Logitec intros digital recorder for consumer telephones

Personal voice recorders simply aren't likely to start up any serious controversy anytime soon, but Logitec's latest spin on taping audio just might raise a few hairs. The LIC-TRA056SD is a "private telephone recorder" that plugs right into your home phone and captures conversations conveniently on the built-in 128MB of storage. If those 50 hours of capacity aren't enough to catch someone red handed, you can also throw in a spare SD card and create an audio archive of every phone call you'll ever make. Additionally, the USB connectivity ensures that extracting dubious MP3 / WAV files won't be a chore, and considering that everything looks to be password protected, the digital eavesdropping crowd will be out of luck. Unfortunately, there's no word just yet on how much this dodgy device will run you, but it should hit the shelves of Japan before the month's end.

[Via AkihabaraNews]

[Matt @ Jun 13th 2007 2:18PM]

If only we Engadget readers still had land lines...
Develop a cell phone call recorder, and you'll make a fortune!

[Vagrant @ Jun 13th 2007 4:55PM]

Depends on your phone. It's built-in on my WM5 & WM6 phones. I can record both sides of the conversation and even set the encoding rate.

[Judd @ Jun 13th 2007 2:31PM]

Logitec? I think they have more than one potential lawsuit on their hands...

[Monoto @ Jun 13th 2007 2:39PM]

This is Logitec, not the Logitech we're more familiar with. Judd's right: it's a wonder that Logitech hasn't sued the pants off this little operation.

[Charly @ Jun 14th 2007 4:39AM]

Logitech is actually called Logicool here in Japan and you see far more Logitec than Logitech/Logicool products around here. :)

[noob @ Jun 13th 2007 3:09PM]

invasion of privacy for the win!

[lk @ Jun 13th 2007 3:13PM]

Yea, use one of those in California, and you will end up in jail like Paris Hilton

[Spanky @ Jun 13th 2007 3:55PM]

not true, you can use them, you just have to announce to the other party on the line that you are using it before engaging in any other communication.

[Josh @ Jun 13th 2007 4:06PM]

"Like Paris Hilton"?

So you mean I can use one and all that will happen is I get to go to jail for three days, then get released after I fake a mental breakdown?

Sign me up!

[chris @ Jun 13th 2007 6:11PM]

Interesting point. In my state only one party to the call has to be aware that the call is being recorded (presumably that party would also be the one doing the recording). So if I call someone in California, the recording is happening in my state, not California. As it is unlikely that my state would extradite me to California for doing something that is perfectly legal here I would seem to be safe.

[Megan @ Jun 13th 2007 5:19PM]

See I almost want one then I remember, I have alot of conversations I dont want to relive.
Its prob illegal anyways.

[cack @ Jun 13th 2007 7:03PM]

Love the original NES color scheme.

[Robert @ Jun 13th 2007 7:16PM]

Seriously, Matt, get a cell phone adapter and I'm hooked. But size would probably become a problem. And legal issues? Please. If somebody calls me they shouldn't have to be notified that it's being recorded. THEY called ME. My phone, my business. And I really think that the more conversations/actions are recorded, the better. Wouldn't video surveillance across the entire US be awesome? Sadly, I think it would.

And no, I don't mean in your private residence... just out on the public streets where you really shouldn't expect any real privacy anyway. It's going to happen anyway, so we might as well just accept it and live with it. Now I just need to find a device that will record everything anyone says within 100 feet of me. Then I'll be happy...