Siemens Gigaset M34 USB adapter for Yahoo! VoIP calls

Siemens Gigaset C-class-and-above cordless phone owners who purchased their units after fall 2004 will soon have an option to use their formerly landline-only handsets for free and reduced-rate VoIP telephony as well. The Gigaset's new trick is achieved through the use of a USB adapter called the M34, which plugs into a PC and transfers packets with select Gigaset base units using the DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephone) standard. Siemens has teamed up with Yahoo! to offer the search giant's Messenger w/ Voice service for use with the M34, which will allow Gigaset owners to enjoy Skype-like benefits and even listen to Internet radio (rather poorly, we'd imagine) right from their cordless handsets. The M34 USB adapter should available in Q3 of this year, although no price has been announced as of yet.