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Almost immediately, it is apparent that the CuPhone USB VideoPhone is
designed for the home user. After you click "Product" on CuPhone's
Web site, it displays two screenshots of kids talking on the phone. And the
Web site does not highlight the fact that the videophone works on a LAN,
although a firewall could be a factor in using it in this way. CuBuddy,
which has a very similar look to AOL's Instant Messenger, also shows this
dedication to end users at home. Of course, this is where CuPhone's focus
should be. There are many more expensive and enhanced video systems
available for businesses.
CuPhone supports both analog (POTS) and VoIP calls using the H.323
protocol. In either case, the user can place a call using a regular handset,
which feels more comfortable at home than using a headset, and it will work
over any Internet connection. CuPhone also supports Microsoft NetMeeting. As
a matter of fact, CuPhone's software actually uses some of the components of
NetMeeting, and Microsoft's AMCAP and VidCAP capturing tools are also
bundled with CuPhone's software. CuPhone lite is included as well for remote
users who do not have CuPhone's hardware available, but it can be used for
video only and works only with a modem.
INSTALLATION
The look and feel of setting up our CuPhone was conceptually strange when we
began the procedure. End users are not accustomed to disconnecting a handset
from their phone and reconnecting it to their camera. Likewise, needing to
connect an analog cable (which is actually a handset "jump" cable)
from the camera to the phone may disorient users. Making connections like
this is certainly not standard procedure, but once you understand why this
is done, you may find that using a handset instead of speakers and a
microphone or a headset will be more comfortable and may allow for better
sound when making a VoIP call.
The remaining parts of the setup were more standard. A regular analog
cable or the preferable "noise eliminator" cable that comes with
CuPhone can plug into either a wall jack or the phone jack of a modem with
another analog cable going to the wall from the modem's line jack. To
complete the setup, we had to plug the USB cable from the camera into our PC
(for best results) before installing the CuPhone software.
The software installation only takes a few moments. After several rounds
of clicking "Next," the drivers should be installed from the
CuPhone CD-ROM, as should the application itself. However, end users must
download the latest version of NetMeeting in order for the CuPhone software
to work properly. If users do not have this version, they are prompted to
download it, which can be done through the CuPhone CD-ROM. Furthermore, if
prompted about having a newer file already on your system, users should
always keep that new file by clicking "Yes."
DOCUMENTATION
Simply put, the user manual and help files are quite good. While the GUI
is intuitive by itself, the documentation helps users troubleshoot any
problems they may be having. The user manual explains the installation and
functionality of the CuPhone admirably. The help files also offer detailed
information in a format where any information can be found, either through
the contents, index, or find buttons. The help files even provide navigation
buttons (back and forward) as well as the ability to bookmark information.
FEATURES
The following is a list of the major features of the CuPhone USB
VideoPhone:
- Can make a regular (POTS) video call or an Internet (H.323) video call
over a 56 Kbps modem, ISDN, DSL, cable modem, or a LAN;
- Uses a handset for the audio instead of a microphone and speakers or a
headset;
- Can place a regular phone call and then add audio during the same
call;
- Allows you to set up a list of contacts through CuBuddy and
click on a name to call that person;
- Supports Microsoft NetMeeting and other audio/video applications and
allows you to make VoIP calls with your handset via Dialpad.com or
Net2Phone; and
- Can auto answer your call, and can use a call screening option, which
allows remote users to securely check on their homes or offices.
OPERATIONAL TESTING
Almost immediately after we first ran the CuPhone software, we were
already testing the video quality. Before making a call, we saw that our
movements on video were only slightly slower than in reality, and we could
see ourselves clearly with only the lights in our labs distorting the
picture a little. After setting the options we wanted, we then placed a VoIP
call over our LAN to a parallel port camera. For the first few seconds, the
video for the CuPhone was fast, but then, it suddenly slowed down as if a
snail had decided to walk in the camera's view. We had expected the CuPhone
USB VideoPhone to be slightly faster than the other camera and were
surprised by these results. However, the sound quality was decent, and there
was only a little latency.
We thought that the video problem might have been an interoperability
issue, so we decided to call another CuPhone over a 56 Kbps modem
connection. Even though this connection was much slower than our LAN
connection, the video speed was better, so we thought that we were correct
in our interoperability assumption. As expected, the sound quality of the
modem call was not as good as when on the LAN, and the video did break up
every once in a while.
We also checked the functionality of CuBuddy while on this modem VoIP
call. Because of our firewall, CuBuddy would not work over a LAN connection.
To initially make the modem call, we clicked "Online" to view
CuBuddy. We entered the e-mail of the person we wanted to call in the
"Find Buddy" dialog box and were able to locate and call him. We
could also add someone to our CuBuddy list and see that that person was
online because of the lighted bulb on the left side of the name. Of course,
we could only see a lighted bulb when on a modem call.
The next day, we tried a regular PSTN video call, and it worked with good
video quality. Then, we tried another LAN VoIP call, but this time, only had
the CuPhone active. The video was clear and the video movement was
excellent. Then, we turned on the video for the parallel port camera. The
video movement for the CuPhone was still excellent and remained that way, as
we had originally expected. The CuPhone was faster than the parallel port
camera. Just in case this was a fluke or had happened because we added the
video of the other camera later, we tried our original test again. The
results were good sound quality, low latency, and fast movement. Whether the
first problem was solved because of a special reboot, a change of cables, or
something else, we cannot be sure. Go figure!
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
There are a few suggestions that may improve the CuPhone USB VideoPhone.
We think that the camera itself would profit from being a bit smaller so
that a user can place the camera in virtually any location, including the
top of a monitor. It also could benefit from more flexibility, especially in
its upward movement. Occasionally, we found ourselves moving the camera to
accommodate the height of a person instead of just maneuvering the camera
upward. However, we did like the nifty method of opening and closing the
camera's shutter.
A handset has its value in conjunction with a camera because it is more
comfortable and may provide better sound quality. However, unlike a headset
or microphone and speakers, using a handset does lead to one complication --
you must keep the handset on hook when not in a call, and therefore the rest
of the phone must be close to the camera or you must have a long handset
cord. This is another issue of flexibility and might be remedied by using a
special cordless phone that interacts with the camera. This leads us to
consider such ideas as using a remote control and adding zoom functionality,
but the price of the CuPhone would increase too much.
We noticed that CuPhone's graphical interface could not be resized, so
the video could only be one size and could not be in full-screen mode. In
addition, while you can capture the video and save it as an .AVI file and
then send it through e-mail, we would like this process to be a little less
cumbersome. Maybe an application could be bundled so that captured files
could run as .EXE files, thereby eliminating the need for an intermediary
application. Furthermore, it might be nice to be able to conference more
than one person into a call.
Finally, it would be nice for users to be able to get through a firewall
for LAN VoIP calls. It should be noted that when questioning a CuPhone
representative about this, we were told that they are currently working on a
solution for this problem. We look forward to seeing it.
CONCLUSION
For its very affordable price, the CuPhone USB VideoPhone delivers a
decent camera that usually provides good video quality. The VoIP aspects of
the CuPhone make it even more appealing. However, what makes this video
solution unique is the use of a handset. Any home user who despises headsets
or does not want to use a sound card would appreciate CuPhone's
inventiveness. Also as a result, you are more likely to have less echo and
better sound quality by using a handset for a VoIP call.
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