Wireless Internet video cameras work by serving up data streams to any computer that connects to them. Cameras like the one above contain a built in Web server. Computers connect to the camera using either a standard Web browser or through a special client user interface provided on CD-ROM with the product. With proper security information, video streams from these cameras can also be viewed across the Internet from authorized computers.
Wi-Fi Internet video cameras can be connected to a wireless router using either an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. These products include setup software on a CD-ROM that must be installed on one computer to complete initial Wi-Fi configuration of the device.
Features that distinguish different wireless Internet video cameras from each other include:
- resolution of the captured video images (for example, 320x240 pixel, 640x480 pixel, and other image sizes)
- motion sensors, and the ability to send email alerts when new activity is detected and captured
- ability to timestamp images
- built-in microphones and/or jacks for external microphones, for audio support
- types of WiFi security supported, such as WEP or WAP
