Thanks to 8x8 Networks, the video phone is no longer just a fantasy. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company is offering a broadband-based VOIP video phone service. 8x8 is a provider of VOIP solutions for the consumer and small-business markets and has made great strides in replacing landline phone connections with its offerings. For 8x8 corp, it was just a matter of combining video with its existing voice over internet protocol service.

 The integration was accomplished by combining a proprietary speaker phone that sports an integrated camera and LCD screen with 8x8's broadband-based service. The final product was an all-in-one, easy-to-use video phone.

 The only real downside to the company's solution is that callers on both ends of the connection need to have a video phone installed. The hope is that in the future, 8x8 will extend its VOIP and video service to PC-based soft phones, which will allow users to leverage a Web camera to access low-cost video phone capabilities. This functionality would be especially helpful to traveling knowledge workers.

 A solution with these capabilities could cause the video phone market to explode, with 8x8 readily taking the lead. With that in mind, it won't be long before other vendors such as Vonage and AT&T roll out their own video services. With work, these technologies can be used to replace the clunky, expensive videoconferencing systems found in so many company boardrooms today.

 One thing is certain, however: Residential and SMB VoIP is here to stay (barring government intervention) and offers the next big opportunity for solution providers. The inclusion of video is just one more reason providers are leaving traditional telcos behind. Even with with video, VoIP is still a lower cost cheap home phone service than tradition landlines because of the free in U.S. long distance phone.

( source Tech Trek CNR.com)