3Com has introduced its first low-cost consumer videophone, a $449-device designed and built by 8x8 Inc.

The Bigpicture videophone works with a television and a touch-tone phone, and uses ordinary analog telephone lines.

It will compete with the $500 ViaTV unit introduced by California-based 8x8 in February, and the $650 C-Phone Home sold by C-Phone Corp.

All three companies are targeting consumers who want to make video calls using their product with an ordinary television.

--(New York Times Service)