NTT's touchscreen VP2000 videophone

Japan's NTT has expanded its videophone service with the introduction of its latest "Flet's Phone", the VP2000. The device -- an update to this model we saw way back in 2004 -- features a 12.1-inch, XGA touchscreen which will allow users to access email, browse the web, get weather and news, write memos, and obviously make voice and video calls. The phone utilizes the Japanese teleco's ADSL service, has a built-in webcam, and includes a USB port as well as RGB and RCA outputs. Additionally, if you happen to be over 60 and really excited about getting one of these puppies in your kitchen, the company is offering a discount for seniors, knocking down the regular price of ¥62,790 (about $513) to ¥57,540 ($470).

[Via Akihabara News]

[Mile @ Jul 10th 2007 2:26PM]

This is what the iPhone should have been - including the price. However, I do prefer black over white.

[Zarniwoop @ Jul 10th 2007 2:46PM]

Hello, this has a 12 inch screen and VGA output... It's not going to fit in your pocket!

Can we NOT turn this into a frickin iphone thread? Thanks!

[Mile @ Jul 10th 2007 2:51PM]

I'm pretty sure my pocket can hold a VGA outlet.

Why do you hate the iPhone?

[Mile @ Jul 10th 2007 2:54PM]

I'm pretty sure my pocket can hold a VGA adapter without a problem.

[Constable Odo @ Jul 10th 2007 2:47PM]

Those videophones are a sweet concept. I thought Motorola was supposedly going to get into this stuff (minus the touch-screen). I guess most Americans aren't really interested in seeing one another during conversations. It probably takes up a lot of bandwidth to use this technology. Still, I figured with Verizon FiOS service, this technology would take off when enough people had bandwidth to spare.

[DorianGray @ Jul 10th 2007 6:51PM]

@Constable Odo

Japanese ADSL runs at like 60Mbps -- I get 5up/15down Mbps peak thru VerizonFiOS. I have no doubt FiOS could handle it, but most of the nation is not getting that kind of throughput. My folks have 768K/1.5Mbps DSL and I got my grandparents the $10 AT&T 256/768 plan. Ain't no way any of them can have a video conversation with my daughter at those 100%-perfect-conditions-necessary speeds...

[Constable Odo @ Jul 10th 2007 7:13PM]

Wow. You point out that our broadband system in the US is rather inadequate. I am aware that the broadband infrastructure in Korea and Japan is far better than ours. Of course those countries are tiny in comparison to the US. It didn't know their throughput was that high, though.

I've read you can get higher speed FiOS service than what you have, but only a small percentage people have access to FiOS service. It's still not available in my area in NYC yet and I want it badly for faster upload speeds. I'm getting fed up with my crappy upload speed on TimeWarner Cable.

So, you're right. Our broadband infrastructure is most likely not up to the task yet for full-motion videophone service.

[compejasiu @ Jul 10th 2007 2:47PM]

test

[XPav @ Jul 10th 2007 3:02PM]

Hey, it's like the 3Com Audrey rev2!

[Kaminix @ Jul 10th 2007 3:24PM]

I don't know why, but this made me laugh. :p

[Hans Meyer @ Jul 10th 2007 3:40PM]

Why did they model the design on the Speak & Spell?

[Miles @ Jul 10th 2007 3:47PM]

@Mile

More like this only EXISTS because of the iPhone.

Apple should get some credit for this.

[Luke @ Jul 10th 2007 3:57PM]

I'm sorry for this being off-topic, but MY GOD you are full of shit

[nxtwothou @ Jul 10th 2007 5:55PM]

Honestly, when I saw it, my first thought was a computer for my grandparents. We have other relatives overseas who come to visit twice a year and they always ask my grandparents if they have email yet. Since web tv is basically gone, this would be a worthy successor if its designed simple enough for elderly that have zero desire to obtain computer skills.

[Constable Odo @ Jul 10th 2007 6:25PM]

Are your grandparents Japanese? That's a Kanji-charactered touch-screen there.

[Constable Odo @ Jul 10th 2007 6:29PM]

I knew I had seen this Motorola product somewhere. The OJO System. Doubt if anyone uses it. http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1834536,00.asp
I think Moto introduced it last year and that was the last I'd heard of it. Probably to costly for most folks. I guess it would be nice for grandparents to see their grandkids and such.

[BTN @ Jul 10th 2007 8:33PM]

I bought an Ojo about a year ago and gave one to my sister, that I haven't seen in years. It's like she's sitting across the table. It's very easy to use. Here's a video that I made of Skype vs Ojo videophone. You can get the Ojo Shadow online for about $225 now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GdMx3vAiC8

[Constable Odo @ Jul 11th 2007 6:14PM]

The video on the Ojo looked awesome. Really crisp. The audio wasn't as loud as on the Skype, but still fairly decent. That is darn nice technology. I wonder how many people have bought Ojos. Is it correct that you have to pay $15 a month for connection fees with the Ojo?

Well, I guess Motorola can do some good stuff. I suppose you'd really have to tell all your friends to buy an Ojo in order to have face-to-face communication. $250 is really inexpensive for the device, but you'd really need a large number of friends or have someone you really want to talk to every day in order to justify the Ojo connection fee.

Thanks for that youtube video. Otherwise I'd never get a chance to see the Ojo in action.

[BTN @ Jul 11th 2007 11:08PM]

The Skype audio sounded better because my computer is set up with $125 speakers and a sub woofer. I think the connection fee is currently $9.95 per mo, but that could be changing. I think the marketing will be changing and Voip companies will start to offer videophones included for no additional fee. Broadvoice just added the Ojo last week. You still need to buy the equipment, but pay one fee for voice and video calls.

http://www.broadvoice.com/

Also, I agree with the other posters that iChat looks good, too.

iChat videocall with laptops

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rzCOyN1t-o

[keith waddington @ Jul 10th 2007 11:46PM]

iMac with iChat will do full screen video chat with 4 people playing. And it will do it with style.

keep smiling

[Constable Odo @ Jan 11th 2008 11:03PM]

I've never even used iChat on my MacBook Pro 2.33. How do you find people to talk to? Is there some listing or something to find people that use iChat? Is the video quality good. Do I need to use a microphone or is the audio good from the built-in microphone? I have a USB mic somewhere around, but I'll have to locate it.

I had downloaded some application called CamFrog, but I never bothered to activate it since I was busy doing other things.

[keith waddington @ Jul 11th 2007 8:18PM]

Video and sound are excellent. There is nothing like it on Windows with the exception of Sightspeed, which also runs on Macs. Sightspeed has great video and sound but is a very ugly and clunky application that advertises paid services.

You don't need a mic. You just sit and chat. It's the next best thing to actually being in the same room with the other person. Processor, internet connection and distance can all effect the quality.

Obviously you need to convince some friends to get a Mac! In the mean time you can try:
http://www.ichatters.com/

Once you get on iChat with some one give a demo to one of your Windows using friends!

Have fun
http://www.waddo.net/