Vtech's IS6110 cordless phone touts QWERTY keypad, IM capability

No need to bust out one of those newfangled smartphones to get your handset-based chat on -- oh no, baby boomers and their offspring can now handle IM conversations via a landline telephone. You heard right, Vtech is getting all extraordinary on us today with the industry's first instant messaging cordless phone, and sure enough, the DECT 6.0 IS6110 features a full-fledged QWERTY keypad to keep those thumbs happy. All that's required is that the phone's base station be connected via USB to a PC, after which users can have free access to MSN Messenger, Windows Live Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger. What better way to gently introduce your mother (hint, hint) to this millennium than by dropping $99.95 on this?

[eeeMan @ Apr 14th 2008 8:00PM]

oh great, more time to waste for first posters like me, and you other guys of course

[derX @ Apr 14th 2008 8:05PM]

...what?

Does anyone understand what he said? Yeah, I'm gonna go nap now.

Nite, nite, Engadget.

[Ellianth @ Apr 14th 2008 11:52PM]

I also don't know what he said.

[austin @ Apr 14th 2008 8:00PM]

QWERTY house phones just dont make much sense to me.

house phones in general dont make much sense anymore. and i know there are people who will disagree but for most people in urban areas, they arent needed

[derX @ Apr 14th 2008 8:04PM]

I live in an urban area and I need a landline phone. When I am on a business call I need the security a landline provides that the signal will not fade.

But I do agree, they aren't nearly as needed as say 5-10 years ago.

[From Montreal, Canada @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:05AM]

Cool but a little useless... I think

[Earl Jr. @ Apr 16th 2008 1:08AM]

Where I live (on the outskirts of Anchorage), power outages are frequent enough that a working phone is a life saver.

[Jongscx @ Apr 15th 2008 10:43AM]

Can it run Linux?

But seriously, can you at least Skype compatible? And can you upload your outlook contacts to it?

[Uday @ Apr 14th 2008 8:08PM]

I beta tested this phone and I am actually glad to say that this device is not a pain in the ass to use. The UI is not apple like, though it does the job. The keyboard is also very usable and I enjoy using it when I am around the house and need to quickly IM one of my friends. Although from a price point of a view, I don't think I would have bought this phone for this price ( which was one of my suggestions for vtech after the beta testing period )

[Tonicboy @ Apr 14th 2008 8:16PM]

I don't get it. If it requires an internet-connected PC (presumably powered up), how does that make anything simpler? If your PC is connected and on, why not just jump on your PC to chat?

[Les @ Apr 14th 2008 8:25PM]

so you can do it from where ever you happen to be in the house. from the kitchen waiting for a pot to boil, or while watching some tv, but still want to talk to people

[Sma @ Apr 14th 2008 8:40PM]

I'm amazed no one has come out with something like this sooner than now. Did see this one device, forgot what it was called, for around $70, it basicly did the same thing, except it wasn't a house phone, and it was sold in the toy section.

[mushrooshi @ Apr 14th 2008 8:16PM]

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[austin @ Apr 14th 2008 8:28PM]

GROSS!

I think?

[eeeMan @ Apr 14th 2008 8:29PM]

thats good thats real good lol

[austin @ Apr 14th 2008 8:48PM]

now that im looking at it on my computer, its a man.

from my iPhone, it looked kinda like a penis. no joke

[From Montreal, Canada @ Apr 14th 2008 9:12PM]

Wow, I'm seriously impressed. DigiArt!

[Striker @ Apr 14th 2008 9:53PM]

@Austin
It looks like that on my touch that I'm using right now.

[mushrooshi @ Apr 14th 2008 10:20PM]

That was the crappy one. I found the one I was looking for:

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[Maestro @ Apr 14th 2008 8:30PM]

Well, texting on my cell phone cut down the inane chatter I had to have with my wife when she wanted to to call to tell me one thing...
So maybe now with 2 of these in my house we can completly silent! I can dream right?

[John B. @ Apr 14th 2008 8:31PM]

Wow, Vtech still exists? I remember being 7 years old and messing around on a 50 dollar Vtech children's "laptop." Good times, good times.

[iofthestorm @ Apr 14th 2008 9:02PM]

Vtech makes a lot of cordless phones too.

[stompntom @ Apr 14th 2008 8:35PM]

I like the idea of text to landline - if I can text from mobile phone to landline at home it would be great.

[mark @ Apr 14th 2008 8:35PM]

lol

[dj496 @ Apr 14th 2008 8:38PM]

I tried getting a cordless skype phone for my mum as a "present", but it didn't work. so I doubt this would. Sigh.

[Yuri @ Apr 14th 2008 8:56PM]

I kind of think this can be an okay thing, or a really dumb thing.

I don't see the need to have a cordless phone with texting. I don't know why people can't just get up and move to the computer. While it's convenient, it just kind of shows off laziness.

I mean, come on, your computer has to be turned on for this to work I presume, unless they let people with VOiP somehow use this without a computer powered on, why use a tiny qwerty pad when you can just move to a full-sized keyboard.

Laziness is what this shows me honestly.

[From Montreal, Canada @ Apr 14th 2008 9:14PM]

..Don't forget kind of a stupid gadget... even for mom's!

[Lonny Paul @ Apr 14th 2008 9:27PM]

SMS capability is also available in phones - home phones - if they'd use it. It's part of the standard package that runs all telcos....

Tell you carrier - WE WANT SMS like the Frenchies!

[BowserUSC @ Apr 14th 2008 9:19PM]

Why would I want my mom to have such unlimited access to me.

[Christian G @ Apr 14th 2008 9:58PM]

I think my Nokia N800 will do the job at $230.00 at www.swiftgamers.com

If only the mic would be better quality and the integrated VoIP software would stop cutting the voice here and there. : |

[Arcanum @ Apr 14th 2008 10:22PM]

Why...?

[spacegravity4me @ Apr 14th 2008 10:35PM]

bout freakin time.

[Detrick Naczynski @ Apr 28th 2008 1:46PM]

They need to make this type of device with out the need for the USB connection. Maybe toss in a cheap modem that dials up to a carrier every 5 minutes and checks for messages... What's the use if you need a computer on and nearby..

http://www.flicksoftware.com

[Tim @ Apr 14th 2008 11:33PM]

Thats like ancient news...

[Valgas @ Apr 15th 2008 2:54AM]

The older Vtec phones use to be durable as hell. My old 900mhz phone survived multiple falls, throws and dips in the water. But eventually, after a long submerge in the bathtub, it died. The newer ones suck. THey look pretty but are fragile and delicate. I had one of the color LCD display phones and it started to do weird things after just a few months of owning it. Vtec phones have declined in build quality. THis thing would probably crap out on you after a few weeks of intensive texting.

[Gorillamonk @ Apr 15th 2008 10:29AM]

aren't MSN and Windows Live messenger the same thing?