Telecom NZ launches videophone service

Stuart Corner
Monday, 13 November 2006 09:42

Your IT - Home IT

Telecom New Zealand is offering WorldGate's Ojo Shadow personal videophone service, claimed to be the first broadband videophone to "feature a friendly and intuitive display that facilitates realistic, face-to-face, personal communications experiences over DSL and cable broadband networks."

Customers will purchase the Ojo phone from Telecom and US WorldGate will provide the calling service, which operates over any broadband link. A single Ojo costs $NZ749.99 and a twin pack $NZ1399.99. The service costs $US14.95 per month for unlimited calling (subject to the limitations of the customer's broadband plan.

Telecom says it expects the Ojo to appeal to New Zealanders who have friends and family living around the country and overseas and says it is the first of a new generation of communication and entertainment services using broadband that it plans to introduce.

The Ojo videophone uses SIP and H.264 "to achieve superior [voice and video] quality at data rates as low as 100kbps." It operates at 30 frames/second video (MPEG-4) and picture clarity is claimed to be close to broadcast quality. It has an 18cm screen.