Early Adopters Pick: October 2003. Call family and friends and see them on your TV. The Vialta Beamer adds video to your conversations using an ordinary telephone line. Two phones per package. Vialta's new Beamer TV gives you the ability to instantly add video to phone calls using your existing home phone and television. Beamer TV works with any home phone (corded or cordless) over any standard analog phone line (one-line or two-line) to display full color video of the person you're talking to. All you have to do is pick up the phone, dial a friend or family member (who also has a Beamer TV or Videophone), and press the Start/Views button on the remote control.
Beamer TV is small, so it fits in narrow spaces; it is designed to sit atop your television. It has a built-in 0.25-inch CMOS camera that can capture full-motion video and transmit it to your recipient at 4 to 15 frames per second. Transmission speed is dependant on phone line quality and connection rate, as well as the amount of motion and detail being transferred.
When not in use, the remote control rests in a recessed niche so it's easy to find, and a camera cover protects the lens from dust and scratches. And, the Beamer TV has a skid-proof base to prevent accidental slipping and the need to realign the built-in camera.
Setup is easy--simply plug your phone into Beamer TV, plug Beamer TV into your television's RCA video jack, connect Beamer TV to your wall phone jack, and plug in Beamer TV's power adapter. There is no special wiring or equipment required, and no service agreement, so the only charges that will appear on your phone bill are those for long distance.
What's in the Box
Two each of: Beamer TV unit, standard 25-foot telephone cord (RJ-11) x 2, 6-foot video cable, remote control, AC power adapter, user guide, warranty card
