IP VideoPhone

The IP VideoPhone from InnoMedia is a stand alone device that incorporates a telephone handset and dial pad, a CCD camera, and a 4" color LCD display. The device can be plugged into a QoS broadband IP network and used to place free person-to-person H.323 compliant videophone calls and standard PSTN telephone calls (that are routed through a publicly accessible H.323 gateway, such as the vendor's own Innosphere network). Because of its H.323 compliance, the IP VideoPhone can connect to other users who also have H.323 equipment and or software (such as Microsoft's NetMeeting); the person to be called does not need to themselves have an IP VideoPhone unit to complete the call. All that is required is that both parties have a broadband connection to the Internet and a static IP address, which the units use in order to connect to one another. The initial release of the IP VideoPhone does not work behind firewalls.

The unit itself is designed to provide a simple, self enclosed means of connecting by video to other persons anywhere in the world. It supports a video frame rate of better than 15fps, includes an "address book" allowing for the storing of up to 20 commonly called names with their corresponding IP address, and includes controls allowing the user to choose between faster frame rates or sharper image resolutions for slower connections. User may extend the capabilities of the phone by using external video cameras for input and piping the video output to televisions or VCRs.

Future improvements to the IP VideoPhone noted in InnoMedia's literature include firewall support and the ability to send and receive video mail.

Estimated pricing for the IP VideoPhone is expected to be around $1,600. Contact InnoMedia for further information.