IPMate S90 router connects any phone for VoIP
By Joshua Fruhlinger 
posted November 12th 2004 6:16AM
posted November 12th 2004 6:16AM
Skype.net.cn have created the IPMate S90, a
USB-based router that allows regular phones to be connected to computers for VoIP calls, including Skype. IPMate
is listed as compatible with Skype and PC2phone software and it draws its power from the USB port. The included
IPMate setup software also includes the phone interface, replicating keypads and showing numbers dialed.
But it's for Siemens-only phones. I understand Siemens' reasoning - but that still sucks.
The IPMate S90 is actually for any phone line, unlike the Siemens one.
Skype should have an "in" service where they give you an actual phone number and others can call you from a land line. As soon as they do this, its bye bye SBC for me. I know other services do this, but I'm more impressed with Skype.
I came across this quite impressive-looking combination cordless Skype/regular phone here, called the DualPhone, but other than what's on the website I've no experience of it in practice.
http://www.dualphone.net/
The cool thing about the S90 is that you can use your regular cordless (or corded) phone for both Skype AND plain old telephone service calls.
You plug in your phone line, your phone and your computer to this device.
If the IPMate S90 accepts open standards and not only the Skype Propriety protocol, it will have a bright future. I'm using skype to skype users, though Babblenet offers free VOIP calls to fixed PSTN in EU, US, Australie & NZ. Check out!