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."

Comments

Yet another Nokia story

[Anonymous Coward]

are they paying you guys or what?

Dial-A-Cam Uses

[Blaine Hilton]

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!

Rebirth of the web cam

[nilepoc]

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.

Oh great...

[ekephart]

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!

I'll buy one!

[qbproger]

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

Probably not allowed

[afidel]

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.

Terrific!

[segfaultdot]

...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

only one potential use

[bestguruever]

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.

WTF?

[Shoten]

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?