As the name implies, the broadband video phone is a piece of new technology that allows you to make a phone call but with both parties being able to see each other as well.

To embrace yourself in this technology you will need a broadband high speed connection, a VoIP (voice over internet protocol) provider and a video phone. Your service provider may well offer you the broadband video phone either at a price or free of charge (dependant on the level of your service charge) but many popular electronics stores now stock such equipment so it would pay to shop around.

The cost for the provision the VoIP service will be a monthly fee of $20 upwards dependant upon the level of service and features you chose. It is fairly common that broadband video phone calls between customers on the same VoIP network are free of charge.

These video phones will not work with traditional dial up connections as the rate of data transfer required would be too slow and the voice and video image would therefore degrade to incoherent levels.

Connection of the broadband video phone is simple and straightforward. Assuming you currently have a broadband service provider and a special modem that your existing telephone connects to, you would replace your current telephone for your new video phone and you are all set to start making video calls. It is not therefore necessary to have, or be connected to, a computer.

The Latest Gadget or a Useful Piece of Equipment?

For businesses, the broadband video phone is a significant move forward. Face to face meetings, conferencing and presentations can now be set up quickly and easily thereby improving efficiency and productivity whilst reducing cost.

Families who live far distances away from each other can now keep in touch in a more interactive way. It's really great for grandparents to see there nephews and nieces actually growing up.

It is not necessary to have the video side of the phone connected and working all of the time. This would be useful if you receive calls from people you did not know or you simply did not want the caller to be aware that you had just got out of bed!

Some will evidently view this latest technology as unnecessary or intrusive but, as the competition increases and prices drop, I can envisage the majority of households using this kit in the not too distant future. Look where we started and ended up with the humble television!

There is more information and resources on the broadband phone technology at www.BroadbandPhoneE.com