New York--Peace of mind could come in the form of a webcam.

Not your traditional Internet video cameras, Zonet’s new Internet Protocol cameras or webcams can alert you to disturbances at your house as they are happening via e-mail. 

The device, which also comes in a wireless version, is mobile, which means it can also be used to protect your possessions in a hotel room or even in your car as long as there’s a WiFi network nearby. And don’t worry if it's dark out: The webcam has built-in night vision technology.

Typically, these types of features are found in high-end webcams that sell for upward of $1,000, but Zonet said advances in voice over Internet protocol, or VOIP, technology are enabling the masses to have some of the features that were resigned to companies or wealthy individuals. Zonet’s cameras sell for $220 and $320.

“The technology has drawn down a lot of the manufacturing costs, so we had the choice to bring down the price,’’ said Renson Lee, vice president of sales at Zonet.

Zonet, of Walnut, Calif., has its roots in networking products, serving big companies. The Internet video camera is the company’s first foray into webcams, said Lee. 

Using software that comes with the device, you can set the webcam to start recording and alert you if someone or something crosses a predetermined threshold.

The webcam software can automatically e-mail still photos or video so that you can quickly determine if it’s a threat or simply the mailman.  It will also sound an alarm, which could potentially scare off would-be thieves.  The software can view up to 16 cameras. There’s a secure Web site, for monitoring whatever you have your webcam watching all day.

While the allure of having a security cop in a box could drive adoption, consumers may also be drawn to the product’s video conferencing capabilities.  The device has a two-way audio jack, which means you can hear what’s going on in addition to seeing it.

Given that high-tech products typically scare off the tech illiterate--meaning the masses--Zonet went out of their way to make the webcam as easy to use and program as possible, said Lee.

“As the whole market shifts to more consumer products, every product has to be easy to set up,’’ Lee said. “You just have to go through the first one or two pages of the manual. That’s how easy it is.”

Indeed, simplifying technology is key to getting a product adopted on a widespread basis. You only need to look to Apple's (AAPL) success with the iPod to see the evidence. Before Apple came on the scene with its iPod, there were other MP3 players on the market, but none as easy to use as the iPod. Apple has taken that strategy to its ever growing popular iPhone.

Consumers, who want to spend the cash for the Zonet’s cameras, can buy it online at tech-gadget sites like www.tigerdirect.com and www.newegg.com. Zonet is currently in talks with retailers including Micro Center and Fryes about selling the product, said Lee.