TANDBERG E20 Videophone Overview

The TANDBERG E20 piece of iron fell into my paws. It is a SIP phone with video support. Zhelezyaka inspired me that, IMHO, is the first full-fledged videophone applicable for work, and not just an expensive toy.

The first thing that catches your eye is the not quite ordinary design of the device, which is easily explained - the screen and, accordingly, the camera are raised to eye level, and the remote interlocutor does not have the feeling that you are looking down at him.

The camera, despite its modest size, shoots with a resolution of w448p; equipped with a mechanical shutter to protect your privacy; and has for some reason (apparently so that users do not break off) electronic height adjustment.

The 10.6 '' LCD screen works in WXGA resolution and has very decent color rendering (in my opinion, color blind :)).

The back panel is equipped with: two network ports (a microswitch is integrated - a trifle, but convenient); the connector into which the tube is stuck; headset jack; And while useless yusb, for futures extensions.

After the first power-up, you need to answer a few common questions about the date, time zone, etc., and the device can make calls to IP addresses. It is somewhat difficult to call such masochism work, therefore it would be nice to register the device on a SIP server. Then you can use it as a regular phone, or make calls to video terminals.

The device interface is quite usable and understandable. All the necessary buttons are, which is important and necessary - highlighted. As a background, you can observe either a picture with clouds a la Windows 95, or yourself with a loved one through the camera.

The disadvantages of the device include only the lack of normal remote control. This question is solved by the skills of working in the console and writing scripts. Although, it seems to me, the humane web interface suggests itself and will be implemented in one of the next versions of the firmware. Oh yes! The second drawback is the lack of the Russian language (again in the current firmware version, for the next - support has already been announced), we don’t care, but it can be difficult for users.

The rest is one solid positive. Most of all I liked the handset: although it is plastic, it is heavy enough to hold in your hands. Well, the device fit into my workplace with a bang. I don’t want to give it to me :)



ps if you need something to add - to Wellcome in comments, I just don’t know what information about the field trials is interesting for the community