Customer Reviews

Vialta Beamer Phone Video Station (BM80-1, Single Unit)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Appearance: Lightly tinted bluish beveled glass surrounding the palm-sized LCD and camera aperture. The rest of the unit is that type of matte finish hard plastic used in laptops. It resembles a picture frame or a small LCD monitor (which it is, in part). Three simple controls on the side of the unit, and three ports in the rear -- two for phone jacks and one for the power supply. With this unit, you supply your own phone, which may be more convenient in some cases and saves on space.
Function: You call into the other location and ask them to activate their video station, and the unit on your side activates automatically. There is a 20 second delay for the video to rev up, then both sides can see each other. The unit tilts about 30 degrees on the base.
Quality: Not bad, meaning, it's fair, but comparable to the standard line speed of 33K. The screen is big enough and bright enough for my parents to be able to view with their not so good eyesight. The unit doesn't respond well to movement like all videophones, but if the image shown is relatively constant, voice and video transmission is good and synchronized. The unit has a simple switch to decrease the resolution which prevents rebuffering delay. The unit also has a picture in picture feature so you can see what you look like. Activating this feature does not seem to slow transmission.
Ease of Use: So easy, my parents could hook it up with phone tech support. (Me.) Very easy to activate and non-threatening interface. Hook up time is about 2 minutes; installation instructions are good. Connection time for calls is really no more than 25 seconds. The unit provides good, clear responses to inform about delays in transmission or problems with connection.
Problems: The unit generates some slight heat when plugged into the adapter. I pull the power adapter out of the unit to rid this problem. It doesn't work with all phone lines, like PBX. It works with my run of the mill ten year old phone.
Overall: This is a solid, well-designed and engineered unit. It's been made to be usable, unlike some amalgams of technology I've seen. I remember the videophones of five years ago with prices in the fifteen-hundred dollar range with quality that wasn't half as good as what this unit. This unit is affordable enough to buy a few of them to distribute to the family. This unit is good for grandkids to see grandparents and closes the physical distance in an amazing way, because its like looking at grandma through a really small window in the house. I had serious doubts about this technology actually working, having not seen this unit prior to buying it, but it works.

We bought 2 Beamers to use with my elderly in-laws. They were able to work it, the image is okay, and they enjoy seeing our kids. We also have webcams for our computer enabled family, and they work much better and there is no phone charges, but this would not work with my in-laws. The videophone is obviously a little choppy, but if you make sure to have a well lit room it shows a nice picture. My 2 year old son goes up to it and says "Pop-Pop, Pop-Pop" when he wants to see his grandfather. Even though they live 3000 miles away, it feels like you are much closer

This video phone is the biggest garbage in the world. I bought one it is a waste of money. Video quality is horrible and cheap!! U will not be happy with this. I also have a motorola OJO video phone. That is much better than this. If your gonna get a video phone get the OJO. The price is higher but the video quality is superb!!

I used the beamer within the USA and had no problems. the best results come with increased lighting. however i took one to europe and have not been able to connect and get a picture yet. if anyone had a solution ...please comment
thanks

GARBAGE, GARBAGE, GARBAGE - This product does not work with digital phone lines - the customer service is non-existent. Steer clear of this product. It simply did not work for us - and you have to buy to ind out it doesn't work.

Easy to hook up. Very stylish. See family without having to fly. Thanks Vialta!

I received one of these beamers for Christmas so that my parents and brother could see my new baby anytime they wanted. It didn't work. But because my parents and brother both had one, I bought another. It doesn't work either. Steer clear from this company and their lousy products!!!!!

Ruined Christmas. Bought two for wife so she and her mother could talk (and see) coast-to-coast. Had both units sent to us so wife could see how it works before shipping one to my mother-in-law. Hooked one up, it powered on and I excitedly went to neighbors to hook up second and try it out. Hooked up, plugged in, NOTHING. Tried other wall plugs but still NOTHING. Unit defective, returning to Amazon, we'll see how return process goes (only did one return before, wasn't the easiest). Wife and mother-in-law were very excited, now very disappointed. They will have to wait (weeks?), that's assuming we get a replacement and that one works. Otherwise will have to settle for refund (better be full refund if they go that route) then try to find one (thought I was in good shape and ahead of Xmas rush by buying on Dec. 5).