Q. What is the Desktop Videophone?

A. 8x8's ViaTV Desktop Videophone (model VC150) is a unique new videophone concept that combines 8x8's Video Communications Processor (VCP) chip with a full-color, flat panel display, digital video camera and high-performance analog modem in a single, elegant enclosure designed for desktop use. The VC150 combines with a touch-tone phone to make a complete videophone solution. The Desktop Videophone allows users to make full-color, motion video calls to other ViaTV Videophone models or any H.324-compatible videophone over standard telephone lines.

Q. What is unique about the VC150?
A. The VC150 is the perfect videophone solution for desk- and tabletop use, whether at work or at home. The VC150 also delivers remarkable video quality, thanks to its full-color, flat panel display and advanced compression technology.

Q. What is the size and resolution of the Desktop Videophone's display?
A. The VC150's flat panel display measures 4 inches (diagonally) and has a resolution of 112,320 picture elements (pixels). The display uses active matrix technology to deliver a bright, full-color motion video.

Q. What is the VC150's video quality like?
A. Because it uses a high-quality, flat-panel display, the VC150 provides remarkably crisp video and bright colors. But the display is only part of the story. The VC150 takes advantage of 8x8's excellent video compression technology, which delivers video at up to 15 frames per second for good motion representation and excellent audio/video synchronization. This high-frame-rate mode is perfect for carrying on an animated conversation. The VC150 also provides a sharp mode that delivers very crisp images at about 1 frame per second. The sharp mode is excellent for viewing images of graphic designs, documents, models and other static information.

Q. Is the ViaTV Desktop Videophone easy to set up?
A. Because it contains both the display and camera, setting up a ViaTV Desktop Videophone requires only two simple connections, one to the standard touch tone phone and one to a standard telephone wall jack. Once connected, ViaTV is ready to use. There is no software to load or install, and no personal computer is required.

Q. Is the VC150 easy to use?
A. Very. Like all ViaTV Videophones, making a video call with the VC150 is as easy as making a standard telephone call. In fact, every video call starts as a standard telephone call. Once an audio call is established, simply pressing two keys on the keypad of the touch-tone phone starts a video call.

Once a video call is established, the caller controls the phone using a series of on-screen menus that are navigated using the keypad of the Speakerphone or a touch-tone phone. The user ends the call simply by hanging up.

Q. How can the user be sure he's positioned in front of the camera?
A. The VC150 provides a picture-by-picture preview so you can see exactly what the person you are calling sees.

Q. What other features does the VC150 have?
A. The VC150 includes many of the features that you would expect a high-end telephone to have, including a speed dial directory, caller ID and last number redial. The VC150 also has a number of other videophone features, including electronic pan/tilt/zoom, snapshot, auto answer and video mute.

Q. Isn't videophone technology continually improving? Should I wait until a more advanced videophone is available?
A. Yes, videophone technology from 8x8 is constantly improving, but you can buy a VC150 now and take advantage of the software improvements we make over the coming year. How? The VC150 software can be upgraded right over the same telephone line you use to make video calls. Most upgrades are free (a nominal fee may be charged for special feature enhancements), and take only minutes. 8x8 notifies registered ViaTV users of upgrades by mail. Simply call 8x8's Technical Support, and they'll guide you through the process.

Q. Can I use a VC150 with a TV or VCR?
A. No, unlike our other models, the VC150 does not have audio or video outputs.

Q. Can I use a external video camera with a VC150?
A. No. The VC150 does not have an external video input.

Q. What are the differences between the various ViaTVs?
A. In order to have a complete videophone solution, you need five things: a video camera, a microphone and speaker, a video display, a high-performance video processing chip and an analog modem. The least expensive ViaTV Videophones provide the video processing chip and the analog modem. The user supplies a TV for the display, a camcorder for the camera, and a telephone for the microphone. The set-top model has a digital video camera built in, so the user just supplies the TV and phone. The ViaTV Desktop Videophone has its own display, so the user need supply only the phone.

Q. What if I have problems installing ViaTV?
A. 8x8 technical support representatives are available at 1-888-VIEW-8x8 from 7AM-7PM Pacific time, Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours are 8AM-5PM. Hours may be limited on holidays.

Q. Will ViaTVs without displays work with any TV set?
A. ViaTV Videophones work with any TV that provides either an antenna input (where your cable TV connects) or an auxiliary video source (as for VCRs or camcorders). These are each common on TVs built since the mid-80s. If you have an older TV, you can purchase a "matching transformer" to adapt your TV's flat wire antenna connections to ViaTV's antenna adapter.

Q. Can I travel with my ViaTV Videophone?
A. Since the ViaTV Videophone is easy to set up and uses standard telephone lines and TVs, it is easy to use when traveling. To make travel even easier, 8x8 makes a Travel Pack that includes a padded carrying case, international power supply and PAL format TV adapter. No special set up is needed to use the videophone anywhere.

Q. Does a ViaTV require special telephone service such as ISDN?
A. No, ViaTV Videophones work over standard telephone lines, often called POTS (plain old telephone service) lines. An ISDN (Integrated Switched Digital Network) line is not required. You don't even have to tell your telephone company that you have a ViaTV Videophone.

Q. Does a videophone call cost any more than a normal telephone call?
A. No, a ViaTV videophone call costs the same as an ordinary phone call. There are no extra monthly fees or subscriptions required because the ViaTV uses the customer's existing telephone service.

Q. How does a videophone call start?
A. A ViaTV videophone call starts as an ordinary call. When the called party answers, either party can start the video call by pressing the # key followed by the 1 key. Both parties wait about 30 seconds for the video to appear on the screen.

Q. How does a user select ViaTV Videophone options?
A. The user controls the ViaTV Videophone with the touch tone keys of the telephone, aided by simple menus on the TV screen. Pressing the # key causes a menu to appear at the bottom of the screen. Menu items are numbered. Pressing the number of an item on the touch-tone keypad selects that item.

Q. How does the audio quality on a ViaTV call compare to a normal telephone call?
A. The audio quality is identical to that of a standard phone call.

Q. What affects the video quality seen on the display or TV screen?
A. The clarity and frame rate of ViaTV video varies depending on the quality of the telephone connection, the video quality options set by the user and room conditions.

A high-quality phone connection allows the ViaTV modems to transfer data at up to 33.6 thousand bits per second in both directions. Overseas or very long distance calls sometimes produce lower quality connections, but occasionally even local connections are less than perfect. Lower quality connections cause the modems to transfer data at lower rates, which decreases video clarity and frame rate somewhat. However, data rates as low as 21.6 thousand bits per second produce acceptable video quality although connections at that low a rate are rare.

Video quality is also affected by the "Quality" setting chosen by the user. Using a simple slide control displayed on the TV screen, the user can trade high frame rates, which provide fluid motion, for high resolution, which provides a sharper, more detailed picture. Most viewers prefer the middle slide control positions, which provide high enough frame rates for good audio/video synchronization and enough picture detail to see facial expressions.

Finally, the video quality is also influenced by the room setting and caller movement. ViaTV video quality is best when room lighting is even and fairly bright, and callers should select a plain, light-colored wall for their "backdrop." While video means motion, broad, rapid movements by the caller will reduce picture clarity and frame rate somewhat, so a certain restraint is needed to obtain the best results.

Q. What frame speed does ViaTV Videophone produce?
A. ViaTV video ranges from up to 15 frames per second (with the QUALITY menu set to FAST) to a frame every few seconds (with the QUALITY menu set to SHARP). Normal TV images are displayed at 30 frames per second, and theatrical films are displayed at 24 frames per second.

Q. Do I have to buy two units?
A. Just as sending a fax requires that both parties have a fax machine, a two-way videophone call requires that each party have a videophone. ViaTVs work with any H.324 compatible videophone.

Q. How does the auto-answer feature work?
A. The ViaTV's auto-answer feature allows the ViaTV to automatically answer the phone after a preset number of rings. The caller may then start a video call in the usual way and see what ever is in the remote ViaTV's field of view. This feature makes the ViaTV an excellent monitor for security, weather or traffic monitoring. To prevent unauthorized activation of a ViaTV with the auto answer feature, the user can set a passcode that must be entered before it will start video.

Q. Can I use a ViaTV Videophone with a TV if I already have a VCR and/or a cable converters?
A. Yes, ViaTV is compatible with all other video accessories. The user manual supplied with the ViaTV Videophone provides complete instructions for connecting it with both VCRs and cable converters. You can not use a Desktop Videophone with a TV or a VCR.

Q. Can I record and save video calls?
A. Yes, by using your VCR that is hooked up to your TV.

Q. Will the ViaTV Videophone work with other videophones?
A. ViaTV will work with any product that conforms to the H.324 standard for videophones. Intel's Video Phone software with ProShare, which is distributed by personal computer manufacturers such as Hewlett Packard, AST and Compaq, is an example of an H.324-compatible product that works with ViaTV. Please contact 8x8 if you have questions about compatibility with other set-top or PC-based videophones.

Q. How does the ViaTV's Caller ID feature work?
A. The ViaTV will display the phone number of an incoming call at the top of your TV screen. Having the caller ID display on your TV is very convenient, since you don't need to go to the phone to see the caller ID display. In order to see the display, you must tune your TV to the channel for which your ViaTV is set, and of course, it must be on. The ViaTV remembers the last four numbers received.

Q. Will a ViaTV work with the PBX in our office?
A. Probably. The PBX equipment in most offices use digital technology with a provision for some number of analog phone connections. To use a ViaTV Videophone in an office environment with a digital PBX, you must connect to an analog port on the PBX, just as you would for a fax machine.

Q. Can I have multiple parties on a video call at the same time, like a conference call?
A. The ViaTV is a "point-to-point" product, meaning that a person at point "A" can only connect to another person at point "B." However, we expect to see products on the market that will allow "multipoint" calls in the near future.

Q. Can I make international video calls with a ViaTV?
A. Yes.