Telephones connect people. We call, we speak, we hear, we disconnect.

Mail connects people. We write, address, post, then wait for a reply. Paper letters in envelopes and email over the Internet use the same model - compose, address, post and wait.

Messaging (e.g., SMS over GSM) is similar to mail. We select an addressee, write a message, send it, and wait. Instant messaging (IM) can seem like a telephone call, as on-line presence indicates the recipient is likely to see any message right now within a current session. But within the network, messaging is server based, like mail, with messages held briefly by a service provider before forwarding to the recipient.

Pictal™ technology shares pictures without servers, within the context of a picture call.  The Pictal™ System includes client application software implementing the IETF Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), and server application software implementing standards based hosting solutions and other Pictal™ System components.