Got $898.88 to spend on ultra high-quality video chats this year? If so, you’ll be interested in Cisco’s new Umi (you-me) service. Targeted directly at consumers, the service provides stellar video calling directly from your TV.
Umi is actually three things; a camera that is placed on top of your HDTV, a box that connects your TV and camera to the Internet and a $24.99 a monthly service (the camera and box are a $599 one-time purchase). To actually use the service, both parties on the call must have Umi.
Early reviews say the video call quality is excellent…far better than what you get from competing paid and free products like Skype. And Cisco acknowledges that Umi isn’t for everyone. Their market is people who demand the highest quality and are willing to pay for it, as opposed to people who just want cheap or free solutions.
Umi will be available in November directly from Cisco or Best Buy. Verizon Fios plans to offer it to their customers starting in 2001. A full rundown of the Umi features are available on Cisco’s web site here.
Wow… Thats steep! No wonder they say its not for everyone.
I will stick with my rebranded one, for under 9 dollars.