A video telephone (TEL) for use in an interactive video service is disclosed to establish a switched connection to a video server (VOD) to receive video signals corresponding to selections chosen by a user. In a further aspect, the video telephone (TEL) includes a card slot and chip card reader to activate the TEL by reading the VOD call number from the card data. The TEL automatically dials the VOD to establish the switched connection via the digital radio network GSM and/or the integrated services digital network ISDN.