Gameboy Advance video phone

Digital Act Corporation will release the "Campho Advance" that allows the Game Boy Advance to be used as a TV phone o­n July 30th. The price is 19,000 yen.

"Campho Advance" is a system that allows one to utilize a TV phone with the use of o­nly a GBA and normal phone line (analog phone line). As the product is "all inclusive," meaning it includes a cartridge with camera and headset, there are no additional costs associated with its use besides those incurred by using the phone line itself. According to Digital Act, "this is 1/5th the cost of other TV phone systems currently o­n the market."

The camera contained in the cartridge is a 0.11MP CMOS camera, with a framerate of 5fps. Although the direction of the camera will change depending o­n whether it is inserted into a GBA or GBA SP, a function to vertically flip the image is included so that there won't be problems either way. Since power comes from an AC adapter, there shouldn't be any worries about the power cutting out while o­n the phone.

On the screen of the GBA, not o­nly can users see the sent image from your partner, they can see their own image or an operating screen. Dialing and other functions are carried out with the GBA controller. A phonebook memory function is also included, and it can be operated easily "and feels like a game."

The requirement of both parties having a TV phone is the same o­n the "Campho Advance." But because of the comparatively low price, ease of setup, and compactness of the GBA, there is a much fascinating potential. This product would be interesting  for people who want give TV phone a go o­n the cheap and easy.

As the first production batch will consist of o­nly 10,000 units, there are no plans at the current time for release at game shops or other brick and mortars. The product will be sold o­nly o­n the public website. http://www.digitalact.co.jp/