Santa Clara, Calif. — VoIP service provider 8×8 announced new distribution partnerships with Micro Center and Nebraska Furniture Mart.
Hilliard, Ohio-based Micro Center will sell 8×8’s Packet8 DV326 broadband videophone and DTA broadband phone adapter and their accompanying service plans in all of its 20 stores.
Omaha, Neb.-based Nebraska Furniture Mart will also offer the videophone, phone adapter and service plans in its locations.
8×8 is currently selling through N.Y.-based J&R and through TigerDirect.com, among other dealers.
The Packet8 videophone works on any broadband connection and connects to a modem via an Ethernet cable. It features a corded phone and built-in video screen with a CCD camera for streaming 352 by 288 pixel video at speeds up to 256Kbps. It uses the H.263 video compression standard.
The unit is not compatible with existing videophones on the market, 8×8 said.
The DV326 features 5-inch TFT LCD screen with 23-degree to 90-degree tilt.
It can connect to a digital camera or camcorder, allowing users to feed still images or video through the videophone.
The Packet8 videophone will retail for a suggested $499 with a $200 rebate. A two-phone pack will come with a $500 rebate.
The video/voice calling plan, available on 8×8’s Web site, costs $29.95 per month with a one-year commitment and offers unlimited voice and video calls to anyone in the U.S. and Canada and unlimited voice/video calls internationally between Packet8 users.
8×8 has a voice-only plan that works with the telephone adapter, for $19.95.
