From Gizmodo - One of the knocks against Skype, the free VoIP service, is that you need to use a special phone that either plugs into your computer or acts as a standalone device. While this may work perfectly for people who have ditched their landline, the rest of us probably wouldn't mind seeing some way to incorporate regular phones into Skype phones. The VoSKY Call Centre (yes, the Queen's English spelling and all) from Actiontec functions as a mini switchboard (or "call center") of sorts that lets the user plug in any phone and start making Skype or SkypeOut calls.

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From InformationWeek - Anything that reduces the number of dangling wires from our computers, phones, and even our heads is okay in my book, and the VoSky Call Center by Actiontec is making a small contribution toward that end. The Call Center is a Skype-certified device that enables you to make and receive Skype calls with a regular telephone rather than a cheap headset dangling from your computer.

For the uninitiated, Skype is a peer-to-peer internet telephony (VoIP) network where you can call other Skype users for free, call land or cell numbers for a fee (SkypeOut), receive calls from traditional phones (SkypeIn), and receive voicemail messages for a small fee. The only other requirements for Skype use is that both ends have high-speed internet connections, and up until now, you have had to use a headset, or a Skype-specific phone such as the LinkSYS CIT200 to make Skype calls.

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From Gizmodo - Your small business looking for a good portable speakerphone to use with Skype? Jim Courtney over at Skype Journal got the US Robotics Speakerphone we told you about a while back. He says the setup's a breeze (plugs into USB port, no power adapter or software drivers) and audio quality is high.

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From TMCnet - Skype, eBay Inc.'s Internet telephone subsidiary, is extending its reach with "Skypecasts" — free audio conferences for up to 100 participants. Skype is used mainly for person-to-person calling but also has a conferencing feature for up to 10 people, who can all speak at the same time. A Skypecast, however, will be moderated by a host who controls when someone can speak.

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From Gizmodo - Polycom cut its teeth on conferencing hardware, and now it's teamed up with the oh-so-free Skype VoIP service for hands-free full duplex speakerphonage via a USB connection. There are two microphones strategically placed inside the unit, letting multiple people join in on the conversation. Controls on the front let you launch Skype and initiate and hang up calls. There's also a headphone jack, and then there's the 22kHz sound quality which Polycom calls "CD-quality conferencing.

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From InformationWeek - Two appliances for Skype phoning – a speakerphone and a PC-less Wi-Fi phone – were announced Monday as the eBay VoIP unit stepped up its drive to spread the free service deeper into business markets.

The USB speakerphone carries a suggested retail price of $129 and is the first of a planned series of Skype-approved devices slated to be developed by Polycom and Skype. The hands-free Polycom Communicator is the size of a typical PDA and is available for additional PC functions like audio and music presentations.

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From Gizmodo - The Netgear Skype WiFi phone SPH101 just popped up on Amazon, finally! It's not cheap– even though the list price is $300, it'll still cost you $249.99. The great thing is, you don't need a PC to use it, you can call anyone in the world on Skype for free, and all you need is a WiFi hotspot to do it.

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From CNet News Blog,  "Looks like it's going to be a great year for Skype. Every time you open a magazine or a browser, there's a new device that integrates…"

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According to Gizmodo, Skype released a beta today of Skypecast, VoIP software that lets you conduct a live moderated conversation with up to 100 of your closest friends. It's a free preview, where you, as god of the Skypecast, get to control when people talk, and you can even eject obnoxious participants if you wish. Skypecasts can be held in two modes—open discussion, or one-way broadcast where you can open it up to questions and answers afterwards.

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According to InformationWeek, Two appliances for Skype phoning – a speakerphone and a PC-less Wi-Fi phone – were announced Monday as the eBay VoIP unit stepped up its drive to spread the free service deeper into business markets.

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