Will AT&T's dream from 1964 finally be realized? Viseon last week said it will be launching a new line of video phones to take advantage of the growing number of broadband connections to the home. The company claims the phones will have 30 frames-per-second video quality and run over a DSL or Cable connection. The new devices can be used as an everyday audio-only phone too.
Yes, this could be cool. But will people really fork over $20 every month to see their relatives lounging in bathrobes as they chat on the phone? The problem with video (this applies to traditional videoconferencing as well) is that you always have to be paying attention to the camera. When I am on the phone, I can multitask and usually get away with it. But on a videocall, the person on the other end is going to know right away that they don't have your full attention.
Back to The Multimedia ExchangeVialta has a low cost video phone solution, 2 for under $500.
Easy to hook up, I got one to see my nieces back in Chicago.
Solid product and stylish. Good going Vialta!
- Jason
Posted by: Jason on March 10, 2003 02:39 PMI own a pair of Vialta Beamer Videophones, I am using it with family in Japan. They have just dropped their Single Pack price to $249!
Thanks Vialta for a great product and saving me money on airfare!
- J
Posted by: Jonathan Tsao on June 5, 2003 08:03 PMthe Vialta Beamer is definitely a beautifully designed product, but from a video perspective, it is not particularly intriguing. You get 3 frames per second, which you could get better video quality by using your digital camera! Think about it, the Beamer uses a max of 33.6K. How good can the video be? with the Viseon VisiFone you are using your broadband pipe to get 128k to 512k so you actually get full motion video quality. I am prejudiced, but it is POTS fones like the Beamer that give video a bad name.
Posted by: chipfitchner on September 14, 2003 10:31 AMDear Chipfitchner-
The Beamer videophone is capable of transmitting up to 15 frames per second, not 3 frames per second. Having a direct connection as opposed to a broadband connection, the Beamer videophone is not subject to Internet latency/delays. The better the phone line, the better the full motion picture. Calling overseas works great as well - because that infrastructure tends to be newer giving it a cleaner connection.
Also, are all your relatives using broadband? Can you take your broadband modem anywhere with you and expect it to work, for instance a hotel room during a business trip?
Vialta has also just released a new product called Beamer TV, which connects to your television for only $149:
http://www.vialta.com/beamertv.htm
Think about all the frustrations people have with computers, then add onto that broadband configuration, and imagine your parent working through those problems.
- Ed
Posted by: Ed on November 10, 2003 06:46 PMWell I would love to get 2 of these Beamer TV units but unfortunately when they designed it they only made it with NTSC Video Out and In my country our TV system is PAL - they should really soon think about adapting their present unit or bringing out a new unit with a PAL/NTSC switch and then marketing it in Europe. It seems so easy to use by just pluging it in that if they did include PAL output they would have a much bigger market and sell more plus if people from the US went to countries that use PAL they could take the unit with them and use it in another country.
Posted by: Andy on March 18, 2004 03:17 PM
AT&T/Lucent also introduced a video phone in the late 80s/early 90s.
It did not take off because of high cost. (~ $1000 ea. (2 needed as today), low band width (9.6 K available at the time), the lack of a still frame option, and poor picture quality (a function of the low bandwidth assumed in the design). There were also a few other minor technical problems.
With a 26K or 52K modem it may have played well and a better picture could have been provided.
AT&T may have given up too early as technology costs have dropped significantly.
Posted by: Robert F. Martina on June 11, 2004 02:44 PMPost a comment
