, and you stick with Skype for audio.

Newest revs: a window size zoom feature has been added, and quality during fast movement has been enhanced.

Ashod even offers us a grab: 

Well, you got to admit the conferee at left-center is sending out a feed that looks more like a painting then an IP-based video conference call, but that's OK. Looks pretty cool, actually.

Hey, I am tempted to try this.

Are you?