VoIP Videophone War

December 10, 2004

In case you didn't catch the news yesterday, Vonage plans to offer a videophone in 2005 via a partnership with Viseon. But there's much more to it than that. First, go check out Andy's blog entry about it. VoIP Watch: 'Vonage Goes VideoPhone Soon' as well as Aswath's thoughts on the videophone service provider model here.

The really interesting thing is the comments made by Vonage's CEO, Jeffrey Citron. He was quoted as referring to the Packet8 videophone as "a phone with a camera slapped on it." Ouch! Them's fightin' words! Talk about the big bad Goliath (Vonage) pickin' on a little guy (Packet8). In the spirit of Braveheart (the greatest movie of all time IMHO), I can envision Bryan R. Martin, CEO of 8X8 (which owns Packet8) donning some blue war paint and telling his workers, "Are you ready for a war!".

Interestingly, when you examine the photos for both the Vonage videophone and Packet8's videophone you'll notice they look identical, but that didn't stop Citron from calling Packet8's videophone just a phone with a camera slapped on it. Maybe Citron didn't like the fact that Vonage, one of the pioneers of broadband VoIP wasn't first when it came to offering a videophone? That honor belongs to Packet8.

Packet8's videophone is OEM'ed from Leadtek from what I understand, whereas Vonage's phone is from Viseon, as seen here:

Packet8 Videophone

Packet8 Videophone



Compare with Vonage Videophone... Looks pretty much the same to me. If I didn't know any better I'd say Videon copied the blueprints! The button layout is the same and everything.
Vonage Videophone

Vonage Videophone

Viseon's website even has a countdown applet (26 days currently) until the official release of the phone at CES. The phone will use the H.263 and H.264 protocols, according to Citron, but what I REALLY want to know is will a Vonage videophone user be able to dial a Packet8 videophone user or any other videophone for that matter.

Unfortunately, the answer to that is almost certainly not. From what I understand even with video standards, there has yet to be a true 100% standards-based videophone that is hardware-based. There are some good 100% standard videophone soft-clients, but unfortunately I've yet to see a hard phone that doesn't do some proprietary tricks. I know the Packet8 phone does some proprietary optimization techniques for the video to ensure the best video quality. Too bad they can't use the proprietary techniques when dialing a fellow Packet8 videophone but use industry standards when dialing a non-Packet8 videophone.

I should point out that Voicepulse has announced plans to follow suit in offering a videophone. The verdict is still out whether or not videophones will ever take off. The promise of a videophone in every home just hasn't taken foothold yet. The George Jetson cartoon which popularized the videophone in the supposed future is still a ways off.



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» Two from Vonage from quantumBlog
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» Two from Vonage from quantumBlog
Vonage @ CES from engadget.com It’s still going to be a few more months before Vonage rolls out their new broadband videophone service (they better get cracking, its going to be a mighty crowded playing field soon), but we kicked it... [More]

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Comments to VoIP Videophone War


  1. Mark :
    July 9, 2006 12:12 PM


    Does anyone know if I can use the
    D-Link DVC-1000 without a PC with the MSN messenger with a PC?

    Thank you

    Mark March


  1. Sam Camerano :
    March 19, 2007 1:17 AM

    The Video phone is going to be in every home just like the Microwave is now , Or like a TV in just about every room . The technology is here and is getting better everyday .Packet 8 is leading the charge in offering great service at low prices .Any other Voip provider could just be left in the dust .
    Unlimited us andd canada usage for as little as $20.00 per month . Who would have ever thought such a thing would be possible .
    Escape International is realy doing great things in helping Packet8 grow .
    For more information please visit
    www.EscapeRep.com/center
    You can even become a distributor for Free and get your own Free website and get in on the Voip BOOM.


  1. Ravi Nayar :
    January 26, 2008 6:58 PM

    VideoPhone is now a reality. I was referred to a website by a friend where I ordered 2 Videophone. The cost was free. We had to pay for 6 months up front. It replaced our Home phone, the monthly charges are $28.99 per month, we use to pay $40 with AT&T.

    The Videophone is great. It works like a regular phone and if the person I am calling has the Videophone we can see each other. I already have a circle of 8 friends & family with the Videophone. It allows my parents to see their grandchildren everyday in both Dallas & Montreal.

    For those who are interested visit www.GetVideoPhone.com

    Seeing is believing!


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