Samsung SGH-ZX10
No Video Calling = bad 3g
I dont get why Cingular has decieded not to implement the video calling feature at initial launch. Its a 3g feature that should not be left out. specially since verizon is already pushing their V-Cast(video-on-demand) service so much. it would be nice to see cingular push something that nobody else is(or can in the U.S at this time) offering.
Just my thoughts
Just my thoughts
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Cingular video conferencing would be advantageous over Verizon's 3G services, but it would be a hard sell. Video hasn't caught on in Europe and Asia, so it would be a huge gamble to invest that much more money in an already expensive upgrade. Besides, handsets would be outrageously expensive. If Cingular is to ever add video conferencing, it would have to be after their HSPDA network has been firmly established.
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Handsets shouldnt be that much more expensive, cingular wants to get people using their 3G network. It allows for reduced costs(for cingular) for voice and data. In europe the 3g handsets are free or very cheap. Cingular has spent a lot of money upgrading the network, the last thing they want is for no one to use it. So IMO they will offer the 3G handsets at reasonable prices.
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Maybe, but we're talking about the United States, not Europe. Cingular has to establish a network to call on first. Video calling isn't going to be useful without a large, functional network. In a perfect world, US carriers would offer advanced phones for reasonable prices. The reality is that they don't. The majority of cell phone users are content with phones that simply makes calls. They can't push advanced phone services if no one wants them. A know a number of people who have Verizon Vcast phones. Not one of them has signed up for Vcast because they aren't willing to spend money on video displayed on a sub 2 inch screen. If consumers hesitate to purchase current 3G services, it would be suicide to introduce more services that are even m...
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Video calling is something Cingular is working on, however, don't expect to see it available until the end of 2006/early 2007. We're looking at having a full 3G network by the end of 2006. By then, hopefully, we'll have Video Calling ready to launch at a reasonable and competitive pricing. As far as handsets available for the initial launch, we've been told that phones will be around 200.00 or so or possibly cheaper after MIR or Contract Discounts. The two initial phones to launch are the Samsung and LG with Motorola and Nokia to launch in early 2nd Quarter.
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How do you know Cingular is working on Video Calling? Do you work for the company in product and development?
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I know I am late to this forum but... Cingular's 3G network is only in use on the west coast, usually in the larger metropolitan areas. They have spent a ton of money, in excess of $5B to get it up and running. It makes no sense to invest in a huge inventory of phones with numerous bells and whistles until the reception of the 3G product is analyzed and the company can legitimately project sales and demand.Besides the expense of the phone itself the Media Plus is $19.99/mo. Not small change to many users.
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The question is: would you use it? For most people, the answer is no. It's a feature that sounds "neat", but it's actually not very practical. Most people would rather just make a regular voice call.
Who wants to worry about what you look like when you're on the phone? Who wants to hold the phone out in front of them and have to aim it at themselves while talking? It's a pain... why not just make a regular phone call?
That's why video calling has mostly been a flop in Europe and Asia. Cingular has taken note of that fact, and that's why they haven't launched it here.
There is one small segment of the market that uses video calling (where it's available): grandmothers who want to see their distant grandkids. Unfortunately, that's jus...
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Who wants to worry about what you look like when you're on the phone? Who wants to hold the phone out in front of them and have to aim it at themselves while talking? It's a pain... why not just make a regular phone call?
That's why video calling has mostly been a flop in Europe and Asia. Cingular has taken note of that fact, and that's why they haven't launched it here.
There is one small segment of the market that uses video calling (where it's available): grandmothers who want to see their distant grandkids. Unfortunately, that's jus...
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i believe there is a bigger market than we might think, we are used to regular old voice calls, so of too us course it seems easier to do just that. but when you talk to younger people about it( ages 14 to 25) they're excited about it and say that they would use it. its the younger people that are going to adopt this type of thing. and IMO that is a pretty big market. just my .02
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i would like to note that video calling has been available for years on landline phones - how many of you pay for that?
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