Video Phone Technology to Embrace: Usee, Isee
August 9, 2008 – 2:57 amWhile the first video phone was introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair, more than four decades ago, and has captured imaginations, world-wide, video phone technology still has not seen widescale usage or implementation. But a Dallas based video conference company is looking to change the field with its new Useeisee videophone.
The Useeisee PictureFone sells for $249 and requires a monthly subscription of $39.95 which allows for unlimited video conference calling in the U.S. and Canada. While the technology is similar to other videophones that have come and gone, Useeisee owner Fedele says the difference with his product will be marketing. A 30-year veteran of the advertising industry, Usee’s president says videophones have never had enough “jazz” about them, and this failure in positioning has held them back.
People have treated it is a high-tech product, and not as a friendly, simple, isn’t-this-fun kind of product
Using hardware from Boston-based GrandStream and with XCast Labs in Los Angeles as its carrier, Useeisee was designed with ease of use in mind. Installation requires no downloading, just a simple DSL or cable modem connection, all accomplished in less than a minute.
This is a self-funded company. We don’t have the money to do everybody, so we have to be real cautious about how we get there,” he said. “We could easily divert ourselves by getting into the college market too quickly. I’ve got to make an impact with the Baby Boomers before we start trickling down to do everybody else.
But is marketing really the issue holding videophone technology back? Typically, the major roadblock has been social issues such as not wanting to have to look good just for a phone call. Many people multitask while on a conference call such as checking their email or eating lunch when they’re not speaking. Fedele said that he plans on not focusing his marketing attention on businesses, but rather to grandparents with children that live out of state or abroad, or for parents who want to keep up with their kids away at college.