Such was the grand vision of AT&T not so long ago.In 1964, consumers made their first video phone calls between the New York World's Fair and Disneyland. They didn't like it.That didn't stop AT&T.In 1970, consumers got their hands on a revamped Picturephone. Again, they didn't like it.But that didn't stop other companies from seeing AT&T's vision.So, behold!In 2006, we have the Ojo-900 video VoIP phone from Pennsylvania-based WorldGate Communications.This tabletop phone, which to me, looks like one of the droids from "Star Wars," offers real-time, two-way video and audio communication.It runs on a broadband Internet connection. That's cable or DSL, although Ojo's pricier model, the 1000, also supports landline phone service.You don't need a computer with either Ojo model. But you do need a router to link the Ojo phone to your cable or DSL modem. Even then, though, set-up is far from a breeze.What's cool about the Ojo phone?It's got a privacy filter. So you don't have to worry about answering the phone naked. Unless, of course, you want to answer the phone naked. Probably a good thing the Ojo phone has caller ID.It's also got video messaging. That means you can put a face with your voice, telling callers to leave a message because you're away from the phone.What's not cool about the Ojo phone?The catch. You can only call Ojo phone to Ojo phone. It doesn't work with Vonage or any other VoIP provider in the United States.You literally cannot place a call to a cell phone or a landline phone on the Ojo-900. On the Ojo-1000, you can call and talk, but the video won't work.So what's the point, you ask?I've been asking myself the same thing. Especially since I found out how much these picky Picturephones of the future cost.The Ojo-900 is $299.99 and the Ojo-1000 is $399.99.And that doesn't even include the $14.95 a month you'll pay for unlimited Ojo-to-Ojo calls worldwide.So the fact is, even if I wanted one of these phones, I'd have to rope my friends and relatives into buying one, too, to make it worth my while.I don't think that's going to happen.A WorldGate spokesman declined to say how many Ojo phones the company has sold since the debut last year.Whatever the number, I bet it's a heck of a lot smaller than the number of Webcams in American homes.With a Webcam, microphone, speakers and an account on Yahoo!, Skype or other instant messaging services, you can do the same thing you can on an Ojo phone. And you can do it for a lot less money.The advantage of using an Ojo phone is the picture is much better than it is on a Webcam.But that's still not enough to put an Ojo picturephone in my home.
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