Infoview frequent asked questions           

Frequently Asked Questions about InfoView®

What is InfoView?
InfoView is an extremely affordable set-top videoconferencing system that combines with a standard television and a regular analog phone line (POTS) to create a videophone solution. InfoView has a built-in high-quality digital camera and simultaneously transmits audio and video for the cost of a regular phone call. Smaller than a VCR and designed as an easy-to-use PVP (personal videophone), InfoView is a snap to set up and does not requires a computer, special phone lines, special arrangements or extra fees.

How easy is it to install InfoView?
InfoView is very easy to set-up:
• Take InfoView out of its box and place it on top of your TV.
• Connect audio/video cables from the AUDIO/VIDEO-OUT connectors of InfoView to your TV's AUDIO/VIDEO-IN jacks.
• Connect the phone cables to InfoView just as you would for a telephone answering machine: from the wall jack to the LINE connector at the back of InfoView, and from your telephone to the PHONE connector.
• Connect and plug in InfoView's power adapter.

Now you're ready to make a video call with InfoView
How do I use InfoView?
It's simple:
• Once you've set up InfoView, turn it on.
• Turn on your TV and set it to its video mode.
• Pick up your telephone and call another InfoView or H.324-compliant videophone user just as you normally would.
• Press # on your telephone keypad to see InfoView's on-screen menu. Press 1 on your telephone keypad to initiate visual communications with the other party. Within about 30 seconds, the modems inside the InfoView units will "sync up" and both parties will see each other on their respective televisions and hear each other both through their phones and TV speakers.
Other features are accessible through the on-screen menu as described in the InfoView Operating Manual.

That's it -- now you're video visiting!

What TV formats does InfoView support? NTSC or PAL?
InfoView supports both the NTSC and PAL formats. NTSC is used in the U.S. and by many countries on the American continents as well as many Asian countries, including Japan. PAL is used in most Western European countries, except for France. SECAM is used in France and many Eastern European countries but is not currently supported by InfoView.

What kind of video quality can I expect to receive using an InfoView?
Using state-of-the-art technology, InfoView provides a maximum of 10 fps (frames per second) video quality. This is about a third of the quality of broadcast TV-quality video, which is transmits at 30 fps. However, a higher frame rate on a videophone does not mean good quality video, so frame rate is not an absolute measure of video quality. You can have very high frame rate but very bad quality. The basic idea is, the bandwidth is limited, you can only send so much of information. You can choose to have high frame rate but not so good quality or low frame rate with good quality. InfoView has optimized the bandwidth to give the best video quality possible. Using the on-screen feature menu, InfoViewers can adjust the quality of the video images being received and sent to suit their needs and/or preferences. Some prefer a slide show-type experience, with slower motion and very clear pictures, while others prefer full-motion images with less clarity. Most InfoViewers prefer a setting somewhere in between these extremes and appreciate InfoView's flexibility.

Why can't InfoView transmit TV-quality video?
InfoView cannot offer TV-quality video due to bandwidth limitations of the analog phone line. The image has to be compressed, transmitted, and decompressed through a line designed for voice signals. More expensive equipment can improve the quality, but InfoView is a low-cost consumer product with excellent video quality for its price. There's no question that InfoView greatly enhances the experience of long-distance communications with loved-ones, friends, and associates.

How can I get the most out of an InfoView video call?
You can get the most out of InfoView by making a small effort to "stage" your video calls. The most important thing you can do is set up InfoView in a well-lighted room. People often are unaware or forget how important lighting is in TV and movie studios. The same requirements apply for video-calling.

Here are a few tips:
• Lighting should come from behind the camera and shine on the user's face.
• Avoid backlighting by closing blinds and drapes on bright windows behind the user.
• Try to limit movement in the background and foreground.
• InfoView users should sit closer to the TV and camera than they normally would, perhaps only several feet away, so that just their head and shoulders can be seen.

Will InfoView work with other videophones and videoconferencing products out on the market today?
Yes. InfoView meets the ITU-T H.324 standard for videoconferencing over regular phone lines. InfoView will work with other videoconferencing systems that are also compliant with this standard.

How do I choose functions and control my InfoView?
InfoView can be controlled by simply using the keypad on the telephone you've connected to InfoView. Any phone, including cordless models, can be used for video calling as long as it is an analog phone with touch-tone capability and is properly connected to InfoView.

What other features does InfoView have? InfoView has the following powerful features:
• privacy mode -- you can see without being seen
• high-quality snapshots - - you can freeze frames to get clear still images
• auto-answer capability -- you can connect and see even when no one's there to pick up the phone
• adjustable quality settings -- make the images clearer or more fluid
• remotely controlled digital pan, tilt, and zoom
• software upgrade capability -- you can download the latest software through your phone line 

Does InfoView go through the Internet for video communication?
InfoView uses a normal phone line for video communication -- it does NOT use the Internet. You do not need a PC or an Internet account to use InfoView -- just a normal telephone and television. 

Will InfoView work with any TV? 
Yes. Today, most TVs have audio/video input jacks (yellow and white plugs that connects with the yellow and white ends on A/V cables) and the InfoView connects to them. If you have an older TV that does not have A/V input jacks, then you may have to buy an adapter called an RF modulator which converts the audio/video inputs to the coaxial format (a standard connector for antennas or cable-TV). These adapters are available from our on-line store and sell for $30. 

Read what people are saying about InfoView®...

May 14, 2000 
Videophone makes talking to family a little easier  by Katrina Martin, The Fremont Argus 
"The age of The Jetsons is here....Two residents used the InfoView for Valentine's Day and one, Lee LaManna, said she loved it. LaManna, 87, has children and grandchildren on the East Coast. She saw grandchildren she had never seen before on the videophone. But she didn't find the technology frightening or strange. 'It was beautiful, and I enjoyed every minute of it.'"

April 2000
Now On Video...your business meeting, starring you. Affordable video telephony is here
J.W. Dysart, Entrepeneur Magazine, page 40 "To bypass the vagaries of a Net connection, check out InfoView. A videophone system that works with your TV over standard phone lines, InfoView isn't subject to Internet congestion and can connect with other InfoViews or PC-based videophones. InfoView features spiffy extras like zoom, pan and tilt, and a privacy mode that lets you see without being seen-perfect for when you're chatting up a client in your robe and bunny slippers. When traveling, connect to see what's going on at home-even when no one's there to pick up the phone."

January 7-13, 2000 
Firm viewing videophone as picturesque opportunity Pam Derringer, Boston Business Journal, pages 32 & 39  "InfoView video calls are faster and higher quality than Internet video calls because the Internet is plagued with bandwidth congestion and also has dissimilar uploading and downloading speed"

January 2000 
Portable Computing Magazine 
"...For more business-oriented applications, where one is viewing stationary objects such as a product or flow chart, InfoView works quite well. And if Grandma or Grandpa are computerless but would like to be able to watch the little ones toddle about the living room from 2500 miles a way---it would be a great gift item...." 
Rating: 4 out of 5

October 1999 
Cliff Gromer, Popular Mechanics, page 61 
"If you're in a long distance relationship or simply missing your kids - or grandkids for that matter - a video phone is the wave of your future. InfoView system works with your standard telephone and TV, allowing you to enjoy visual and verbal communications for a more personal connection."

August 1999
MicroTimes, Issue 190
" The InfoView Video Conferencing System turns televisions into high-quality video telephones that work with regular phone lines, allowing users to see both the face and the body language of the person on the other end of the call." 

April 1999
Donald Corbet, Midwest PC Review, page 38
"...very well suited for a low-end, small office/home office situation. For all
you high-end, technologically oriented families who truly wish to see as well
as speak to your distant loved ones, this may very well be the answer you
seek." 

 

Visit our long distance telephone bill saving and new telecom online Store today!  You'll find great deals on Featured Products! These products are guaranteed to reduce your expenditure and save you money.

We sell all New! Brand Name Cordless Phone and Headsets  AT & T Cordless Phone | Plantronics Computer Headset     |Plantronics Wireless headset|| Telephone headset |  Uniden Cordless Phone || Engenius Phone | Panasonic Cordless Phone |VTech Cordless Phone |Ameriphone Phone Products| Aastra Telephone Series |Internet Phone |  Panasonic Fax |.Audio Headset

Copyright © 2000 Mbrasilla Telecom  Inc. All Rights Reserved