During video calls, ViaTV offers slick viewing options. The device uses your telephone's keypad as its interface to make calls, initiate video, and access onscreen menus. While this method is somewhat clumsy when you're working with menus, it's generally usable. In our testing we used the preview to help us adjust the lighting in the room. Once we increased the lighting we found the color saturation to be acceptable.
Installation is straightforward.
The brief documentation provides adequate instructions, and the device comes with all the cables you need. We found that the ViaTV installation didn't interfere with our existing cable and VCR connections. Once you purchase and set up a ViaTV, there are no expenses beyond telephone calls. At press time, 8x8 was developing a higher-end 115 model that lets users browse the Web as well as make video calls. Also, 8x8 offers lower-end devices for making video cabs, the 50 and the 55,which lack video cameras and make you connect your own camcorder.