UVC FAQs

What is a UVC driver?

A UVC (or Universal Video Class) driver is a USB-category driver. A driver enables a device, such as your webcam, to communicate with your computer’s operating system. And USB (or Universal Serial Bus) is a common type of connection that allows for high-speed data transfer. Devices that are equipped with a UVC driver, such as the Logitech® QuickCam® Pro 9000 for Business, are capable of streaming video.

In other words, with a UVC driver, you can simply plug your webcam into your computer and it’ll be ready to use.

What does a UVC driver have to do with my webcam being plug and play?

It is the UVC driver that enables the webcam to be plug and play. A webcam with a UVC driver does not need any additional software to work.

Once you plug your webcam in, it can work with a video-calling application, such as Skype®, Windows Live Messenger®, or Microsoft Office® Communicator.

Are there different kinds of webcam drivers?

Yes, there are two kinds of webcam drivers:

• The one included with the installation disc that came with your product. For your webcam to work properly, this driver requires some time to install. It is specifically tuned for your webcam, designed by your webcam manufacturer and optimized for webcam performance. 
• A UVC driver

You can only use one driver at a time, but either one will allow you to use your webcam with various applications.

The following Logitech webcams support UVC:

• Logitech® QuickCam® Pro 9000 for Business
• Logitech® QuickCam® Pro for Notebooks Business
• Logitech® QuickCam® Communicate MP for Business
• Logitech® QuickCam® Deluxe for Notebooks Business
• Logitech® QuickCam® 3000 for Business

Does my computer support UVC?

Most current operating systems support UVC. Although UVC is a relatively new format, it is quickly becoming common.

Which operating systems support UVC?

There are more environments that support UVC, but what follows is a listing of the most common:

Windows:

• Windows® XP Service Pack 2 and higher
• Windows Vista®

Mac:

• Tiger® OS (versions 10.4.9 and higher)
• Leopard® OS (versions 10.5.1 and higher)

Linux:

There are many different versions of Linux. Please check with your distribution vendor to determine if your version supports UVC.