City Defends Video Phone Purchase
Maria Garcia’s story on June 6, about fifty new video phones purchased by city hall at a cost of nearly five-hundred dollars each generated an enormous volume of feedback.
The feedback is running entirely one direction, and it?s not positive toward the city.
A viewer named Arianni wrote ABC-7 to say, ?City waste! All they know how to do is waste.?
Another viewer named Miguel wrote to say, ?Why don?t they just Skype for free? Idiots!?
Miguel wasn?t alone. Many viewers suggested the city should use the free Skype internet-based videoconferencing service.
Miguel Gamino, the City of El Paso?s Information Technology Director, told ABC-7 it?s not that simple. He said the fifty $469 video phones the city has purchased so far are just a small part of the city’s overall strategic information technology plan. Gamino said these phones offer security that services like Skype don’t. And he says they provide a high quality video experience for those who need it.
“We’re aware of Skype. We’re aware of all kinds of video technologies,? said Gamino. ?This video piece that is getting a lot of focus is really just a very small component of this bigger plan.”
Gamino told ABC-7 these particular phones are tightly integrated with the city’s network infrastructure and security needs.
ABC-7 has asked the city for a more detailed “big picture” overview of its Information Technology Strategic Plan. Look for that next week on ABC-7 and kvia.com.
