Why not use your mobile phone as a wireless webcam?
For some time I have been using a free program that enables me to use my mobile phone as a wireless webcam. The program is called WWIGO - Webcam Wherever I GO - and all you need to use it is a compatible handset; a Windows computer; and a very basic knowledge of using bluetooth.
Did I mention it is completely free?
I am pretty psyched about this - it is such a clever application and it is really only the imagination that limits the potential ways in which it can be used. WWIGO can of course be used for video conferencing - e.g. with Skype, MSN Windows Live Messenger and such. But what is keeping you from using the phone as a wireless surveillance camera? Maybe with some additional webcam software? WWIGO works with several older phone models so it is not like you need to have the latest gear to use it. Besides these applications, WWIGO can also be used to record video directly on the computer, using the phone's camera.
Regardless of application, using the mobile instead of a "regular" webcam has several benefits. First, there is no longer any reason to keep a webcam in your bag because you always bring your mobile, right? This may seem a bit exaggerated, but if you are both a road warrior and a gadget man even a minor reduction of the amount of gadgets carried is worth considering. Second, no more annoying cables - you do not have to carry them or be restricted by them.
Here is a short walk-through of how to install and use WWIGO:
Install WWIGO
WWIGO has two parts: one part that installs on the mobile and another part that installs on the computer. The computer part only works with Windows and is actually rumoured not to work with Vista. The computer and the mobile part connect wirelessly via bluetooth and WWIGO supports bluetooth stacks from Widcomm, Microsoft and Toshiba.
- Install the PC part.
- During installation, tick off "Transfer Mobile Application to phone".
- Pick your phone in the list of nearby bluetooth units.
- The phone part of WWIGO is then transferred to the mobile where it pops up in the inbox.
- FInally, install WWIGO on the mobile from the inbox.
To test the WWIGO installation, try using WWIGO's stand-alone program on the computer. Also use this program to record video directly on the computer.
- Locate the 'WWIGO' shortcut in your "Start"-menu and launch the application on the computer.
- WWIGO will display a black screen with the text 'Not Connected'.
- Start WWIGO on the mobile.
- When WWIGO is up and running on the mobile, the camera image is displayed.
- Choose "Options" | "Connect" on the mobile and then select your computer in the list of bluetooth units:
- Once the bluetooth connection has been established the mobile camera image is displayed on the computer.
Adjust WWIGO
- Select "Options" | "Settings" on the mobile.
WWIGO can use both cameras on my N95 (VGA cam on front and main 5mp cam), but unfortunately it restricts the picture size to 176×144 pixels, regardless of which camera is used.
Use WWIGO with Skype
WWIGO can be used with most IM clients and it can also record video directly on a web site like YouTube, Facebook or twango.
- Start Skype og select "Tools" | "Options".
- Start WWIGO on the mobile and choose "connect".
- Select 'wwigo' as webcam in Skype and click the "Test Webcam" button.
- At first "Not Connected" is displayed and when the mobile connects, the mobile camera image comes on.
WWIGO offers for free the same functionality as several commercial products, e.g. Mobiola Web Camera. WWIGO can be used with a lot of Symbian S60 3rd edition handsets - go to motvik.com to see the full list. This is WWIGO's own list of compatible handsets, but I get the feeling that this list is not exhaustive. In the WWIGO forum there are several reports from users that run WWIGO on handsets not listed, for instance the Nokia E50 or E65 - the list has been updated since I started writing this post.
Link: Download WWIGO fra motvik.com
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November 1st, 2007 at 18:07
Cool artikel! Det skal HELT bestemt prøves med min Nokia N73 :)
November 2nd, 2007 at 00:01
Hej Kim - tak for din kommentar. Jeg kan kun anbefale WWIGO. Indlægget her findes også i en dansk udgave på min anden blog: mobilmag.dk. Sammesteds har en kollega skrevet om SmartCam - et open source program, der kan noget af det samme.
December 16th, 2007 at 05:26
That’s all very well and good and is something I really want. But, how to do this using Linux? Windows is yuck! I use Ubuntu Linux.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:18
@Ubuntu Linux: Well, the WWIGO application is strictly Windows, but I know of a couple of articles that address the issues of using a S60 phone with Linux.
This article is specifically about using a N95 with Ubuntu (Gutsy Gibbon).
This other article is about Linux and S60 in general.
June 26th, 2008 at 08:41
Iam trying to connect N81 through BT to laptop ,it shows “BT error:service Discovery failed please PC application.”Can you please guide how can i Resolve this problem
June 26th, 2008 at 09:38
Hi Moni, the error you quote indicates your problem is not specific to WWIGO (or your N81), but to your laptop bluetooth device in general. It appears your laptop bluetooth device either has problems discovering services on other devices, or problems making its own services accessible to other devices.
I found this thread in the WWIGO forum - the problem discussed looks similar to your problem.
Also, take a look at this support article from Microsoft - it covers in detail how to configure and trouble shoot bluetooth devices on Windows.
Hope some of this helps you make things work - if not, write back.
July 21st, 2008 at 14:33
iam tryin to get webcam on maa nokia 6085
will it work
hit bakk
July 21st, 2008 at 14:55
Hi Haamza,
The WWIGO webcam application unfortunately does not work with your 6085 phone, since WWIGO only works with Series 60 (S60) phones, and the 6085 is a Series 40 (S40) phone.
You might try Mobiola Webcam Lite - it is not free, but because it is a Java ME application, it may work with the 6085.
September 8th, 2008 at 04:24
hi guys
before i’d like to ask, is it possible to use the cam of my nokia n95 8gb when i talking via skype from my phone (i use program Fring) to another user on PC, i menn to see the same like pc to pc via skype, bcase this program Fring don’n give option for that
October 18th, 2008 at 23:42
hi,
I installed wwigo on both laptop and mobile but when i try to connect its says “toshiba bluetooth configuration error Refer to help” and again it says FATAL ERROR: Registy load Failure.
and solution.
My bluetooth is working perfect on both my N95 8gb and my dell laptop but couldn’t connect to each other.
Any assistance will b e highly appreciated
October 19th, 2008 at 22:27
Hi Raman, I think your problem has to do with the way the PC part of WWIGO detects your laptop’s bluetooth capabilities.
By searching the WWIGO forum, I found a person reporting the exact same error message, and how he fixed it. Apparently it has something to do with remains of a previous Toshiba BT stack in the registry.
If that does not fix your problem, maybe reading this thread or this thread will. Both forum threads concern problems that appear similar to what your are describing.
Best of luck!
November 5th, 2008 at 18:56
does wwigo work with vista…?? if yes then are there any different settings to be made??
November 16th, 2008 at 01:59
is there any software that could turn my nokia 2600 classic into a webcam???
November 16th, 2008 at 02:52
@sagnik chakravarty: Take a look at this, previous comment - I think it is your best bet…
November 16th, 2008 at 08:42
well this doesnt work for the nokia clasic 2600. can you recommend me some other way?
February 11th, 2009 at 10:05
Im using wwigo on PC and nokia 6600 with IVT Bluesoliel.the instaltion was perfect on PC and cell and my cell detects the PC also but when i press connect on PC,it gives an error….service discovery failed and on my PC it gives and error..Filter initialization failed.ERROR 02.Please tell me what to do?
March 31st, 2009 at 12:38
Hi,
1. I followed the first 5 steps, worked well
2. Next I transferred the files to my mobile with the help of Bluetooth.
3. When i proceeded to install the WWIGO from the message inbox, it throw a message saying that the “certificate expired”
Can you please let me knowif there are any workaround/fix for this? FYI..i am using N73.
Thanks
-Dark
May 7th, 2009 at 14:21
Hi,
I have tried a number of times but the error of Expired certification is still there.
After I changed the date to 01/07/2007, it shows “Either the certification has expired or the phone time setting is incorrect:
Please tell me how to install on phone
May 7th, 2009 at 14:23
Hi,
I have tried a number of times but the error of Expired certification is still there.
After I changed the date to 01/07/2007, it shows “Either the certification has expired or the phone time setting is incorrect:
Please tell me how to install on phone. I am using N95. S60 V3.0
February 19th, 2010 at 12:43
Thanks for the quick-guide on getting it to work on Skype - a great help :-)
November 1st, 2010 at 10:21
hey chris can u tell any other software for s40 mobiles?
mobiolo also dusnt works on s40’s
October 17th, 2011 at 17:28
Thanks for the quick-guide on getting it to work on Skype - a great help
December 3rd, 2011 at 14:06
Will this work if i dont have bluetooth connection on my pc??
December 3rd, 2011 at 20:20
@Alvster: No, WWIGO only works using bluetooth