A 4th Screen To Follow? Introducing The Media Phone

This might sound like an April fool's joke to some, but it really isn't: we've got a new class of phones (and screens), and someone decided to give it the (boring) name "Media Phone".

In-Stat even taken the liberty of writing a report on media phones. (free!). It is touting the media phone as "our 4th screen", after the PC, the TV and the mobile handset. I don't believe in a 4th screen paradigm, but that's for another post.

So what IS a "media phone"? The way I see it:

  • Something with an LCD display of about 7" (or more)
  • Something that can do more than just voice calls
20090401-TalkingVideo-OpenFrame.jpg


OpenPeak's OpenFrame

I'll add to that that "Something with video capabilities (especially the communication part of it)".

Here are some highlights from the In-Stat promotion:

  • Consumer media phones will generate between $4-$8 Billion in annual revenue, worldwide, by 2013.
  • Business media phones will generate $3.3 Billion in annual revenue, worldwide, in 2013.
  • The US media phones market will open up in 2009, with Europe coming on board in 2010.

Media phones are being released by all the leading vendors. The best ones, which aren't even covered in the In-Stat report, have been show-cased during CES last month.

My take on the whole "media phone" trend?

  • Videophones and visual communication is here to stay. And grow.
  • Media phones are best served with SIP. Adding H.323 to them is nice to have, and may be beneficial for current deployments of video, but SIP is where the action will be.
  • Media phones are targeted mainly at the SMB and consumer markets, where video conferencing didn't penetrate much yet.
  • Media phones are not our 4th screen. They are our new home/desk phones.
  • These kinds of devices have the capability of dramatically increase the visual communication market (the other growth opportunity is the desktop of course).
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1 Comment

Hi Tsahi!

Thanks for the post! It was very insightful!wink

In light of your comments, I wanted to take the time to introduce you to Grandstream’s new IP Multimedia phone, the GXV3140. This product aims to conquer the media phone market with its unbeatable price point and rich functionality. The product combines a number of cutting edge technologies, including:

Zero touch plug-and-play deployment
Advanced audio/video streaming
Automated personalization of news/weather/language/time based on users' location
1-touch instant access to popular music/radio/photo/video sites and social networks

The GXV3140 also features Grandstream's industry leading peer-to-peer SIP technology that allows its users to connect with each other and make high quality real-time video calls for FREE right out of the box with ZERO configuration. The GXV3140 will be generally available through Grandstream's worldwide channel partners in early May for a manufacturer suggested retail price of $299.

Please feel free to contact me for more information. We’d love to see this product on one of your blog reviews!

Thanks!! - Karleen

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