PGI has launched iMeet, a new web-based video conferencing system with collaboration and sharing features.

iMeet is part of a new breed of web-based conferencing systems that are looking to bring video conferencing to the masses. It allows anyone with a webcam and a web browser to host or participate in a conference call.

Video conferencing has always been an expensive proposition. A decent Tandberg or Polycom video system can cost thousands of dollars just for the device itself, ignoring all the associated infrastructure necessary to support them. This can push the price tag into the tens of thousands

iMeet aims to solve this by providing a subscription service that handles all of this for you in the cloud. For $69/month, iMeet reserves a room where you and 15 participants can get together. It provides additional UI features for knowing who's talking at one time, and guests can also provide a video feed from their own webcam.

iMeet isn't alone in this market though. Tandberg's Movi product offers a similar solution that integrates with the entire Tandberg suite. Polycom has a similar software solution.

Full details about iMeet are available on their website.