Communications Briefs

Holmdel, N.J. — Vonage announced that it would offer a D-Link voice terminal adapter configured with its VoIP service to its dealers and to consumers over its Web site. The adapter is Vonage's first D-Link product. It supports two lines, call waiting, call forwarding and caller ID with name. The device will retail for a suggested $49.99. Vonage will offer a $40 rebate after service has been active for 60 days.

In other Vonage news, the company announced that over 80 percent of its subscribers have Enhanced 911 (E911) service, following the FCC's 2005 mandate that residential VoIP services offer E911 to their customers.

New York — Skype announced that computer maker Dell will load its VoIP software on its XPS mobile systems — the XPS M1210 and XPS M2010. The XPS M1210 can be configured with Skype as part of an optional audio/video communications package that also includes an integrated rotating webcam, noise-isolation ear buds and mobile broadband capability.

Pleasanton, Calif. — Speakerphone manufacturer Polycom announced a new slate of products including two new conference phones and a VoIP desktop product. The company introduced two new VoiceStations — the 300 and 500 — which are 33 percent smaller than their predecessors. They feature the company's “acoustic clarity” technology for full duplex operation and will ship in June. The VoiceStation 300, for a suggested $299, features three microphones for 360-degree room coverage. The 500 builds on the 300 with Bluetooth support for connecting wireless phones to conference calls or for patching in PC-based VoIP services. The 500, which is Polycom's first conference phone to offer Bluetooth functionality, will retail for a suggested $399.

Polycom also introduced a SIP-based VoIP desktop phone, the SoundPoint IP 430. The two-line corded phone features a full duplex speakerphone and graphical LCD screen. It will work with any SIP-based VoIP service. With a new SIP 2.0 software release, users of existing Polycom SIP phones can integrate their products with Microsoft's Live Communications server.

Santa Clara, Calif. — Networking manufacturer Netgear provided more details on the Skype Wi-Fi phone it announced during International CES. The SPH101 will carry a suggested retail of $249 and ships this month. The phone will allow consumers to place Skype calls from wireless hotspots that do not require browser-based authentication. It is the first Skype-certified Wi-Fi phone on the market, Netgear said. The 802.11b/g phone is preloaded with Skype software. It features a color menu for viewing Skype contacts, WEP and WPA-PSK wireless security. Skype, which announced version 2.5 of its PC calling software last month, said it has hit the 100 million registered user mark (globally).