WorldGate Adds Israel to Ojo View

WorldGate Communications found a market for its Ojo video phone -- in Israel.

The Trevose, Pa.-based video-phone maker inked a resale and supplier deal with digital-products marketer Israel Communications.

The deal calls for the Ojo Shadow and Ojo service to be offered there, and WorldGate projected that this will result in sales of at least 41,000 units in the next two years.

The Ojo phone offers video-telephone functions powered by either a digital-subscriber-line or cable-modem connection. The Ojo Shadow, a scaled-down version of the original Ojo phone, is being marketed for $299 in the United States.

Since the dissolution of a major distribution deal with electronics maker Motorola, WorldGate has been seeking alternate distribution partners in U.S. and overseas markets. The rollout in Israel follows similar deals struck in the past month to distribute Ojo in Russia and South America.

"While Israel may be a fairly small country, they have continually shown the foresight to be on the cutting edge of telecommunications,” WorldGate chairman and CEO Hal Krisbergh said. “It is this foresight, along with the experience and know-how of Israel Communications' management team, which will inevitably lead to great success for Ojo.”