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What
is Beamer Videophone and how exactly does it work? |
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Beamer
is the world's first Video Phone Station, allowing consumers
to instantly add video to their phone calls using their existing
phone. It works with any phone over any standard (analog) phone
line, sending each person color motion video that is displayed
on a 3.5 inch LCD screen. |
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Do
I need any special equipment or service to use Beamer Videophone? |
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No
special equipment or special wiring is required. All each person
needs is a regular phone, standard (analog) phone line and a
Beamer. Most U.S. homes have analog connections installed as
the norm. If you are unsure of what type of phone line you have,
contact your local telephone service provider to confirm that
you have an analog line.
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Is
there any extra cost to the phone call when using Beamer Videophone? |
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No,
because Beamer uses an analog phone line, which is the standard
phone line found in the vast majority of American homes, there
is no additional cost for a Beamer phone call. Beamer is designed
to work with your current phone service for the same cost as
a regular phone call without Beamer.
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Will
I be charged extra service fees when using Beamer Videophone?
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No,
with Beamer, there are no monthly fees, service plans or
hidden costs. There are no additional fees associated with
using Beamer. There is no need to notify your phone company
and you will not be charged extra on your phone bill. |
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If
I have a Beamer Videophone, but my friend doesn't, can I still
use my Beamer to see them?
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Similar
to needing two phones to make a phone call, you need two Beamers
to add video to your phone call (or one Beamer and a similar
H.324 compatible videophone device). |
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Is
Beamer Videophone easy to set up? |
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Yes,
very easy - from "out-of-the-box" to "up-and-running" in less
than two minutes. Just plug your phone to Beamer, and then plug
Beamer into your wall phone jack. It's really as simple as plugging
in your phone.
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Is
Beamer Videophone easy to use? |
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Absolutely.
Beamer has been specifically designed to be extremely user-friendly.
Special attention was given to every detail to ensure that everyone
could use Beamer. If you can use a phone, you can use Beamer.
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What
are Beamer Videophone's main features? |
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Beamer
adds color motion video to your phone calls, with three viewing
options to choose from: you can see the other person you're
calling, you can see the video of yourself (a self-view) that
is being sent to the other party, or you can choose the picture-in-picture
option to see both views at the same time. Beamer also displays
a "self-view" while the initial video connection is being made,
so that you can preview what the other person will see. |
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During
a Beamer Videophone call, what if I want some privacy? |
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Beamer
has a snapshot feature, which sends a high-resolution video
image that is displayed on the other party's Beamer. This feature
doubles as a "privacy mode", temporarily halting any new video
transmission for as long as you desire.
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Does
Beamer Videophone work with special phone services? |
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Beamer
is designed to support Caller ID service. When someone calls
you, Beamer will display the name and number of the person calling,
on the LCD screen, Caller ID is a subscription service offered
by your local phone service provider.) At the present time,
Beamer does not support Call Waiting or 3-way calling. |
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Is
Beamer Videophone portable? Can I take it on vacation? |
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Beamer's
sleek, ultra-slim
design and light weight make it easy to take with
you when you travel. You can use Beamer anywhere there is a
standard (analog) phone, even when you're on vacation! |
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What
is the video quality? |
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Similar
to when you place a regular phone call, Beamer's video quality
depends on a number of variables including the quality of the
phone line connection. Changes in the quality of the connection
will impact the quality of the video. If you have a normal or
good phone line connection, you will see a clear, color motion
video of the person you are calling, including details like
changes in their facial expression. |
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How
much do Beamers Videophones cost? |
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Beamer's
MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price) is $499.99 for
a dual pack, and $249.99 for a single unit. |
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Where
can I purchase a Beamer Videophone? |
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You
can purchase Beamer online, at Vialta's
Online Store. You can also click on "Retailers",
under "Where to Buy" to locate a store near you. |
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What
is the warranty on Beamer Videophone? |
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Beamer
comes with a standard consumer electronics warranty, which is
90 days labor and one year on parts. |
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Will
Beamer Videophone work for international calls, and does the
distance affect the quality of the call? |
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Beamer
will work for any international phone call as long as both parties
have an analog telephone line. Analog lines are standard for
phone service in the U.S. and most foreign countries, but there
may be a few exceptions. To determine if analog phone service
is available in a particular country, we suggest that you have
the party you wish to call check with their local phone service
provider to verify the type of line available.
The quality of the international call, as with any Beamer call,
depends on the quality of the phone line and service provided
by the calling party's long distance carrier. The quality of
the video should be comparable to that of audio, and distance
should not affect the quality of the call.
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What
kind of power supply does Beamer Videophone work with? |
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Beamer
has a universal switching power supply, which means it adapts
to any power system from 100-240 volts and at either 50-60Hz.
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Will
I need a plug adapter to use Beamer Videophone overseas? |
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Yes,
you will most likely need a power plug and phone jack adapter
in order to use Beamer overseas. These types of adapters are
available at electronics stores such as Radio Shack in the U.S.
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Will
Beamer Videophone work if I use a calling card to place an overseas
call? |
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If
you typically have a good audio connection using a calling card,
your video connection will be comparable. Cards that offer phone
service provided by AT&T, MCI and Sprint typically provide good
connections. However, Beamer will not work with Voice Over IP
(VOIP) calling cards. As an alternative to the calling card,
you may want to use a major dial around International Long Distance
Service (such as 10-10, etc.), which should work well with Beamer
videophone.
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Does
Beamer Videophone work with an ISDN line? |
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Beamer
will not work with an ISDN line. |
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Does
Beamer Videophone work with a PBX office system? |
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Beamer
will work at the office if you connect to an analog line/port,
just as you would with a fax machine. It is necessary to use
a standard telephone with Beamer and not the phone supplied
with the PBX. Beamer will not work on a digital PBX line. |
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Does
Beamer Videophone work with a cell phone? |
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Beamer
works only using an analog phone line. The data rate of a cellular
phone will not support a video connection. |
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Does
Beamer Videophone work with DSL / ADSL? Do I need a filter?
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Beamer
will work with the same line as your DSL service, just like
your phone. Simply connect Beamer on the phone side of the DSL
line. However, Beamer will not work on your Internet DSL service.
Vialta recommends using filters to protect the telephone from
the DSL modem signal. |
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What
if I have Digital Phone service through AT&T or Cox cable? Will
Beamer Videophone work? |
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Beamer
does work with the digital phone service provided by AT&T and
Cox Communications since they change the signal to analog in
the box outside the house, and is therefore compatible with
Beamer. |
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Will
Beamer Videophone work on my college network? |
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If
the university allows you to bring your own telephone, Beamer
should work fine. If the university provides the telephone,
you should first confirm with them whether the system is analog.
You may also ask if they can support dial up modems, as that
will usually indicate an analog system, and Beamer would work
fine. |
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Is
there an audio-video delay when using Beamer Videophone? |
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Typical
delay is 1-1.5 seconds, although the detail/movement setting
used by the call's recipient will affect how synchronized the
audio and video appear. The greater the detail, the more delay;
Greater movement equates to less delay. |
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What
is the frames per second (fps) rate on Beamer Videophone and
what is that rate based on? |
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The
frames per second on Beamer ranges anywhere from 4 to 15 fps.
The frame rate is based on the following four factors: connection
rate, motion in the image, line quality, and the movement/detail
setting selected by the recipient. |
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Does
Beamer Videophone support Caller ID, Call Waiting or 3-Way calling?
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Beamer
is designed to support Caller ID service. When someone calls
you, Beamer will display the name and/or number of the person
calling, on the LCD screen. Caller ID is a subscription service
offered by your local phone service provider. At the present
time, Beamer does not support Call Waiting or 3-Way calling.
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What
is the resolution of Beamer Videophone's LCD screen? |
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The
LCD has a maximum screen resolution of 600x234. |
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Can
Beamer Videophone connect to a PC Screen or TV to enlarge the
picture? |
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At
this time, Beamer is not equipped with output jacks that enable
the unit to connect to a computer or TV screen. However, Beamer
TV is especially designed to connect to your (NTSC) Television.
Additional information on Beamer TV can be found here: Beamer
TV |
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What
is Vialta's return policy on Beamer Videophone? |
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Vialta's
Return Policy may be viewed Online.
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Where
can I see a live demonstration of Beamer Videophone? |
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Vialta
is currently working with Best Buy, Fry's Electronics, J&R,
and The Good Guys across the country. For additional information
please email support@vialta.com.
Live demonstration dates may change at any time, so please phone
ahead. |
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What
is the bit rate? |
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During
a video call, Beamer can transmit up to 33.6 kbps. |
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What
kind of picture will I get with Beamer Videophone? Is it comparable
to a broadband connection? |
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Vialta
feels that Beamer's video quality is similar to that of a web
camera on an ADSL or Cable broadband service. Since Beamer is
a point-to-point device, it does not have to worry about the
delays introduced by the broadband connections. |
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