Anyone get SnapVRS?

ZiNg31

ZiNg31

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I just filled out application to get free Snap!VRS videophone but it said it is not ready yet? I am not sure if they are actually going to launch VRS with this Ojo videophone? I thought Ojo is cool because you dont have to hook it with your TV since it already has TV screen on it. I am frustrated with my Sorenson VRS because they wouldn't give me VP-200 because we dont use VRS much (reason why is because VRS interprters complains my fiance is too dark, she's black, we had trouble trying to get interprter that has no complaints) Our friend, very dark skin worst than my finace, has VP-200 and we can see her very very clear! This is why we need VP-200 but Sorenson wouldn't give it to us unless we use VRS often. I offered 500 dollars to Sorenson to give me VP-200 and they say no, WTF?! I hope SnapVRS will be better service than Sorenson.

ojo_07.jpg

ojo_08.jpg
 
Read the details about the Ojo

NascarZing said:
I just filled out application to get free Snap!VRS videophone but it said it is not ready yet?
Click to expand...

Be careful with SnapVRS and the Ojo. If you read the website closely, you will see that the Ojo videophone runs on SIP videoconferencing protocol (rather than h323 like all other providers). The Ojo will only work with other Ojo videophones for point-to-point calls, and only with SnapVRS for VRS calls. This is very inconvenient if you have any friends with other videophones, and it's a violation of the FCC rules for VRS. They are probably delaying so they can make the Ojo compatible with other VRS providers and devices.

I would check with Sorenson again on the VP200. My understanding was that the VP200 release would be based by state. Their license agreement on the website specifically states that you have no VRS usage obligations. Perhaps you can mention that to Sorenson when you talk to them again.

Sorenson VRS

-markymark
 
you should be thank sorenson for helping out deaf community to have that kind of techonolgy to help deaf people get better with relay than texts even to keep in touch with each other. Sorenson doesnt injore or anything.... I believe they have worked so hard to deal with the problems and straigh them out like Microsoft have alot of bugs, virus, or anything like that. Its no perfect but they are fixing it to get BETTER and you see that they are having vp200 out to you soon. There alway be update for your videophone and I heard somebody was saying about Dlink is better than Sorenson? Sorenson made the videophone and DLINK brough from Sorenson to sell the product to everybody. geez im out
 
I got my Ojo a couple of weeks ago and am impressed with it. It is SIP-based (as opposed to H.323-based like VP-100/200/Dlink 1000 VPs). SnapVRS uses a gateway to transcode betweeen SIP and H.323-based calls so you CAN use the Ojo to call any other VRS provider. Another neat thing is that you CAN have BOTH the Ojo and the VP-100/200 on your home network at the SAME time. In fact, I called my wife from my VP-200 in the den to the Ojo in the kitchen in the same house! Cool! With the Ojo, you can leave a video answering message, but I think that only works if someone with an Ojo calls it. Lastly, the Ojo uses H.264 video compression so if you have a slow broadband connection, it will still work well, like a 150kbps connection...the VP-100/200 uses an older video compression standard (h.263) so it needs a higher connection to push a clear picture through fast enough.
 
Last sat I filled out. My deaf friend have one. She showed me this cool! I agree with NascarZing because I been waited and waited on 200vp since 1 yrs and half. I real upset that deaf people showed off about 200 vp best more than 100 vp. I did kept email Sorenson about 200 vp and found out OKlahoma is very poor system area and not enough installer hired. Other most of states done got 200vp.
 
I filled out for OJO application on the web myself back in late February or early March. I followed all the emails to contact application specialist..blah blah..you know. My mother went to Deaf Expo in St. Louis, MO and she filled out (on paper) and mailed or turned into OJO. The Deaf Expo was a month or two ago(?) and she called and informed me that she already received the OJO. I was like uh?? She only lives 20 minutes away from me. Hmm..weird. Thats ok, I got my VP100 before she got her VP100. So I guess "payback" for me that she get OJO first and then me later. hehe. I really cant wait to use OJO because I plan to take it with me when I travel to motels, other peoples places far away. Can have my "own" phone instead ask hearing people or ask motel call for me. Such dang hassle.
 
markymark said:
Be careful with SnapVRS and the Ojo. If you read the website closely, you will see that the Ojo videophone runs on SIP videoconferencing protocol (rather than h323 like all other providers). The Ojo will only work with other Ojo videophones for point-to-point calls, and only with SnapVRS for VRS calls. This is very inconvenient if you have any friends with other videophones, and it's a violation of the FCC rules for VRS. They are probably delaying so they can make the Ojo compatible with other VRS providers and devices.

-markymark
Click to expand...

I actually just IM'd SnapVRS on Friday to ask about this, and they said that's not the case - you can call out to VP-200 andVP-100 phones, and you can use other VRS services. I don't know whether that means they've got a gateway server that everything is proxied through, or if it means the Ojo supports H323 natively but prefers SIP.
 
Thanks Navyman and Ismi

Thanks for the update on the Ojo. I think SnapVRS should update their website with that information as well. The tech info there still states that only Ojo-to-Ojo calls can be made.
 
ismi said:
I actually just IM'd SnapVRS on Friday to ask about this, and they said that's not the case - you can call out to VP-200 andVP-100 phones, and you can use other VRS services. I don't know whether that means they've got a gateway server that everything is proxied through, or if it means the Ojo supports H323 natively but prefers SIP.
Click to expand...

Based on information available under topic 03-123 in the FCC comments section, SnapVRS set up gateways to transcode from SIP to H.323 and vice versa in order to comply with the FCC ruling effective May 2006 that all equipment used by VRS providers must be interoperable. The OJO itself has no H.323 capability, only SIP connectivity.
 
markymark said:
Thanks for the update on the Ojo. I think SnapVRS should update their website with that information as well. The tech info there still states that only Ojo-to-Ojo calls can be made.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that information should be updated on their website if Deafies are to understand the capabilities of the OJO. Did you know that you can put a VP-200 and an OJO on the same home network? You can't do that with two VP-100s/200s or two D-links. My feeling is that eventually, VRS providers will move to SIP-based videophone equipment because it is simpler to set up phone numbers and installation protocols. VOIP companies today like Vonage, Verizon Voicewing, and others use SIP-based analog terminal adapters for this very reason.
 
Navyman: are you part of a beta group? I just filled out an app on Monday for an Ojo, but the "application complete" page said that they were only going out to a small group of users, and all other applications were going to be on hold for a while. It wasn't clear to me whether there is a planned rollout date, or if they're doing a gradual rollout and the phrasing was unclear. (Or, alternately, I could bhave missed something obvious, hehe. :D )
 
lol yeah we all do to would be nice to have cell videophone and high speed connection
 
ismi said:
Navyman: are you part of a beta group? I just filled out an app on Monday for an Ojo, but the "application complete" page said that they were only going out to a small group of users, and all other applications were going to be on hold for a while. It wasn't clear to me whether there is a planned rollout date, or if they're doing a gradual rollout and the phrasing was unclear. (Or, alternately, I could bhave missed something obvious, hehe. :D )
Click to expand...

No, never was part of a beta group. SnapVRS had been doing beta testing since late last year. I'm just actually lucky that I was near the front of the line, but they are distributing them for real. My deaf friend at work just got his too last Friday. Not sure why you got that message during the application process...might either be "outdated" or a way to mute the expectations of "late-comers" applying while they distribute to those who applied for them in the beginning like moi.
 
markymark said:
Thanks for the update on the Ojo. I think SnapVRS should update their website with that information as well. The tech info there still states that only Ojo-to-Ojo calls can be made.
Click to expand...

The SnapVRS.com web site has been updated. Go to the "Support" at the top of the page for answers to many questions.

Here's how the Ojo calls the Sorenson VPs

Press any number key to activate the Dialer Screen. Once on the Dialer Screen use the "Down Arrow" to select "IP Address or URL". Enter the IP Address using the Asterick (*) key in place of the dot (".").
Calling from the Phonebook - Placing a call from the Phonebook
Calling from the Call Log - Placing a call from the Call Log
Calling a conventional or analog phone


Also, a new SnapVRS user posted a video using the Ojo on YouTube.

YouTube - My first time use snap vrs
 
I IM'd SnapVRS today to ask my question - they're just doing a gradual rollout. I guess that's not surprising, I just wasn't sure.
 
ismi said:
I IM'd SnapVRS today to ask my question - they're just doing a gradual rollout. I guess that's not surprising, I just wasn't sure.
Click to expand...

Yeah, a gradual rollout makes business sense.

BTW, I would bring to VCO users' attention that my wife and I have found that the OJO (it's the black 900 model) has a bit of trouble facilitating VCO clearly. Interpreters are complaining of interference from background noises and "echo" sounds. The OJO microphone apparently is very sensitive and picks up just about everything in the background.

However, even when we mute the OJO microphone and attempt to use a separate phone for VCO, the echo effect remains. I sent an email to SnapVRS technical support a few days ago and am awaiting a response. We are now using the VP-200 exclusively for this reason. Hopefully, SnapVRS technicians will be able to resolve this because we do like the OJO functionality a lot!:fingersx:
 
dkf747 said:
Still have to use the IP address to call other VP's?
Click to expand...

To call from an OJO to a VP-100, for example, you are required to use the VP-100 owner's IP address or a DNS name if that person created one. However, to call from an OJO to an OJO, you can dial the assigned phone number to that OJO, identically like calling from a VP-100/200 to a VP-100/200.
 
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