ASUS has released a touch panel videophone for using the Internet phone service Skype. The phone call is free, and all that is required is an Internet connection and Skype registration. The product will be sold through Skype’s online shops.
The ASUS Videophone Touch features a 7-inch LCD touch panel with a built-in 300,000-pixel CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) camera, and phone calls can be made using icons from the Skype contact list.
Suggested retail price: 38,000 yen.
© Japan Today
18 Comments
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gogogo
huh it's a free download on an iphone or ipod touch.
Livvie
My mom has no interest in computers whatsoever, so I got her a Skype phone. She still prefers the good old landline though. Maybe if I lured her with the promise of seeing my face every time I called she would be tempted to try this out!
goddog
It only does SKYPE for that cost? No sell.
lovejapan21
yes gogogo, but you dont get the video part on an iphone..
bisoy
Can you talk on skype with iPhone if there's wifi? I didn't know that.
SebastianFlyte
Simply too expensive for one function.
bokudayo
Wait a sec.. I hear it has a calculator function, too!
Badsey
For the iPhone (non-hacked) you must disable the cell (pop the sim) and have wifi to use skype. For the iPod touch you must have wifi.
Sony made a Wifi Phone that you can probably get really cheap now. -Sony Mylo ($~150), but many cell phones will probably use wifi in the future and offer voip/wifi for free.
888naff
"For the iPhone (non-hacked) you must disable the cell (pop the sim) and have wifi to use skype. For the iPod touch you must have wifi..... blah blah blah blaahhhhhzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz"
yeah really useful for the average user, let alone gran to master.
Nice simple device ( thats not a downloadable function that requires setting up on a pc or smartphone) would be useful and have more take up for the mass market...but at a better price than this offering.
Does it have an option to connect to a TV. Is it portable too ( ie can you carry the camera round the house/garden to show the other caller - you can do that with a laptop).
pawatan
My netbook has a video camera + mic. Skype is a free download. The entire netbook costs less than this product, and it can do much much more.
I don't get this product.
DeepAir65
is it wifi compatible? Most skype phones here require a USB connection which would defeat the object as most PC's have built in cameras these days or much cheaper cameras you can attach through USB.
Yes you can call on Skype on your iPhone using wifi - voice only though.
DeepAir65
Amazon US sells it for $239 and it does use wifi
Key Features
* Computer-free video phone calling anywhere there is a broadband Internet connection * Wireless calling anywhere there is a WiFi connection * Easy to use touch-screen interface * Crystal clear voice and full-screen video communication * Virus-proof and no software installations needed * Easy to make Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls, including voice conference calls * Receive voicemail and see your missed calls * Make cheap calls to landlines and mobile phones around the world with Skype credit and/or subscriptions * See who’s online, so you know who’s available to call * Roam with your online number –anyone can reach you wherever you are in the world * Built in language interface for 11 international languagesDeepAir65
Another thought - you can probably get a netbook for cheaper....
Badsey
You pop the sim card at the top with a small paperclip -takes about 2 seconds. -Disables the cell to use skype wifi.
goddog
did not do anything except register for iTunes and skype downloaded and worked great. never bothered with the sim card thing.
gogogo
If you are reading this you already have a computer so download skype for free and use it. It is NOT portable it uses wifi so if you already have a PC there is no use for this. Buy an iphone and you also get it for free and can use it on a non wifi connection (3g connection), you don't have to hack the iphone either, works out of the box officially it is a free download from skype in the app store.
qazwsx
don't know what you're talking about here, just download the skype app and find wifi and call. no need for any sim card popping
XXXXX
iThis, iThat, card here card there, Wifi, Gsus. I miss simplicity somehow. Some day all this hassle will be gone.