In my round-up of Nokia N95 vox-pops I mentioned the depressing news that certain UK carriers had stripped out the handset’s VOIP support, obviously seeing that as a threat to their own stranglehold on voice calls. Well, if you needed any further evidence take a look at this video of an operator-modified N95:
Read on for more thoughts and a challenge…
Wednesday Microsoft announced that they are no longer content with just dominating the market with Windows, their Office suite, and the Zune. (Ok, the Zune is dominating the mp3 player market about as much as the PS3 is dominating the gaming console market, but you get the idea.) Now they want to take over the VoIP market too.
Home phone design is lamentable. Yes, there are a few exceptions – Bang & Olufsen, I’m drooling at you – but in general the humble PSTN handset is the dreary cousin to the glittering, posing cellphone. What’s surprising is the number of manufacturers whose different departments churn out both cellular and land-line phones, but across that great corporate divide the DNA never seems to travel. Well, Panasonic have finally decided to change all that; hence their latest handset – a WiFi Skype phone in fact – looks very similar to the company’s mobile range.
If you talk a lot on Skype while you’re on the road, but are tired of talking on bulky headset? Kensington has a new phone that might be just what you’re looking for. It’s a small Bluetooth phone that fits neatly into your PCMCIA slot, so there’s nothing extra to carry around. That is unless your laptop isn’t Bluetooth enabled, then you’ll need an adapter.
I’m a hard-sell when it comes to VoIP handsets, in fact some might say I was just plain picky. I can’t see the point of anything that has to be plugged in to a USB port (unless you’ve got a server at home, would you really want to leave your PC on all the time on the off-chance that you want to make a call?) and I want as much of the software functionality available from the handset itself without having to go to a computer to set it up. Well, NETGEAR have met my arduous demands and actually gone a bit further; their SPH200D works both with Skype and your PSTN landline, allowing calls to and from both to be managed simultaneously.
Based on the DECT standard, a full-colour screen, speakerphone and capacity for up to four handsets registered to each base-station round out what’s on offer for the $199.99 MRSP. It’s available now.
Product Page [NETGEAR]
They might have an odd name, but boynq also have some interesting looking products. A bit of swish design on the desk is never a bad thing, and I don’t reckon your climb up the career ladder would be at all damaged for having their Notone VOIP speakerphone/handset there. With a slimline corded handset for those private calls to the mistress, plus a mono speakerphone for conference calling, it connects to your PC via USB and even gives you a place to store notepaper and a pen for jotting down the hotel number of your romantic assignations.
Look at that lovely glowing ring! Textbook stuff. The Notone is available now for £24.99 ($49.23) in black and white.
Here’s something I’d give space on my desk to – it’s a dual-mode PSTN and Skype VOIP phone, with a poseable Day of the Triffids 320×240 resolution, 30fps VGA webcam to let your friends see your pretty face while you talk to them.
The camera is actually connected via USB, so if you fancy upgrading sometime in the future you can, and it’s all USB bus powered so no need to scrabble around on your hands and knees under the desk for an outlet (you can save all that for the Christmas party). Calls can be made either from the phone’s keypad or from the on-screen interface, and both the computer and the phone will ring on Skype calls. If I could improve it, I’d make it standalone rather than needing a connection to the PC, but I guess you can’t expect too much for $56.88.
Product Page [via Chip Chick]
The triple-threat Genius Navigator 380, is a combination VOIP phone, instant-messaging device, and a 1200dpi optical mouse all wrapped into a clamshell. For travelers always on the go, this compact device packs in all the functions without giving you the extra baggage.
When the clamshell is closed for use as a mouse, the VOIP function still works and will alert you of incoming calls either by ringing or flashing of its LED light. It also supports up to six instant messengers (Skype, MSN, Yahoo, GoogleTalk, QQ, and AIM) simultaneously in one window. The unit is currently being released in India.
Continued »
When I’m put in charge of gadgets I think I’ll draw up a “Golden Rules of Ergonomics” that all manufacturers must adhere to. Number one on that list would be “don’t make your tech look like poop”, closely followed by number two, “if you’re going to have a keyboard, I don’t want my thumbs to ache after using it two minutes”. Sadly MIU’s M*free ’Hybrid Dual Portable Computer’ would fall foul of both of these rules, and probably a few as-yet-unwritten more – while the idea of a multi-function VOIP/wireless-IP handheld is great, their industrial design appears to be “make a shoebox out of plastic, and then put all the gubbins in”.
Perhaps I’m being unduly harsh. I mean, there are very few dual-OS VOIP handsets with fold-out screens, interchangeable function cartridges and full QWERTY keyboards out there, so MIU have been forced to innovate on their own as opposed to just tweak someone else’s design. But really, who thought it was a great idea to sink a keyboard deep inside a hard-edged plastic gully, where your poor thumbs will jam up against the sides?
If VOIP is your thing and you’re looking for a handset then Wired News might just have the review round-up for you. They take a look at a variety of handsets from the DECT wireless through to the cheap’n'cheerful USB attached, with ratings to help you decide whether they’re worth your cash or worth throwing to the dog.
If you’re looking for more information, a quick glance at the SlashGear archives shows a whole lot of VOIP coverage; you’re spoilt for choice!
Flying Skype High … and Low [Wired News]
SlashGear Japan
