NTT's home IP videophone

Fusty old Japanese telecoms monopoly NTT is straining to go all cool and IP as its conventional phone and dialup businesses wane, and it's come up with its vision for the home phone of the future: a touch-panel VoIP videophone that hooks up to a DSL or fibre connection. The only shortcoming, apart from an unfashionable lack of portability, is the price; about US$600. Too expensive for PC-less grannies and PC'd-up young bloods alike, we don't see this one taking off (we'll settle for a webcam, thanks). NTT deserves some kudos for developing it with what seems like remarkable speed, though—this vision of the future goes on the market to NTT broadband subscribers in June.