With the holidays coming around the corner, Dr. Z has been asked in his recent travels–“which videophone should I get?”

Dr. Z would not want to tell you which car to get for the same reason he would not tell you which videophone to get.

The Samsung Tab mobile videophone is covered here. Dr. Z will cover other mobile models in following blogs. The major difference between the Tab and the other phones is that the Tab is a tablet–it is 5 inches wide and 7 inches tall.

Here is a list of who you can call with the Samsung Tab:

• any videophone (Z150, Z340, ZOjo, VP200, P3) (using downloaded Z4 Mobile app)
• iPhone 4 (using downloaded Tango software)
• Apple Mac (using Z4 software downloaded to a Mac and downloaded Z4 Mobile to an Epic)
• any PC with a webcam (using Z4 software downloaded to a PC and downloaded Z4 Mobile to an Epic)
• ZVRS interpreter for relay calls (using downloaded Z4 Mobile app)

The Samsung Tab is sold by all the major carriers with different pricing and usage structures. You can get the unt from AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile.

To get started with a Samsung Tab:

• Buy one from any of the carriers specified above
• If you do not have a ZVRS account, set one up (link)
• Set up your profile on the ZVRS website (link)
• Download the Z4 Mobile Application from the Android Market icon on the unit.
• Click the Z4 Mobile icon–it will ask for your phone number and password. Use the phone number you have for the Z4 or the one that ZVRS assigned to you and use the same password that you used when you created your profile.
• You can add your contacts using the My Contacts link after you bring up your profile on the ZVRS website. You can also add your contact information using the Tab.
• Click the contact you want to call, or type the phone number to the left of the red/green phone icon on the top of the screen.
• If you are calling a hearing person, a ZVRS interpreter will come on the screen.
• If you are calling a deaf/hard of hearing person, the person you are calling will come up on the screen.

Happy calling!!

Feel free to contact Dr. Z with your thoughts using the contact form on the left side of the web page.

Happy shopping (and decisionmaking.)

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.

With the holidays coming around the corner, Dr. Z has been asked in his recent travels–“which videophone should I get?”

Dr. Z would not want to tell you which car to get for the same reason he would not tell you which videophone to get.

The Apple iPhone 4 mobile videophone is covered here. Dr. Z will cover other mobile models in following blogs.

Here is a list of who you can call with the Apple iPhone 4 only in a wifi environment:

• iPhone 4 (using FaceTime) (wifi only)
• iPod Touch (using FaceTime)(wifi only)
• Apple Mac (using FaceTime)(wifi only)
• Samsung Epic (using downloaded Tango software)(can do in a 3G environment or wifi)
• ZVRS interpreter for relay calls (using downloaded ZVRS app)(wifi only)

The Apple iPhone 4 is can be bought at an Apple or AT&T store. It currently sells for $199 with a $50 monthly charge.  Be sure its the iPhone 4 model and has a front-facing camera.  Older models such as a iPhone 3G or 3GS do not have a front-facing camera.

To get started with an Apple iPhone:

• Buy one from the retailer listed above
• If you do not have a ZVRS account, set one up (link)
• Set up your profile on the ZVRS website (link)
• Set up your Apple iTunes Account either on your PC or Mac.  If you have a PC, you need to download the iTunes software from the Apple website.
• Click the ZVRS icon–it will ask for your phone number and password. Use the phone number you have for the Z4 or the one that ZVRS assigned to you and use the same password that you used when you created your profile.
• You can add your contacts using the My Contacts link after you bring up your profile on the ZVRS website. You can also add your contact information using the Epic.
• Click the contact you want to call, or type the phone number to the left of the red/green phone icon on the top of the screen.
• If you are calling a hearing person, a ZVRS interpreter will come on the screen.
• If you are calling a deaf/hard of hearing person, use the Contacts icon on the iPod Touch and click the FaceTime button.

Happy calling!!

Feel free to contact Dr. Z with your thoughts using the contact form on the left side of the web page.

Happy shopping (and decisionmaking.)

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.

With the holidays coming around the corner, Dr. Z has been asked in his recent travels–“which videophone should I get?”

Dr. Z would not want to tell you which car to get for the same reason he would not tell you which videophone to get.

The Apple iPod Touch mobile videophone is covered here. Dr. Z will cover other mobile models in following blogs.

Here is a list of who you can call with the Apple iPod Touch only in a wifi environment:

• iPhone 4 (using included FaceTime software)
• Apple Mac (using FaceTime software downloaded to a Mac)
• ZVRS interpreter for relay calls (using downloaded Z4 Mobile app)

The Apple iPod Touch is sold by Apple, Walmart, Best Buy. Amazon and other retailers.It currently sells for $229. There is NO monthly cost because it works only in a wifi setting.  Be sure its the 4th generation model and has a front-facing camera.  Older models do not have a front-facing camera.

To get started with an Apple iPod Touch:

• Buy one from the retailer listed above
• If you do not have a ZVRS account, set one up (link)
• Set up your profile on the ZVRS website (link)
• Set up your Apple iTunes Account either on your PC or Mac.  If you have a PC, you need to download the iTunes software from the Apple website.
• Click the ZVRS icon–it will ask for your phone number and password. Use the phone number you have for the Z4 or the one that ZVRS assigned to you and use the same password that you used when you created your profile.
• You can add your contacts using the My Contacts link after you bring up your profile on the ZVRS website. You can also add your contact information using the Epic.
• Click the contact you want to call, or type the phone number to the left of the red/green phone icon on the top of the screen.
• If you are calling a hearing person, a ZVRS interpreter will come on the screen.
• If you are calling a deaf/hard of hearing person, use the Contacts icon on the iPod Touch and click the FaceTime button.

Happy calling!!

Feel free to contact Dr. Z with your thoughts using the contact form on the left side of the web page.

Happy shopping (and decisionmaking.)

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.

With the holidays coming around the corner, Dr. Z has been asked in his recent travels–“which videophone should I get?”

Dr. Z would not want to tell you which car to get for the same reason he would not tell you which videophone to get.

The Samsung Epic mobile videophone is covered here. Dr. Z will cover other mobile models in following blogs.

Here is a list of who you can call with the Samsung Epic:

• any videophone (Z150, Z340, ZOjo, VP200, P3) (using downloaded Z4 Mobile app)
• iPhone 4 (using downloaded Tango software)
• Apple Mac (using Z4 software downloaded to a Mac and downloaded Z4 Mobile to an Epic)
• any PC with a webcam (using Z4 software downloaded to a PC and downloaded Z4 Mobile to an Epic)
• ZVRS interpreter for relay calls (using downloaded Z4 Mobile app)

The Samsung Epic is sold by Sprint and you can click this link to the Sprint Relay website (link). It currently sells for $249 after discount and rebates. The monthly cost is $39, but Dr. Z strongly suggests you contact Sprint for more specific cost information.

To get started with a Samsung Epic:

• Buy one from Sprint
• If you do not have a ZVRS account, set one up (link)
• Set up your profile on the ZVRS website (link)
• Download the Z4 Mobile Application from the Android Market icon on the unit.
• Click the Z4 Mobile icon–it will ask for your phone number and password. Use the phone number you have for the Z4 or the one that ZVRS assigned to you and use the same password that you used when you created your profile.
• You can add your contacts using the My Contacts link after you bring up your profile on the ZVRS website. You can also add your contact information using the Epic.
• Click the contact you want to call, or type the phone number to the left of the red/green phone icon on the top of the screen.
• If you are calling a hearing person, a ZVRS interpreter will come on the screen.
• If you are calling a deaf/hard of hearing person, the person you are calling will come up on the screen.

Happy calling!!

Feel free to contact Dr. Z with your thoughts using the contact form on the left side of the web page.

Happy shopping (and decisionmaking.)

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.

With the holidays coming around the corner, Dr. Z has been asked in his recent travels–“which videophone should I get?”

Dr,. Z would not want to tell you which car to get for the same reason he would not tell you which videophone to get.

In the next few posts on this site, Dr. Z will go into detail on the following videophones out there to guide you in making a decision as to which one to get for the holidays.

• Samsung Epic
• Apple iPod Touch
• Apple iPhone 4
• Samsung Tab

All of these videophones have functions that differ from one another. In a few months, most of these videophones will be about the same in their ability to call other videophones.

Feel free to contact Dr. Z with your thoughts using the contact form on the left side of the web page.

Happy shopping (and decisionmaking.)

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.

Dr. Z has been analyzing various ways as to how you all out there use your pagers and smartphones.

Many of you with Blackberries and Sidekicks do not want to get out of your 2-year commitment with your provider (ATT, Verizon, T-Mobile.)

But you want to do mobile video–how??

Simple–get an iPod Touch from Apple, download the ZVRS app to call your hearing friends or relatives via ZVRS video relay. Use FaceTime that comes with the iPod Touch to call other iPod Touch and iPhone 4 devices–then you have mobile video!

But does that mean you have to pay a monthly charge for your iPod Touch? The answer is a resounding NO! No monthly charge to do mobile video with the iPod Touch? Yes, that’s right. How come? The iPod Touch works only in a wifi environment. You can find wifi in public places such as McDonalds or Starbucks or in your home if you have a wireless router. Wifi is usually free and that is why you do not need a monthly charge.

When your Blackberry’s 2-year commitment expires, you have a choice of keeping your Blackberry or get a new Blackberry because you still have the iPod Touch for video. If you want to do video in a 3G environment, you can get a new Samsung Epic and you can give your iPod Touch to one of your family members–it is a very useful device with many features and you can play games on the device.

You can start your mobile video experience TODAY with an iPod Touch, without the need to wait for the end of your 2-year commitment for your Blackberry or Sidekick.

If you have any questions, send a message to Dr. Z using the contact box on the upper left corner of this web page.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.

Dr. Z has received those questions on the web and in person when he speaks at events.

The latest mobile phones/devices such as the Apple iPod, IPhone 4, HTC EVO and the Samsung Epic use wifi to do video communication. For some of these devices, you can use a 3G (cellular connection) to make video calls, but for this blog, Dr. Z is focusing on wifi.

What is wifi? It is a router which makes it possible to have a wireless connection at high speed. You normally do not find wifi on highways for example. But more and more public places have wifi coverage. If you are in a place that has wifi coverage, this means you can use those devices mentioned above to do video communication. For the most part, wifi video usually is of high quality. If you want wifi in your home, you need a router that is wifi enabled–it usually comes with an antenna or two.

A wifi hotspot means that the place where the hotspot is has wifi coverage. As an example, the following public places usually have wifi coverage: Mc Donalds, Barnes and Noble, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Panera Bread, many hotels and motels, and rest areas on highways. Most wifi hotspots have a sign at the door where they are to tell the public that that place has wifi. You can download apps on the devices to tell you where the closest wifi hot spot is.

In the coming months, it is expected that the number of hotspots will grow, which means you will have more places to have high quality video communication.

If you have any questions, send a message to Dr. Z using the contact box on the upper left corner of this web page.

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z is a contractor working with CSDVRS on several projects.

P.S. Dr. Z is traveling and he apologizes for not having a vlog to accompany this blog.