When I was growing up, it always seemed inevitable that we would one day have “videophones”. It’s one of those things you saw in just about every single futuristic movie—but unlike flying cars it seemed quite possible and quite likely. 20 years ago, I would have predicted every phone in the UK would have video capabilities by now.

But that never seemed to happen. Presumably due to a lack of interest or demand? There may be companies offering videophone, but I’m not aware of them. Virgin and BT don’t do it, and I guess they’re the two big ones.

And what about high quality audio? I mean, you pick up the phone and it sounds as crappy as it always did back in the 1980s. This is despite having broadband cable capable of delivering full quality stereo audio in real time.

So my question is: what went wrong? Why have phones not evolved? Or do people not like the idea of videophones?

Will we ever have videophones, or high quality audio phones? Or is demand for such services now in decline due to computer-based capabilities for such things?

Skype.

? I seem to have one I just don't use it . Don't you have that on your mobile?

Mobiles have done video calls for years and years. I think the internet renders at-home stuff like that pointless when we can do it all by computer.

Higher quality audio calls would be nice, though I have no idea about any possible technological limitations.

The technology is herre but people don' want to use videophones, simple as. Had the option to make video calls on my mobile for years. Never used it once.

Not owning a mobile, I was not aware of that.

Presumably then the mobile is a significant factor in holding back the evolution of the phone?


Maybe a lot of people make personal calls via computers. But surely the vast majority of people do not switch the computer on when they want to, say, make a business call, or call a plumber, or order a pizza, or whatever?

Let's face it, as soon as they invent a video-phone with a "video: off" option, everybody's going to use it anyway so it's kind of a waste of effort inventing it.

[double post]

Oh. Right.

People really prefer talking without face-to-face communication!? That genuinely surprises me.

Give the choice, I would always make video calls. I hate not being able to see whom I’m talking to. I would love a videophone!

So all those futuristic movies (and Star Trek) was a lie!l If people today don’t want the default means of communication to be visual then people never will.

Given how long the telephone has been around for, even ignoring the mobile, I guess people have kind of simply gotten used to talking without face-to-face.

For a short conversation of only a few minutes having the video doesn't really add all that much, to be honest. Maybe for much longer "oh I haven't talked to yoy for ages dearest Aunty who moved to Australia" then video is a bit more important.

People use Skype all the time, but for general phone calls I ( and most of the population I would have thought) prefer people not to be able to see me.

Imagine though if video calling was the only way, no more sickie pulling, ' I'm stuck in traffic' or ' working late at the office darling'

It says a lot about the OP that they hadnt even seen these glaring disadvantages!!

If I was talking to a close friend or relative then it might be good to use a videophone. But I wouldn't want to use it to order a pizza or talk to some stranger.

I don't use use mine because I don't want to make the effort of trying to look presentable every time I talk on the phone at home.

Off topic...but on the subject of audio quality....what never ceases to amaze me is the poor audio quality of the PA systems on aircraft.....they always sound crap and quite often the Captains pep talk is tinny and barely audible.....Especially when you consider an airliner costs anything from £50 million to £300 million....and yet the PA system sounds like they`v bought it from Argos for a few quid.

The telephone is pretty intrusive as it is, especially a mobile.

I've had a chat with a solicitor today, if I were to be 'seen' by him I wouldn't want to be in my sloppy gear with no makeup and untidy hair. If my mum called, I'd hate her to see the state of the living room at the moment.

The option for videocalls has been around a long time, that people don't use it tells us that we don't want that technology.

Think of all the faces you pull and eye rolling that happens when you're on the phone or you might look a state, why would you want the other person to see that? Most people probably think the same else videophones would of taken off.

Phones will continue with 300-3400 Hz, since it allows the same simple device, you don't necessarily want a computer just to talk to people!

Even v poor video needs much higher bandwidth.

The response to this has been really enlightening. Thanks for the replies!


I don’t generally ever feel the need to “make myself look presentable”. I just get out of bed and feel ready, but maybe I’m in the minority here?

As for being untidy, well personally my house is always immaculate. (I’d rather have no phone than live in a mess!) But I really don’t think untidiness would be a problem with a videophone. First of all, the camera would presumably give you the opinion to have the background out of focus, which would be the default as it looks more attractive. And secondly, anyone with a videophone would have the camera in a fixed position facing a certain wall, so they would only need to make sure that one wall looked presentable. (A bit like making sure your hallway is tidy in case anyone comes to the door.)

And as for lying about your whereabouts—really: how often does the average person lie about their whereabouts on the phone?


As for Skype, this was actually the inspiration for me to start this thread. Someone told me about Skype the other day and I just found out it allows online video calls. Certain people seem to be under the impression that Skype is really well-known, but I’d never heard of it before. Surely it can’t be that well-known?

The PA systems now used in rail and air travel are usually utter crap. Seems there's nobody left who knows how to design a PA system that works, not a problem until recently!

Funny though that there are all these people out there who regularly “upgrade” their mobile phones every few years because they want new features and capabilities, yet no one is offering (or wanting) better audio for actual phone conversations.

That strikes me as downright bizarre. Who wouldn’t want a better, clearer phone call?

May I ask: does anyone know why this has been moved into the “Mobile Phones” section?

What does this issue have to do with mobile phones?

This is a general discussion specifically about landline technology, not mobile phones.

I would presume that because video-call technology has been in mobile phones for ten years now but not in landlines, they naturally thought that's what you are talking about.

Re: better call quality. Three things and one pre-requisite are needed: Pre-req: a common standard to adopt or be imposed, 1) a device to support better call quality, 2) the second device needs to support it too, 3) the network connecting them needs to support it too.

It's a bit chicken and egg but Orange has kicked the ball off by being in the process of upgrading its network to "HD Voice". Apparently the call quality is as good as talking to people in person. Only one or two handsets support it right now but it is expected that this will increase in the future.

I can understand you've lived in relative isolation e.g. not owning a mobile phone etc but surely you would have heard/seen about these things through the news or colleagues?

I "facetime" with a couple of people. Which means video phone on my iphone through a wifi connection. Quite handy sometimes, since we have wifi access at work.

I'm not sure what you mean, by this, modern DECT 'phones offer very good audio during calls - what technology are you proposing to improve it?

A big reason is that video phoning is impractical. How are you supposed to video yourself on your mobile whilst you are holding it up to your ears. Even if you have a bluetooth device you'd still have to hold or position the mobile in front of you - and get the position, height etc right. Too much messing around just to make a phone call.