Video phones first appeared during the 1960s, but the cost of the phone made it difficult for the average person to add one to his home. There were also problems with the size; it was too big and too heavy for regular use. During the 1980s and 1990s, advances in technology made it smaller, less expensive and more popular. There are still some disadvantages to using a video phone in your regular life.
Privacy
Privacy is possibly the biggest disadvantage to using a video phone in your home because you literally have no privacy. When you answer the phone, the person on the other end can see you and everything around you, including your clothing and appearance and any messy places in your home. Some users don't appreciate having no option other than to answer the phone and let others see them.
Future Technology
The future of video phones is unclear, but you should know that the quality will change and improve. In addition, the price of the phones will change as new technology is introduced and more people begin using these telephones. So if you buy one of the telephones now, it might be obsolete in the future, especially as companies begin incorporating video phones with cell phones.
Quality
Video phones have come a long way in terms of technology, but the quality is still not as good as some would like. When you use these phones, you'll notice that it has a choppy feeling, similar to using a webcam on your computer. You can see the person you're talking to, but you might notice some blurriness on the face or other problems with the quality.
Connections
Another disadvantage to using video phones is finding someone who has one of the phones. These phones often don't work as regular telephones, but rather only work when another video phone calls yours. If you don't know anyone else with a video phone, buying and using one is a waste of your time and money.
Cost
Cost is a major disadvantage to using a video phone. The few manufacturers making these telephones sell them for a high price. As of 2009, you'll find video phones priced at $400 and up from companies such as Motorola. In addition to the cost of your phone, you'll also need to pay a monthly fee to cover the cost of using the service, and you may need to pay a hefty fee to set up your home for video phones.
Tags: video phones, using video, disadvantage using, disadvantage using video, using video phone, video phone, your home