A teleconferencing system for conducting a teleconference among a
plurality of participants. The system has a plurality of video display
devices, each having associated participant video capture capabilities
and participant audio capture and reproduction capabilities. At least one
communication path is provided for transmitting signals representing
participant audio and video. A graphical rolodex can be displayed on a
participant's video display device and includes a scrollable listing of
entries of video-enabled potential participants. Also included is a quick
dial list, listing icons representing video-enabled potential
participants copied from the graphical rolodex. The system is configured
to allow an initiating participant to initiate collaboration by selecting
at least one participant listed in at least one of the graphical rolodex
and quick dial list, and automatically establish one of a plurality of
communication types, with a selected participant, upon a communication
type being selected or by default when the participant is selected.