BT's underwhelming Videophone 1000 and 2000

Well, it's 2007, how're we all doing on this whole "videophones are the future" thing? Not so hot apparently, but luckily computers have filled the void with built-in webcams and bandwidth aplenty. However, just in case you wanted to kick it old-style futuristic, the UK's BT is launching two new videophone models of the standalone variety: the imaginatively named Videophone 1000 and Videophone 2000. Nothing much innovative about these two, but BT sounds like it's making videoconferencing about as easy as it could be, so at least that's nice of them. The phone uses a BT Broadband Talk account, plugs into your router and existing broadband internet, includes automatic upgrades and a built-in address book, and will cost you 10p (about 20 cents) per minute to use. That last part seems a bit off, given the numerous free options for videoconferencing over the internet, but we suppose it won't look too out of place on an existing BT Broadband Talk VoIP bill, and phones also work for normal calls to non-video customers. The Videophone 1000 model will run you £149.99 (about $293 US), while the Videophone 2000 adds in WiFi and costs £199.99 (about $391 US). Both phones are available now.

[Via Pocket-lint]

[Big @ Feb 11th 2007 10:32AM]

I remember when I was a kid and AT&T produced a device like this for $1000. I can't believe that this far into the future (18 years later) that video conference phones aren't the norm.

By the way is this a multiracial ad or are those people Kobe and Vanessa?

[LS @ Feb 11th 2007 10:42AM]

how unlike BT to try and rip us off

[ScOObyDoo @ Feb 11th 2007 10:59AM]

Paying for a videocall over your own DSL line? That is just awesome, it's like paying to surf... No wonder most of these product by BT fail miserably.

[interlard @ Feb 11th 2007 11:20AM]

BT used to be the state-owned telco monopoly. They're *still* having a hard time adjusting. This is the kind of product we would be seeing in cold-war USSR around now, although slightly uglier.

[xbit @ Feb 11th 2007 11:24AM]

Europe and Japan have had video conferencing cell phones for years, but no-one is really interested. Video phones are the future in the same way that the Sinclair C5 was the future back in the 80s. :)

[Iain @ Feb 11th 2007 11:25AM]

What a suprise, BT are trying to charge for somthing that other companies don't.

I have so much anger directed towards BT at the moment. They seem to be incapable of doing anything! arrgh!

[Ellianth @ Feb 11th 2007 2:29PM]

Until video phones have cameras that hover and follow you around they won't be useful. Who wants to sit infront of a camera for an entire conversation? Cameras mounted on your head would be annoying. But that phone looks pretty...

[Steve @ Feb 11th 2007 4:02PM]

CRAP!

[jimgirardi @ Feb 11th 2007 4:34PM]

Using Skype (also British) would just solve this problem all together.