Video phones are flooding the market. These low-cost plug-and-play video phones can be used for small business conference calls, to stay in touch with distant or elderly family and friends or even as a low-cost remote monitoring device.
You don't need a computer, and in some cases you don't even need an internet connection to call another compatible phone.
However, the Vizufon broadband video phone from Korea requires a broadband internet connection and an ADSL modem.
The phone has a camera mounted above the small liquid-crystal display screen. In our test, the image we received from the sending party was very clear. The camera can be operated remotely via the auto-answer function which allows you to check on your business or home from a remote location.
The voice quality was good with no voice delay, and the image quality was also good.
Some video phones I have tested plug into a personal computer or television to give a bigger image display, but the Vizufon is a self-contained unit.
An all-in-one system like the Vizufon is also easier to set up than the set-top units. To set up the Vizufon, simply key in your broadband connection settings. Setting up takes about 10 minutes by navigating through the menus using the keypad. I spoke to a couple of technical staff at PCCW who were testing a similar video phone and they felt that the average consumer may have trouble configuring it.