According to a recent survey conducted by Strategy One for Vialta, a leading developer of innovative home entertainment and communication products, 68% of Americans live two or more hours away from family, with almost three-fourths indicating that they would like to see their out of town family members and close friends more.

Of the respondents, 83% stated that they call out-of-town friends and family at least once a month, so it's obvious that calling is the most natural way for people to stay in touch. Vialta's Beamer videophones are making it easy for people to change the way they communicate - letting them see the people they care about the most, simply by adding video to phone calls.

"Humans pay special attention to faces, to follow interest, concern, understanding, desire for more information, and most of all emotional reaction. Some but not all of this is available from the voice as well, but the fine changes in expression provide a continuous source of valuable feedback," says Dr.Paul Ekman, Psychology Professor at the University of California Medical School in San Francisco and author of "Emotions Revealed: Recognizing Faces and Feelings to Improve Communication and Emotional Life"

Vialta's Beamer videophones, winner of a 2003 "Good Buy Award" from Good Housekeeping and a two-time winner of the "Best of Innovations Award" from the Consumer Electronics Association (2003 & 2004), work with any phone (corded or cordless) over any standard (analog) phone line to add video to your phone call. Beamer displays the video on a 3.5" LCD screen and Beamer TV connects to your television to display video of the person you are calling directly on your television (NTSC format). There is no special wiring or equipment required; no contracts, service fees or subscriptions; and no additional cost to the phone call. Beamer and Beamer TV are compatible, and both videophones are offered at price points that make them affordable for the general consumer.

"We took a look at our own lives and realized that family and friends are more spread out than ever, and the telephone still remains the most popular way to stay in touch," said Didier Pietri, Vialta president and CEO. "We wanted to find a way to bring phone calls to life - so that you are not just hearing a voice on the other end of the line, but actually seeing a loved one - while still keeping it as easy as making a phone call. Beamer is a simple, yet significant improvement to the traditional telephone call. By adding live, color motion video to phone calls, Beamer is changing the way we communicate and making it easier than ever to see our friends and family."

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