Kyocera VP-210

One of the favourite pieces of technology in science fiction films and TV shows is the video phone. It seems that no self-respecting sci-fi hero could do without one to keep in touch with their colleagues.

More often than not, the video phone was strapped to the wrist like a watch with a small screen displaying the image of the person at the other end of the call, and even though there was never an evident lens in the device, the other person was also treated to an image. What is always most amazing about video phones in the movies is that, no matter where the device is held, the correspondent is always treated to a perfectly framed image of the caller.

Although video phones have been available for a little while now, they've only been fixed base models. Of course, some people will want to have a video phone in their house so they can see the person they're talking to, but there are a couple of issues with such a setup. First and foremost, you'll only be able to see callers who also have video phones, of which there aren't likely to be many, and the other is that most people like to relax while they're at home, and the thought of having to look your best all the time in case the phone rings is not appealing.

That said, the idea of having a mobile video phone as seen in the movies has significant benefits. One of the best things about a mobile phone is that it's a lifeline. If you're meeting someone and you're lost, it's easy to give them a call and ask for directions. However, describing to someone where you are isn't always easy, but if you can show them where you are it's a different matter altogether. In fact, the ability to show things to the person at the other end of the phone would be very useful in many situations. But what's most amazing about the idea of mobile video phones is that they already exist.

Kyocera is a company best known for its high-quality laser printers, but these aren't the only thing that this Kyoto-based corporation produces.

A few months back we looked at a satellite phone produced by the company which incorporates a removable GSM phone. Unfortunately, the Iridium network has recently shut down, but the phone itself was a well-designed and useful unit. Now, Kyocera has expanded its development in the mobile communications arena and produced the VP-210 Visual Phone.

Working in this industry makes you very jaded and it takes a very special product to make the lab test staff stop in their tracks with awe, but the VP-210 is one of those products. Without a doubt, it's a landmark product and represents the future of mobile communications.

When Kyocera first told us about the Visual Phone we expected them to be bulky, unattractive and heavy - how wrong we were. The VP-210 is a beautifully styled unit, resplendent in silver and giving it the kind of futuristic look you'd expect from a product such as this. The dimensions are only 135mm x 50mm x 20mm and it weighs in at a svelte 160g.

A large area of the phone is taken up by the TFT screen that measures 40mm x 30mm. This is a truly excellent display, producing an impressive image in full colour. Mounted just above the screen is the lens that captures your image for transmission to the correspondent. Below the screen is the keypad, which is similar to a standard mobile phone.

Making a video call is simple; just press the VP button followed by the number of the phone you want to call then the call button. If you just dial the phone number without first pressing the VP button you'll make a voice-only call. The TFT screen will display the image transmitted from the other phone as well as a small picture in the corner of what your phone is seeing. This allows you to make sure that your face is framed properly for the other caller. The update appears to be around five frames per second, so it's far from real-time video, but it's impressive nonetheless.

The only real problem with the design is the fact that the lens can't be moved; it's always facing in the same direction as the screen, so it's difficult to frame something other than your face for the other caller to see. Ideally, the lens should be able to swivel from front to back and vice versa. That way you could point it at something and still make sure that the image is adequately framed for the correspondent. There's also a stand at the rear of the phone that clips out, allowing the unit to be placed on a desk for a more comfortable conversation.

Obviously, you can't hold the phone to your ear while you're making a call since all the person at the other end will see is a very close-up shot of the side of your head. Likewise, you won't be able to see them.

To overcome this problem, the phones ship with hands-free ear piece and microphone sets, much like those available for most GSM phones.

This allows you to talk and listen freely while still looking at the phone's screen. Using them in practice didn't even elicit a second glance from passers by, since so many people use their standard mobile phones in this manner, bizarre though it may seem.

Unfortunately, these Japanese units don't use the GSM standard, although Kyocera is planning to release GSM versions for use with standard mobile phone networks. The VP-210 uses a wireless protocol similar to digital walkie-talkies. It provides good reception but is limited by the range of the units since there are no cells to bounce the signal off as with GSM phones. We found that there was a usage range of about half a mile between the two units in a built-up city environment.

Of course, this limits the use of the phones, but in some cases the lack of GSM compatibility is a good thing. GSM phones can't be used in hospitals because the signal interferes with the equipment, but the VP-210 phone can be used without any such issues.

Unsurprisingly, this is one of the key areas of sale in Japan. Visual Phones have also become essential at dating agencies where clients can see and speak to each other without having to meet face to face.

Of course, it would be a waste to have a CCD and a TFT display in a unit without the ability to capture pictures, and Kyocera hasn't overlooked this feature. Under the menu you'll find a 'snap' mode that allows you to use the phone as a digital camera. Unfortunately, in their present state there's no way of downloading the images to a computer, but again this is a feature that the company plans to implement in future models. You can, however, scroll through the saved images using the volume up and down buttons at the side of the unit. You can also increase and decrease the contrast of the images and re-save them. Add to this the ability to send captured stills to another phone, and the Visual Phone starts to look like a formidable piece of mobile comms hardware.

It is far from being a mature product, but it's the basis for the next step in mobile technology. Even if Kyocera produced GSM models for Europe tomorrow, the chances are that the bandwidth would not be sufficient to transmit the video. That said, with GPRS not too far away now, the limited GSM bandwidth might not be an issue for long.

Kyocera has to be commended for producing such a pioneering product, and one that's been considered as the next step in communications for a very long time. Although the units are already available in Japan, there was no release date for the UK at the time of writing, but let's hope that it doesn't take too long for Kyocera to modify the Visual Phones for the UK market. Even though the VP-210 isn't perfect in its current form, it's still a superb product and one that deserves worldwide exposure.

Contact Kyocera www.kyocera.co.jp