In the comments of my previous post, Ravi Nayar writes:
To clarify on above, ACN’s IRIS 2000 Videophone supports calling any phone number in the world. What makes it special is that there is no long Distance charges to call USA, Canada & Puerto Rico. Furthermore later in 2008 when ACN launches the Videophone in Europe there will be no Long Distance Charges to call Videophones in Europe from North America.
The IRIS 2000 Videophone supports analog phone equipment. You can plug your current home phone into the IRIS 2000. This allows you to have extensions throughout your home to work.
The IRIS 2000 Videophone are made in South Korea.
So effectively the IRIS 2000 video phone is a standard VoIP phone with standard H.263 (i.e. previous generation) video, and not the revolutionary piece of equipment touted by ACN.
What’s not clear from Ravi’s comment is whether the IRIS 2000 supports calling other video phones that use the same protocols. Such capabilities would expose ACN to direct competition, but at least then the ACN would be slightly useful.
Finally, Ravi says that the lack of long distance charges are what makes the ACN video phone “special”. But it also happens to be what makes Skype-Out “special”, PennyTel “special”, Vonage “special”, etc etc.
You can find a reasonably complete list of VoIP providers reviewed at voipreview.org.
Note that ACN is not exactly near the top, and only ranks 3 stars despite obvious attempts by ACN marketers to skew the results.
Ravi Nayar | 20-Jun-08 at 8:36 am | Permalink
Dan Thanks for a great Forum.
Agree that there are many good VoiP providers out there but Skype, PennyTel & Vonage do not offer Videophone that replaces your home phone.
I was very disappointed to see the Customer Service issues at voipreview.org. I too had issues and their Technical Support were able to resolve the dropped call issues. It was due to my Internet and the Modem update. It seems that Broadband Internet is better for Videophone then the DSL Internet provided by ACN.
Yesterday ACN announced that their IRIS 3000 Videophone will be released in July 2008. Preliminary info is available at http://www.getvideophone.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=131
It is still unclear if the IRIS 3000 will be able to call videophones from other providers. The big difference with this model is a bigger 7″ screen and Videomail capabilities. More details to follow in July.
dan | 21-Jun-08 at 5:46 pm | Permalink
How to regain legitimacy in a debate:
1. Compliment the other speaker (”Dan Thanks for a great Forum”)
2. Give a little ground but not too much (”I too had issues and their Technical Support were able to resolve the dropped call issues”)
3. Change the subject (”Yesterday ACN announced that their IRIS 3000 Videophone will be released in July 2008″).
Amazing. It’s like it came straight out of a textbook.
Is there a textbook on this stuff? If so I’d like to buy it. I’m pretty sure the Scientologists have tried to pull the same tricks on me before.
These guys are a much slicker operation than the Meegos mob (3hgroup). 3hgroup tried to anonymously discredit me or sway the argument using very ham-handed tactics like posting under multiple identities (but the same IP address - duh!), whereas ACN obviously know quite a bit about marketing and negotiation/game theory.
I’m probably out of my depth. We’ll see.
matsonian | 23-Aug-08 at 7:43 pm | Permalink
Wow dan. I was very interested in your post, until you attacked Ravi about how he responded to you. Oops… look I did it to. Compliment you on your post… wow, I must be trying to manipulate the argument. And then to throw Scientology into it? A bit intelectually off center, don’t you think?
I am interested in knowing if the Iris 3000 supports other protocals. In fact I found this forum because I was looking ot see if there was any way for me to use Skype video to call a video phone, and not just another Skype user. Any information would be helpful… thanks! (and lay off attacking others, just provide information, it gives you greater credibility… just look at our presidential race for guidance)
ellie | 13-Sep-08 at 6:51 am | Permalink
Hey Dan.
Interesting that you would respond in that way to Ravi and have to agree with matsonian about the manner/tone in which you required acknowledgement of/for yourself in a prescribed manner and yet could not return the favour.
Reeking with sarcasm and cynicism, why is it so hard to allow Ravi his freedom to be an entrepreneur (obviously) for his business?
And there is always a prescribed manner in which one does things in their work regardless of what type of work, employment, career that person has… wouldnt you agree?
Life is full of dialogue and prescribed ways so in all fairness - live and let live ..?
Dan Walmsley :: ACN Video Phone part XCVIII: The ACN-enning! | 13-Sep-08 at 5:46 pm | Permalink
[...] found out that the ACN video phone is nothing special, certainly not the exclusive, revolutionary item that ACN is trumpeting it [...]
Ravi Nayar | 20-Sep-08 at 8:37 am | Permalink
Thanks Matsonian & Ellie.
Dan, you maybe correct in your assessment of the Videophone not being revolutionary in the context of technology. However consider that it is revolutionary in that most homes with analog phones are able to cut their monthly cost and move to a digital phone which also allows them to see the person they are talking to.
Matsonian have you tried calling a IRIS 3000 videophone from Skype? I can provide you with my Videophone number if you want to try.
I do not have the specs for the IRIS 3000. I do have the user manual http://www.myacncanada.ca/documents/iris3000_userguide_en.pdf