By Khali Henderson

IP phone system vendor Grandstream Networks will preview its next-generation IP video phone at the Internet Telephony Expo this week. The GXV3140, which is a departure from the maker’s previous offers in this space, will be generally available March 3.

The GXV3140 is Grandstream Networks’ third IP video phone. The other two are the GXV3000, which was released in 2006, and the GXV3005, which was added in December 2008 and is basically the 3000 with FXO ports.

The new phone blends real-time video conference capability with a number of Web and social networking applications, such as Web browsing, IM with Yahoo/MSN/Google, Internet radio, Yahoo Flickr Web photo album, RSS news/weather/stock feeds, music streaming, games, etc.

The GXV3140 has a 4.3” digital color LCD, a tiltable 1.3M pixel advanced CMOS camera, advanced video compression standard H.264/H.263/H.263+ and a full-duplex speakerphone. IT also has dual network ports and many auxiliary interfaces, such as SD, USB, stereo headset, audio/video output, etc.

In addition, it has a much sleeker design than previous video phones in the 3000 series. Karleen Greene Fallon, Grandstream’s marketing communications manager, said the form was changed to make the device more “versatile,” appealing to both consumer and business markets.

Pricing has not been set for the new phone, but Greene Fallon said it likely will be slightly more than its predecessors, which both sell for $219.

Greene Fallon said Grandstream has had success selling its video phones through service providers that are bundling the device with their IP services. VidTel is one example in the United States; 5LINX is another example in Europe, Greene Fallon said.

The GXV3140 will be available to U.S. channel partners through distributors VoIP Supply and 888VoIPStore.