You know the 80s song, Video Killed the Radio Star. It was a big hit and one of the first videos to air on MTV. Well, what came true for music video is on its way to becoming true for telephone. Youre the star of all your phone conversations already, right? Everyone loves to hear your voice and hold endless conversations on the phone with you well, you better get prepared to dress up for your appearances now too. Yup, video phones are now the newest trend to hit the market and its not being provided via your traditional phone carrier either. The video phone is available only through a broadband phone provider or phone supplier, but it is already taking off in the market as the next household necessity much like the cell phone and high speed Internet did. My Privacy I Just Got Out of the Shower! Before you worry about invasion of privacy issues, like just getting out of the shower, most video phones are optional in their viewing modes. This means you have the option of being on camera or not. Phew, got that off of your chest. The Entire Globe Now the great part is that it is through the broadband voice providers that most broadband phone services are available globally. So it is very likely that if you have relatives afar, you can video phone with them overseas. Cost Savings with a Catch With broadband phone calling, long distance or international is now running as low as 3 cents a minute or less so you dont pay much to call at all. You might even call it a steal. Whats the catch? Well, its the video phones themselves. The phones run about $500.00 or more a piece. Yikes! With a little shopping ingenuity however you can find lower prices on these video phones. Packet8, a VoIP broadband phone company has a mail-in rebate for the time being on their line of video phones to notch down their price 50%. Their phones after rebate run at $250.00, which for many households, may still be a little too steep. History Promises the Trend Dont get too discouraged by phone prices though, this trend is still in a growing stage. Cell phones are free these days and they use to be only afforded by the rich and famous. Everyone has a cell phone now, a camera phone for that matter. So if price holds you back now, you can anticipate lower prices and even free offers in the future. Video Phones Save On Travel If you travel to visit relatives often or even once a year just to see them face to face, the video phone may very well pay for itself in travel expenses alone. So you cant give them a hug, well would you believe there is a prototype for a virtual kissing phone coming out for cell phones? Yes, you can virtually smooch back and forth between another phone owner. Technology will never cease to amaze, and prices cant stay up forever so eventually you will more than likely find yourself a consumer in the video phone market. Rest assured todays growing technologies will have you saying, Back in my day. I already say it. |
