Abstract: A computer implemented system and method in which a user can send e-mail messages that include full-motion video and audio (or, alternatively, audio only), along with (if desired) the text messages to an e-mail recipient. The sender merely needs to incorporate camera control software according to certain aspects of the present invention into his/her remote computer/terminal that will coordinate the recording and exchange of such videos using the sender's remote computer and associated video camera. In the exemplary embodiment, the compose screen code includes pre-existing e-mail application code and custom code inserted into pre-existing templates provided by the pre-existing e-mail application code; and further, the camera control application is a discrete application that communicates with pre-existing video camera support application residing on the sender's remote computer.