Hi Ken,

> How many web cam pages do you have now.

Over 200.000, usually about 1000 are actually online with their webcam
at any given moment

> Do all the pages have skins that you provide or can members create their
> own -- and have they.

When we talk about "skins" on Camarades we mean the graphics *around* the
webcam image. The webcams' picture frame, so to speak.

All the pages have skins, about half of the available skins we're originally
designed by us, the rest is user submitted.

Users can create their own skins, and send them to us via email.
We make sure the skins are the correct sizes and all the components are
split up correctly. We then put the skin on the website so ALL users can
choose to put that skin on their page. (If one person creates a skin,
everyone
use it)

> Did you create all the skins. Is there one person who does this.
There is one employee who handles this.

> Any idea where this concept comes from - and where the use of the
> term skins comes from for this.

I think the "skin" concept first popped up in software programs rather
than on web pages. Driven by user requests and programmers desires
to make software "look cooler". I'm not sure but I think Winamp
was the first that allowed you to overlay the GUI with what
they called a 'skin', changing the appearance of the program entirely.

> Are members given the pages and skins for free. If so, I assume you make
> money off the advertising?

yes, and yes.

> Who/what is TrueTech.

TrueTech is the parent company of Camarades. TrueTech is a software company
that develops innovative internet related software and services, our
flagship products being WebCam software and the Camarades service.

> Any plans for anything new in the future.

you bet. We've just launched our new Camarades sub-communities, which will
allow users to make their own webcam 'clubs'. Check out our homepage and
you'll see what I mean. Soon we'll also offer multi-cam chatrooms
lots of other cool stuff.

I hope this helps. ;-) If you could send me an email when your article
goes online, I'd appreciate it.

Regards,

Michael

--------------------------------------

Some misspellings and punctuation have been corrected.

Yahoo! Search Results for Winamp
Yahoo! WinAmp Skins

The Art & Illusion of the Web Cam:
Introduction
Zeus on a Web Cam 
Web Cams as Art