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Jama

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#8921 7-Aug-2006 08:08
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Obviously just because one article says it is so does not mean it is...
Video calling a flop?

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tonyhughes
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  #43399 7-Aug-2006 08:36
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Video calling just isnt ready for prime time. More people need handsets, and it will need to be inter-network capable, and preferably capable of interfacing with at least one major IM package like MSN or Skype for PC to phone video calls (I think Voda perhaps have a client for this overseas?)

The other thing I beleieve is that video calling should be a monthly fee to cover the addition of video to any call
, rather than being billed extra per minute...









freitasm
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#43400 7-Aug-2006 08:43
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I read the article, thanks for the link Jama... That comes back to one of my thoughts: The killer app for mobile is... voice!

Yes, right. People need instant answers and they call. Video call is ok, but would you go down the street trying to see and be seen? Nope. A voice call is easier, just put the thing in your ear, or simply use a Bluetooth headset.

Now, from saying that 3G is a flop, because of handset sales?

Seriously, most people who wants the benefits of 3G will either get a data card, or a Bluetooth capable high-end mobile, to use as a wireless connection for their laptops.

Other applications, such as video clips, live TV (which is only now being shown, but not actually live, just a few times of the day), music download, are not compeling enough. Cost perhaps?

I do have a video-call capable Pocket PC Phone, and I used it twice only, to test and see how it works. I either use IM, SMS or a voice call.

IM is a great thing, that people are not exploring. People don't realise that SMS costs much more than data traffic, otherwise they would be using IM. There are J2ME clients, there are Symbian client, there are Windows Mobile clients. No lack of software for that.





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  #43401 7-Aug-2006 08:57
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The problem with 3G handsets has been the fact that many have been umm errr crap. Up until 12 months ago the simple fact was there weren't any decent 3G handsets on the market that weren't bricks or had 2 hours battery life. This has slowly changed over the past 12 months but even over that time there hasn't been a compelling reason to move to 3G over GSM as some of the funky handsets such as the SE Walkman series have all been GSM based. Looking at life cycles of designs now it's pretty obvious that most phones available in 12 months time will all be 3G but may still see the low spec models still being GSM only.






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  #43402 7-Aug-2006 09:03
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Battery life... hmm, maybe. Doesn't seem to be an issue on the Nokia 6680, but Vodafone did say that transmission power on handsets was restricted to make batteries last longer.

It's just too expensive I think. NZ is after all the country where most "mobile calls" are either SMS or "I'll ring you back on a landline".
The other aspect that Mauricio hinted at is probably true too - try walking down the street during a video call and see what happens :)




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  #43449 7-Aug-2006 20:28
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Well I use video calling every week.... i admit its onyl for personal use but i do use it every week and i only know 4 ppl with video calling 3g phones.....

Video calling is good if you sittin down and want to see the person or want to show them something while your out..... give it time, i dont think ti will be as popular as texting, but it will beocme more popular... it hasnt been out very long!!

juha
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  #43451 7-Aug-2006 20:33
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I think it'll take off too, once Vodafone (Telecom won't be able to offer this for another six months to a year I gather) stops charging like a wounded bull for the service.




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  #43453 7-Aug-2006 20:47
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juha: I think it'll take off too, once Vodafone (Telecom won't be able to offer this for another six months to a year I gather) stops charging like a wounded bull for the service.


Well to be fair, Vodafone cant make a video call cheaper than a voice call and at the moment, video calls cost exactly the same as voice calls!!

If vodafone made video calls cheaper than voice calls, ppl like me wud just video call ppl when i would have normally voice called them. - You dont have to actually use the camera feature when you video call, you can just talk with headphones instead, and thats exactly what i did for hours every day when video calling was free.

 
 
 

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juha
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  #43454 7-Aug-2006 20:49
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Mmm... I think you're onto something there Simon :)




sbiddle
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  #43456 7-Aug-2006 21:12
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simon_nz90:
juha: I think it'll take off too, once Vodafone (Telecom won't be able to offer this for another six months to a year I gather) stops charging like a wounded bull for the service.


Well to be fair, Vodafone cant make a video call cheaper than a voice call and at the moment, video calls cost exactly the same as voice calls!!

If vodafone made video calls cheaper than voice calls, ppl like me wud just video call ppl when i would have normally voice called them. - You dont have to actually use the camera feature when you video call, you can just talk with headphones instead, and thats exactly what i did for hours every day when video calling was free.


Video calls are only the same price as a voice call if you're not on a plan. For a customer on a plan that has included minutes video calling is substancially more expensive.


simon14
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  #43457 7-Aug-2006 21:18
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sbiddle:
simon_nz90:
juha: I think it'll take off too, once Vodafone (Telecom won't be able to offer this for another six months to a year I gather) stops charging like a wounded bull for the service.


Well to be fair, Vodafone cant make a video call cheaper than a voice call and at the moment, video calls cost exactly the same as voice calls!!

If vodafone made video calls cheaper than voice calls, ppl like me wud just video call ppl when i would have normally voice called them. - You dont have to actually use the camera feature when you video call, you can just talk with headphones instead, and thats exactly what i did for hours every day when video calling was free.


Video calls are only the same price as a voice call if you're not on a plan. For a customer on a plan that has included minutes video calling is substancially more expensive.



Thats not true...

Ok your included minutes arnt used up for video calling, but your standard calling rate, eg 79c per min on Choose 60, is the same rate for making a video call. So video calling is the same rate as vocie calling, even on a plan.

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  #43471 8-Aug-2006 00:15
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Personally, I use Video calling at least once every week.....

But admittedly, Video calling is more "for fun".  So I generally call from home, or from some great location (like on top of a skifield and bragging about the snow to my mates).  Not really for day-to-day calling, I had to cut a video call today while on the bus cause it's quite embarassing for everyone to hear your conversation when you use the phone's loudspeaker...

One day, when we all use Bluetooth headsets, Video Calling would be much more useful (and private!).  But for now, it's more of a "fun item".  And as that, I wouldn't really call it a flop, cause people like me do use it regularly.

cokemaster
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  #43472 8-Aug-2006 00:51
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simon_nz90:
sbiddle: Video calls are only the same price as a voice call if you're not on a plan. For a customer on a plan that has included minutes video calling is substancially more expensive.



Thats not true...

Ok your included minutes arnt used up for video calling, but your standard calling rate, eg 79c per min on Choose 60, is the same rate for making a video call. So video calling is the same rate as vocie calling, even on a plan.


It really depends on what way you look at it. I'm sure after spending $60-70 a month on a bunch of minutes that I'd really want to fork out another 79c a minute for a video call (which probably is more expensive consider how many minutes I'm getting divided by cost).

For example, take the you choose 60 plan (exclude the '3g' bonus for argument sake) - $39.95/60 minutes = $0.67 a minute*
Make a video call - it is $0.79 a minute.

Another interesting thing is Vodafones You Choose Addon table where it clearly shows that the Video calling is effectively 33c per minute while the nights and weekends addons have 5c, 10c, 15c 'rates' per minute. While it is nitpicking, it does blow a hole in the 'same rate as voice calls' argument.

Therefore the conclusion ' So video calling is the same rate as vocie calling' is disputed at best. A better statement would be to say 'Video calling costs the same as your plans voice call charge, excludes included minutes and as a result may cost more than your cost of regular voice calling'.

Again, this comes down to the On Account vs Prepaid argument. It is much more cost effective to use Prepaid for your video calling, your MMS'ing (remember that very few plans actually have MMS's - I can only remember motormouth on account. And remember a SMS costs 20c, a MMS costs 20c too), and when it comes down to the promotions - your calling too.


* Note that this assumes that you are using your included minutes only.




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simon14
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  #43473 8-Aug-2006 04:40
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jesseycy: Personally, I use Video calling at least once every week.....

But admittedly, Video calling is more "for fun".  So I generally call from home, or from some great location (like on top of a skifield and bragging about the snow to my mates).  Not really for day-to-day calling, I had to cut a video call today while on the bus cause it's quite embarassing for everyone to hear your conversation when you use the phone's loudspeaker...

One day, when we all use Bluetooth headsets, Video Calling would be much more useful (and private!).  But for now, it's more of a "fun item".  And as that, I wouldn't really call it a flop, cause people like me do use it regularly.


Well, why couldn't you just use the headphones that came with your phone? Then it would be private?

simon14
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  #43474 8-Aug-2006 04:44
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cokemaster:
simon_nz90:
sbiddle: Video calls are only the same price as a voice call if you're not on a plan. For a customer on a plan that has included minutes video calling is substancially more expensive.



Thats not true...

Ok your included minutes arnt used up for video calling, but your standard calling rate, eg 79c per min on Choose 60, is the same rate for making a video call. So video calling is the same rate as vocie calling, even on a plan.




It really depends on what way you look at it. I'm sure after spending $60-70 a month on a bunch of minutes that I'd really want to fork out another 79c a minute for a video call (which probably is more expensive consider how many minutes I'm getting divided by cost).



For example, take the you choose 60 plan (exclude the '3g' bonus for argument sake) - $39.95/60 minutes = $0.67 a minute*

Make a video call - it is $0.79 a minute.



Another interesting thing is Vodafones You Choose Addon table where it clearly shows that the Video calling is effectively 33c per minute while the nights and weekends addons have 5c, 10c, 15c 'rates' per minute. While it is nitpicking, it does blow a hole in the 'same rate as voice calls' argument.



Therefore the conclusion ' So video calling is the same rate as vocie calling' is disputed at best. A better statement would be to say 'Video calling costs the same as your plans voice call charge, excludes included minutes and as a result may cost more than your cost of regular voice calling'.



Again, this comes down to the On Account vs Prepaid argument. It is much more cost effective to use Prepaid for your video calling, your MMS'ing (remember that very few plans actually have MMS's - I can only remember motormouth on account. And remember a SMS costs 20c, a MMS costs 20c too), and when it comes down to the promotions - your calling too.





* Note that this assumes that you are using your included minutes only.


Good point, i understand the frustration around having to pay more for video calling minutes on top of your free voice calling minutes.... i dont knwo about you but i have a set budget for my Vodafone account, i dont like to go over $70 a month!!

Anyway ladies, im off to Fiji so have fun!! :)

Jama

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#43476 8-Aug-2006 07:54
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And it is because Simon only spends $70 p/month that he can afford to go to Fiji

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