BT’s Relate 2000 videophone brought colour video calls to ordinary British home telephone lines in 1993.
The Relate 2000 went on general sale in March 1993. It worked as a basic audio telephone when the other party lacked compatible video equipment, but its full functions depended on mains power and another compatible videophone.
Why It Mattered
Its historical distinction lies in being BT’s first videophone and an early British attempt to bring colour video calling into the home without requiring a new telephone network. For households, however, blurred or jerky pictures, restricted bandwidth, cost and the need for compatible equipment at both ends limited its practical appeal. Its reception exposed the technical and network-effect problems facing consumer video calling before broadband connections became commonplace.
Video over the Telephone Network
- The Relate 2000 digitised and compressed colour pictures for transmission through the conventional analogue public switched telephone network.
- Launch specifications described a 14.4 kbit/s moving-video mode with a stated maximum near ten frames per second and a 9.6 kbit/s still-image mode.
- Newspaper testing reported approximately five to eight images per second in practice, with blurred or jerky movement and less natural-sounding speech.
Hardware and Controls
- The desktop unit combined a corded telephone, integral camera and hinged colour LCD measuring approximately three inches or 7.5 cm.
- Functions included self-view, picture-in-picture, freeze-frame or still-image operation, and controls to refresh or disable outgoing video.
- Video calls used ordinary telephone connections, but video, loudspeaker and timer functions required mains power.
Price, Compatibility and Adoption
- BT sold each unit through BT phone shops and Dixons for £399, or offered a pair for £749.
- Compatible equipment was required at both ends for video, creating a network-effect problem despite the discounted two-unit price.
- Marconi’s M-VTS system was incompatible with AT&T’s competing analogue-videophone system, and the Relate 2000 did not achieve broad household adoption.
Associated With
BT - British marketer; GEC-Marconi - designer and manufacturer
Defining Feature
Digitally compressed colour video transmitted over an ordinary analogue telephone line
Images are included for historical and archival reference.
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BT Relate 2000 Videophone User Guide, hosted by British Telephones
Licence
Historical Ephemera
Displayed for commentary and research. Fair dealing under the UK CDPA 1988 applies only where its conditions are met. No permission for reuse is granted.
Caption
The Relate 2000 user guide shows how BT introduced video calling through the familiar format of a home telephone manual.
