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Linksys Ventures Beyond Skype Cordless |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Friday, 10 November 2006 |
Yahoo's VoIP-enabled Messenger software gets its own
dual-mode cordless phone thanks to the release of the Linksys CIT310 handset.
While Linksys already has Skype-enabled offerings in the
market, this is the Cisco subsidiary's first tilt at competing VoIM (Voice over
Instant Messaging) solutions and may be the first in a branching out to include
support for MSN chat and GoogleTalk.
The company already has two Skype models, a VoIP only model
(CIT 200) and the dual mode Skype/PSTN (CIT 300).
The CIT310 combines regular PSTN calls with Yahoo! Messenger
IP Telephony in a PC-required solution that uses a USB base station to offer
cordless connectivity to the fixed line and PC-VoIP services.
People subscribing to Yahoo! Phone Out can, of course, use
the CIT310 to place VoIP calls to regular numbers also.
The phone supports Yahoo! Contact lists and Local Search
whereby programming your local zip code into the phone will allow you to search
for local businesses listed in Yahoo's directory. The phone also provides
access weather forecasts through a weather search setting.
"The CIT310 is our first product to couple the Yahoo!
Messenger with Voice experience and access to Internet services like Yahoo!
Local Search," said Tarun Loomba, senior director of product marketing for the
Linksys Consumer Business Organization.
"We share the same vision with Yahoo! of not just improving
the experience of internet phone calling, but also offering a valuable
combination of internet-enabled features and services that customers will use
and really want."
The Linksys Dual-Band Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger
with Voice includes a handset with color display, and a USB base station that
plugs into a computer's USB port and a port for a traditional landline/PSTN
connection.
A single USB base station supports up to six additional DECT
based phones for PSTN calls and you can connect a headset as well.
Battery times are rated as up
to 100 hours of standby time and up to 10 hours of talk time.
The phone is available through Amazon.com and will be
available through other online retailers later this month for around US$99.99. Initial (US) customers purchasing the phone
will receive 100 free Yahoo! Phone Out minutes.
No
mention of bricks and mortar distribution in the announcement, though.
In other Yahoo! news, the company has reportedly announced
it will integrate its Messenger app and its free email service into a single
user interface.
The new AJAX
client won't available until 2007 though. This would work by letting the user respond
to an email with an instant message. The system would work the same in reverse
allowing an Instant messaging chat to be converted to an email thread.
Though specific mention of telephony was made int eh report
this undoubtedly would be the next logical step.
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