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Dial-A-Cam

malloci writes "CNet has this article describing Nokia's new wireless camera. Unlike other webcams though, it is designed to communicate via a GSM network, sendings photos to the user's cell phone."

76 comments

  1. Yet another Nokia story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    1. Re:Yet another Nokia story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or maybe nokia releases a lot of new wireless technology that is newsworthy.

    2. Re:Yet another Nokia story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      does it matter?

      wireless gsm pron!!!!

      yea!

    3. Re:Yet another Nokia story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or maybe you work at nokia and are being teabagged by your boss as you read this?

    4. Re:Yet another Nokia story by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      maybe i am....and maybe _i am_...

  2. Dial-A-Cam Uses by Blaine+Hilton · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I'm not sure where this camera would be practical. It seems the best use would be for remote monitoring, such as for weather stations or remote pipelines, but it can't be so remote so the cell phone network is not established. I believe this is walking a very fine line between a location that can not have a regular POTS line and a location that is out of range from the cellular network. The Cnet article does not say rather or not the camera also records the images. If it does not record then this seems like a pretty expensive toy.

    Now if it can be programmed to call a cell phone and send images when a sensor goes off then it becomes more interesting, because I don't think people are going to be watching these things on the phone all the time. Also, at $400 a pop if multiple cameras are needed it would be cheaper to use a PC with 4/8/16/32 port CCTV inputs and cameras that only cost around $100. The PC could still connect to a network using a cell phone device and be able to transmit data and images. It will also in all likelihood provide much more flexibility then this camera solution.

    Go calculate something!

    1. Re:Dial-A-Cam Uses by Eevee · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Just because you have POTS in an area doesn't mean you want to pay to run it to the camera's location. For example, let's say you're curious what kind of birds are visiting the birdfeeder in the back of you yard while you're at work. (Trust me, there are people this weird in the world.) Slap the camera on the stand, aim at the feeder, and you're good to go.

    2. Re:Dial-A-Cam Uses by Blaine+Hilton · · Score: 1

      However a POTS line is about $15-$25 a month and depending on how the cell phone service they sell with the camera that can be more expensive, although of course you can move it too.

    3. Re:Dial-A-Cam Uses by DrMrLordX · · Score: 2, Funny

      This product should be re-named "Dial-A-Porn". Charge people by the call to call it up and find out what's happening . . . oooh look I think I see a leg in that shot!

    4. Re:Dial-A-Cam Uses by ONU+CS+Geek · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, Maybe not a POTS line...

      When I worked at Cedar Point, their security cameras worked over dry pairs of the telcom's network. Considering I can get a Dry pair (or an alarm circut) for about $8/month per leg (from my house to the Telco, from the Telco to whereever it's going).

      A POTS line isn't going to give you much in the way of bandwidth, but, a dry pair is yours...you can do what you'd like to with it...wanna use it to pipe audio from your house to your girlfriend's house? You can do it. Wanna run DSL? Yup...probably could do that (if it's a non-loaded area). Wanna be able to call your parents from your girlfriends house and them not be suspicous when someone else's caller ID comes up...there ya go.

      I honestly don't see much use of these phones outside of the 'teen expendable item' category...but who knows.

      Ian

      --

      I disable sigs...do you?
    5. Re:Dial-A-Cam Uses by Blaine+Hilton · · Score: 1

      Those dry pairs sound very interesting. I know of many remoting monitering solutions that can save a lot of costs using this. Do you just call the telco and ask them for a "dry pair" ? I wonder if they are avaiable for everybody?

    6. Re:Dial-A-Cam Uses by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Depends where you live, in many countries (including with very low population density) cell phone networks cover at least 90% of the land area.

      Camera doesn't record images, but it can send them directly to your email when motion sensor is triggered or at designated time interval.

    7. Re:Dial-A-Cam Uses by ONU+CS+Geek · · Score: 1

      Yes, you can get a "dry Pair" just by calling your RBOC and asking them. If the droid on the other end of the phone doesn't know what you're talking about, ask for an 'alarm circut.'

      Hope this helps.

      Ian

      --

      I disable sigs...do you?
  3. Rebirth of the web cam by nilepoc · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I can't wait for the first fishtank/coffee pot/sunrise/sunst uses. Then we can progrss to spy cams, and the X10 mobile multiuse cam.

    I am just not very excited about the loss of my privacy to a camera in every pocket society.

    I bet the patriot act will have something to say about this also.

    1. Re:Rebirth of the web cam by fabmonkey72 · · Score: 1

      I bet the patriot act will have something to say about this also. I'm sure what they will say is "RIGHT ON!" as they tap in. The BEAST will have another way of monitoring you.

  4. If slashdotted... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Here's a mirror for this an d all of today's other ./ stories.

    1. Re:If slashdotted... by shibbydude · · Score: 1

      I don't think CNET is going to become slashdotted. Go to www.com. Who owns it? CNET. Karma whore?

      --
      We're only gonna die from our own arrogance, that's why we might as well take our time...
  5. Oh great... by ekephart · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now there will be even more area codes. Seriously does EVERY camera need a phone number? Can't each organization buy a few numbers and have extensions for each camera?

    And another thing. Talk about a security flaw. Send it a blank text message and it sends you what it sees? I just found a new use for my AT-5000 Auto-Dialer!

    --
    sig
  6. babysitter by KKin8or · · Score: 1
    I bet they'll try to market it to parents for keeping an eye on their kids, sort of like those day care centers with webcams.

    Hmm, I can think of at least one good use for it. Set it up pointing at your monitor, start compiling, go out for a few beers. Then call your camera every half hour or so to see if your machine's done compiling yet.

    1. Re:babysitter by ekephart · · Score: 2, Funny

      Maybe instead of investing in that camera, you could invest in a faster computer. :-)

      --
      sig
    2. Re:babysitter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      some shell scripts that send you an email using SMS would be much more effective and cheaper.

    3. Re:babysitter by Jameth · · Score: 1

      Sure, that'd be great if you had no screensaver and your monitor never went to sleep.

    4. Re:babysitter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or he could invest in some more beer.. he obviously needs it if he's concerned about when a compile will finish while out drinking.

    5. Re:babysitter by geekoid · · Score: 1

      And his excuse for getting the beers would be...?

      I was at a job compiling on my 286 took 2 hours. One day they give me the 'good' news that I'l be getting a new and spiffy 486 with 16 megs of ram!!. It took 25 minutes to compile. I saw the writing on the wall. 'programmers will use trial and error more then logic to fix programs' I see this approach a lot now. sick, truley sick.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  7. I'll buy one! by qbproger · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally, a way to prove people are stealing my pencils!

    --

    - Joe
    1. Re:I'll buy one! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or you could buy a ton of pencils and hand them out to anyone who needs them. Girls can't resist a guy with lots of pencils.

    2. Re:I'll buy one! by lightspawn · · Score: 2, Funny

      Finally, a way to prove people are stealing my pencils!

      Gee, don't you think that's a bit extreme? just use RFID tags like the rest of us, they're like 1 cent apiece now.

  8. Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Let's see how much crap we can cram in a cell phone. zzZZzZz..

    1. Re:Who cares? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well, we DO want to make money

  9. Great! by buyo-kun · · Score: 1

    Now I have proof that aliens are stealing my socks for fuel!

    Al Bundy, a great figure of our time.

  10. Probably not allowed by afidel · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Most cell networks have explicit sections in their data provider agreements that forbid applications like security cameras. Trust me they have already thought of how much of a drain a bunch of cameras constantly sending pics would be on their network and made it so they can shut your service off if they find you doing something like this.

    --
    There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    1. Re:Probably not allowed by jumpingfred · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Most network operators would love you to have something that makes a lot of calls. You do understand that they charge money to make phone calls don't you?

    2. Re:Probably not allowed by kryptkpr · · Score: 2, Informative

      RTFA.

      a) This has already been approved by two networks (AT&T and some other one)

      b) It does not send continuous pictures. you send it a blank message, and it responds back with the latest picture it's snapped..

      --
      DJ kRYPT's Free MP3s!
    3. Re:Probably not allowed by afidel · · Score: 1

      Well here is a quote from the TOS for Verizon's data service and I have found that most of the good cellular data plans include similar exclusions (IE those that don't charge for every MB over some rediclulously low amount, wtf would I want fast data rates if I have to pay for everything over 20MB???).

      Unlimited Express Network cannot be used with server devices or with host computer applications. Examples of such prohibited uses include, without limitation, web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous jpeg file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications.

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
  11. Lies! by Tuxinatorium · · Score: 3, Funny

    Wireless communications are impossible! The Koran tells me so! It is a fabrication of the American TV news media! I triple guarantee you there is no such thing as electromagnetic waves! Lies!

    1. Re:Lies! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      don't mod this crap as funny. it's not.

    2. Re:Lies! by geekoid · · Score: 1

      Iraqi Information Minister, Mohammed Saeed Al-Sahaf was my favorite person during the war.

      bang,bang, bang

      there are no american with 100 kilometers of bagdad.

      rumble rumble rumble, kablouie
      the americans have been driven away.

      whir whir whir, planes landing

      the amercans have not taken the airport..

      I mean, who is that guy kidding? if people can recieve his broadcast, then they can probably recieve CNN.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  12. expected next step... by edrugtrader · · Score: 3, Insightful

    this is how you would expect the technology to evolve. anything that can be done with existing technology will be done... and through that process new necessities will arise and new features will be implemented that will be joined with all of the exisiting features.

    frank norris said something like imagination is only the combination of things not yet combined...

    you have a phone... a phone calls another phone and asks to talk to it. that phones human operator can accept and talk.

    you have picture phones where a phone operator can call another phone and offer a photo.

    why not combine them (if the operator owns both pieces) and call a camera phone: and have it automatically accept, take a picture and send it back. that is really all this is. it automatically pushes a few buttons on the camera phone.

    all it is is a scaled down camera phone with less functionality that automatically sends pictures. pretty simple to hack your own together i would think.

    now i'll have to take the x10 camera hidded in my bathroom out and put my celly in there instead.

    --
    MARIJUANA, SHROOMS, X: ONLINE?! - E
  13. Terrific! by segfaultdot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...webcams/netcams aren't slow, grainy and low rez enough for me!

    Seriously, it's an interesting idea, but if i really wanted such a device i'd get a WiFi camera (does such a device exist?) and a WiFi pda or slim laptop (not neccecarily at the same location). Much faster and potentially higher quality

  14. only one potential use by bestguruever · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'd like to set one of these up at the local Best Buy just to find out who would actually buy one of these. Um ... I think I'll mail order mine.

    --
    if you think this is bad, you should have seen my last sig
  15. Wireless camera by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    (sorry, couldn't resist :) ***AD BELOW*** GET THE LATEST L33T X10 CAMERA!!! NEW: Expires midnight tonight! Super deal giving you are latest and greatest and best ever x10 camera for the low low price of $200 each plus $40 S&H. Hurry! This offer expires at midnight tonight. Our camera are great for spying on people! Spy on your babysitter! Spy on your junior slashdot troll! Hurry and buy it before it runs out! There is a lot of demand for our great camera! If you don't hurry, you will miss out!!! Stop reading that article and buy are great cameras today! But don't just buy one.... buy two get one free! Hurry, only 3 hours 24 minutes 45 seconds left!!! Click Here. ***CONTINUED***

  16. Webcam exploits... by miketang16 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lovely, that's something I would really love to do, broadcast a wireless signal from a webcam in my house...

    There's a reason I have a fully wired network... =)

    --
    -------
    "In times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act."
    -- George Orwell
    1. Re:Webcam exploits... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      GSM's not perfect But seriously, (probably) nobody cares enough to hack into your house. When was the last time you checked your telephone system for bugs?

  17. If you've seen the commercials by unterderbrucke · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's also an easy way to pick up an insanely hot woman!

  18. awwww yeah! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    finally i'll be able to have proof of the existence of underpants gnomes. And when i'm in the big V.C. meeting to get funding for my UPG startup all i'll have to do is call up the cell cam and the money will start flowing in.

    Muhahahahahah i finally found out what step 2 is!!!

  19. as i see it, this will happen: by shawnywany · · Score: 1

    camgirl: "YES! the cops finally took his damn computer. now i don't have to tell my parents about my camming so they can put a restraining order on this guy!" pervert: "wuahahahahahaha."

  20. North American problem only by JoeBuck · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The need for new area codes only affects countries like the US and Canada, that use fixed-length telephone numbers. Europe uses a variable-length approach that lets frequently dialed numbers be short, while numbers for devices can be as long as you want. You can hand a prefix to an organization and they can populate it with phone numbers however they want, much like DNS. You never have to change phone numbers.

  21. and maybe... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...it'll last you a month before you have to buy a new one after it breaks (from nokia of course, and then they have a newer "cool" model)

    1. Re:and maybe... by bestguruever · · Score: 1

      I don't know about the newest products, but the (relatively) older ones were pretty tough. My 3360 has taken 3 toilet dives, 5 caroms of a coworkers forehead, and uncountable graceless drops onto the pavement. It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin. ^^^ yeah, I know, but none of the Nokia slogans fit.

      --
      if you think this is bad, you should have seen my last sig
    2. Re:and maybe... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I sincerely hope it took the lickin before the toilet dive....

  22. WTF? by Shoten · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is nuts. A $400 device that needs its own cellular phone account so that you can ask it to send you a snapshot when you feel like it? What the frick is the use of THAT? For less in hardware and MUCH less in recurring cost, I can put auto-refreshing pics from a webcam (like an Axxis) on my website and just look at the bloody page from a web-enabled phone. If I really had a hard-on for something clever, I could use the same gear (with enough wireless bandwidth to my phone/pda, that is) to actually watch live video. Why in hell would I pay so much more just to have snapshots on demand?

    --

    For your security, this post has been encrypted with ROT-13, twice.
    1. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why in hell would I pay so much more just to have snapshots on demand?

      I dunno. Maybe the same reason that lots of people buy really stupid expensive things they don't need. What percent of typical Americans could set up what you suggested? I'm sure the number is closer to zero percent than to 1%. Besides, what you suggested would not be as versatile and do quite the same thing.

    2. Re:WTF? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But you need to put your webcam next to your computer. The point is that you can put this kind of camera virtually anywhere.

  23. C'mon, it's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  24. Cam entrepreneurs on wheels? by Sir+Network · · Score: 3, Funny

    Imagine the rash of car accidents when iFriends and other adult entertainers take to the road.

    It's one thing to be on the alert for soccer moms who don't check their blind spot before changing lanes.
    It's another thing entirely to have distracted drivers watching hot lesbian amateur action in passing Camaros.

    Guess it's best for me to stay home and watch the "road report" from my PC.
    On a GSM phone, of course. :-)

    --
    Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid. --John Wayne
  25. Re:Rebirth of the web cam and accountability by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 2, Interesting
    I remember visiting a web cam site years ago in which the owner's philosophy was that problems didn't arise out of too little privacy but out of too much privacy. The idea is that the more people think they're under observation the better they'll behave, as in a quote I can't remember the source of (paraphrased):
    There's nothing better to assure proper behavior than a good upbringing, strong morals...and witnesses.
    Not that I necessarily agree with this but it's an interesting viewpoint.
    --
    http://www.rootstrikers.org/
  26. Fake Nokia ad by utahjazz · · Score: 2, Funny

    Fake Nokia cam-phone ad

    This is for the cam-phone, not the phone-cam, but it's damn funny, unless you like cats.

  27. can they compete? by DanThe1Man · · Score: 0, Troll

    I hear whenever you use these camras pretty ladies appear. How can they compete with that?

  28. Dial a post by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    TWSES eTASDFgewg

  29. this CAN be used for good by Suchetha · · Score: 1

    idea from David Brin's "Transparent Society"
    Imagine a place where this kind of cam is on top of every other streetlight, passing the information to ANYONE who wants it. Want to see if there is a mugger/billcollector/cop waiting at the corner of your street.. dial up the cam.. your kid gone missing.. dial the relevant cam.. the point is this CAN be used for surveillance by cops.. but the REAL issue is here.. when this kind of information be accessed by everyone.. when the cameras are EVERYWHERE.. the amount of privacy will lessen yes.. but society will adapt.. we will become more adept at using the information available to us... of COURSE there will be abuses.. but if as a people (not just in the US but EVERYWHERE) we can get together and force our lawmakers to allow the public access to WHAT THEY ARE PAYING FOR (sure like THAT will ever happen), this technology can be a great boon.

    personally i have seen this kind of surveillance cam go up everywhere (i was in Bath, UK a few months ago and Big Brother is ALWAYS watching you).. and i would MUCH rather be in a place where the cams are accessible to and by everyone.. not just the cops

    Suchetha

    --

    learn from yesterday, plan for tomorrow, party tonight
    or one out of three ain't bad
    1. Re:this CAN be used for good by kent_eh · · Score: 1

      Imagine a place where this kind of cam is on top of every other streetlight...

      I don't have to imagine this, George Orwell already wrote about it. And it scares the hell out of me.

      --

      ---
      "I can't complain, but sometimes still do..." Joe Walsh
    2. Re:this CAN be used for good by geekoid · · Score: 1

      no, george orwell wrote of a place where thoughts were controlled. One way to do that was by watching the people and changing facts of events.
      However, if you allow everyone to have access to them, and you put it rules for people in the employ of the government to use if they want to use them for monitoring, we could not have an orwellian government because everyone could see the truth.

      --
      The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  30. lol goatsecx!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    hahahahahahahahaha ahref="http:/goatse.c.x>omg click hree its cool yo lol

  31. traffic monitoring? by Barbarian · · Score: 1

    Could be perhaps used to check how the roads are before you try to drive to work.

  32. poster & moderators != read the article by Openadvocate · · Score: 1

    Ah, a clear example that neither the poster or the moderators read the article. :)

    --
    my sig
  33. Check out the product page by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Observation camera

    Features include:

    - Image can be sent to any MMS-capable, user-defined mobile phone or email address

    - Programmable to take images automatically at a designated time interval

    - Captures and sends images when triggered by a motion sensor

    - Thermometer feature lets you know if the temperature goes out of a set range

    - One way audio. By initiating a voice call the Observation Camera's authorized users can hear voices and other sounds in the vicinity of the Nokia Observation Camera.

    This has many uses. For example you could put one in your workplace closet and see & hear what your boss is doing with his secretary after work :)

  34. Check out the product page by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Observation camera

    Features include:

    - Image can be sent to any MMS-capable, user-defined mobile phone or email address

    - Programmable to take images automatically at a designated time interval

    - Captures and sends images when triggered by a motion sensor

    - Thermometer feature lets you know if the temperature goes out of a set range

    - One way audio. By initiating a voice call the Observation Camera's authorized users can hear voices and other sounds in the vicinity of the Nokia Observation Camera.

    This has many uses. For example you could put one in your workplace closet and see & hear what your boss is doing with his secretary after work :)

  35. Marketing Strategy by cixelsyd · · Score: 1

    Great! Now I can get porn spam on my cell phone too! \o/

    --
    Take a dollar, divide it by 100, take two and call me in the morning.
  36. Photos? That's so last century.My phone has video. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Only still jpgs?

    The 3G phone we've just purchased at work ($500 for a pair) transmits video to other similar phones, record 12s of video and emails it as an mp4 file,
    and you can download edited highlights of football games