Skype phone that doesn't need computer? Now you're talking

Stan Beer
Friday, 01 September 2006 05:03

IT Industry - Strategy

Internet telephony and messaging provider Skype has announced cordless phones that don't need computers to work. The first models from Philips and Netgear will hit the market before year's end.

eBay-owned Skype, which has well over 100 million users, can already be installed on cordless handsets over a Wi-Fi network but they need a computer to be switched on.

The new class of Skype phone enables users to make and receive both Skype calls over the Internet and traditional landline calls, without a computer, and can also act as an ordinary DECT cordless phone on the PSTN network. The first series of products to be launched in this class are the Philips VOIP841 cordless phone and Netgear's cordless phone for Skype.

Under the new systems being launched by Philips and Netgear, the Skype phones will come with a remote DECT base station that plugs into both the broadband connection and the traditional phone line. Both the Philips and Netgear cordless phones will have a full color graphic display, an integrated contact list, and a speakerphone.

Users with more than one handset will be able to make Skype calls and calls on the PSTN network at the same time.

"We are broadening our reach to mass consumers by offering them the opportunity to communicate via Skype without having to be tied to the computer," said Stefan Oberg, general manager, desktop and hardware at Skype. "Skype has already introduced Wi-Fi phones and Skype for PocketPC wireless. Now Skype is taking the next step and working together with Philips and Netgear, to introduce PC-free cordless phones. The cordless phones for Skype launched today, give Skype users the flexibility to enjoy free Skype to Skype calls and inexpensive calls to ordinary and mobile phones anywhere in the house, at any time without a running computer."

The Skype Certified Philips VoIP841 cordless phone will be available for the 2006 holiday season.