San Jose, Calif. — VoIP provider 8×8 announced that it has begun shipping its Tango Video Adapter in addition to rolling out new virtual numbers with area codes in nine European countries.
The Tango adapter was introduced at International CES. The device combines a traditional VoIP terminal adapter with a camera and LCD screen for placing video calls using a regular analog phone.
The video terminal adapter (VTA) offers a 5-inch color screen with icon-based navigation. It uses the H.264 compression standard and can place video calls to other 8×8 VTAs, existing Packet8 Videophones and to PCs running 8×8’s Softalk software.
8×8 will sell the device on its Web site and will run trials at New York’s J&R, where it previously sold its Packet8 videophone. The Tango will retail for a suggested $249 with a monthly charge of $24.99 for unlimited voice and video calls in the United States and Canada.
The firm also added virtual numbers with European area codes. With these numbers, U.S. subscribers can create a “virtual presence” in those countries without physically residing there. 8×8 will offer area codes for the United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Italy, Ireland and Denmark. Residents of these countries can dial the virtual number and reach the United States for the cost of a local call.
Subscribers will pay $9.99 per international virtual number with a one-time activation fee of $9.99.
