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Hands-on with Panasonic's Link to Cell KX-TH1211
Panasonic's Link to Cell KX-TH1211 is quite the interesting piece. Hailed as a "mobile phone accessory that seamlessly connects a Bluetooth enabled cell phone to cordless handsets in the home," this device simply enables users to make and receive cell calls from a home-based phone. Panny talks up its ability to preserve battery life and offer up "better reception," but the real heat comes from the included talking caller ID. Additionally, the Link to Cell is expandable to up to six handsets, and if you've just got to have this little gem, you can snag it in two months for $99.95. Another pic awaits you after the jump.
GE's latest DECT 6.0 phones feature dedicated GOOG-411 button
We've certainly seen some fairly interesting dedicated handset buttons before, but it's hard to argue with the functionality of a standalone GOOG-411 key. Apparently, Thomson has teamed up with Google to integrate the "first ever one-touch, auto-dial GOOG-411 button" into over a dozen of its GE-branded DECT 6.0 phones. In case you've been chilling under a stone of late, GOOG-411 is the search giant's "free, voice-activated, business directory assistance service," and it will be within reach on a slew of April-bound home phones. For more details on specific models as well as pricing information, head on down to the read link.
GE readies its InfoLink phones for November
GE is about to be bringing more good things to life with the launch of its DECT 6.0 phone / phone service called InfoLink. The premise of the technology is simple: instead of switching on your PC or looking at your PDA or mobile phone for basic info (such as weather, stocks, news, etc.) you'd simply pick up your color-LCD-equipped InfoLink phone (the "fourth screen" as they call it) and scroll through the information. The hybrid phones will deliver the goods over your DSL or cable modem, and will carry RSS feeds from places like MSNBC, the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), and Homeland Security (for all your terror-alert needs). The InfoLink device will also do more boring things as well, like call-waiting and caller ID, HD-sound intercom, speaker phone, and melody ring tones. The sweet package can be yours in November for $179.99, with additional handsets available for $79.99.
Motorola intros D7 / D8 MOTOLIVN landline phones
Wow, talk about being on a roll. Not even a week after unleashing the awfully-titled TLKR walkie-talkie, Motorola is gettin' even more platitudinal with its new duo of MOTOLIVN landline phones. Both units tout location-free bases, "eco-mode" for saving energy, ten ringer melodies, a built-in speakerphone, and up to ten-hours of talk time (100-hours in standby). The D7 is said to be available in silver with a blue-backlit screen, while the D8 range can be picked up in black or white and comes Skype-enabled for those interested. Both handsets look to be available right now in Germany, and while the D7 starts at €49.99 ($70), the D8 gets going at €69.99 ($97).[Via Pocket-Lint]
Plantronics' Calisto Pro makes telecommuting fun
Alright, so maybe "fun" is a stretch, but Plantronics' Calisto Pro sure makes working from the confines of home a lot more plausible. This interesting home phone not only enables users to manage their landline conversations, but the built-in Bluetooth and USB port allows telecommuters to receive and place calls over Skype and through their cellphone, too. "At the touch of a button," at-home workaholics can switch between all three types of calls, and the included earpiece even enables them to chat handsfree. The handset reportedly utilizes DECT 6.0 technology, won't interfere with your WiFi setup, touts an integrated speakerphone, and even comes bundled with a "flip-up waist clip for on-the-go dialing and Caller ID viewing." Cubical dwellers, rejoice, as you can get one step closer to nixing that commute entirely for $279.95 next month.[Via Web Worker Daily]
Engadget at Digital Experience New York
Digital Experience is a bi-annual press event wherein dozens of your favorite tech companies corral hundreds of your favorite tech journalists, fill them up with free food and booze, and attempt to squeeze a little more coverage out of already-announced products. The theme for this year's New York show -- held last night at the Metropolitan Pavilion -- was British Invasion, and while we certainly appreciated the Beatles cover band, darts competitions, and of course the Bass- and Boddingtons-serving HP Notebook Pub (pictured above, although we still prefer the Sun beer server), the choice to offer traditional English cuisine was, quite frankly, not that well thought out. Nonetheless, we braved numerous flying darts and sketchy-looking meat pies to photograph a few devices we thought you'd enjoy; click on to check out the highlights...
BT and Siemens unveil rugged landline telephones
If you thought that covering your entire Mac mini computing system in aircraft grade aluminum was overkill, both BT and Siemens have somehow reckoned that equipping their latest landline phones with dust, splash, and shock proof enclosures will actually convince folks to pick one up. Granted, Philips has also tried its own hand at sprucing up the PSTN handset of late, but both of these new devices forgo sexy in exchange for sheer toughness. Siemens' Gigaset E455 SIM is a DECT phone which boasts of handsfree operations, SMS capability, an integrated answering machine, room monitoring, a backlit display, caller ID, and an oh-so-limited five choices of polyphonic ringing melodies. The BT Elements (shown after the break) also shares the SMS abilities and illuminated display, but goes above the call of duty by tossing in a reported range of one-kilometer and doubling the amount of ringtones. Of course, both of these handsets would fit right into households that resemble a UFC extravaganza, but we're still not sure that the £59.99 ($120) to £74.99 ($150) that BT and Siemens are respectively charging is worth the upgrade.Read - Siemens Gigaset E455 SIM, via TechDigestRead - BT Elements, via CNET
Cellphones are dangerous/not dangerous, bee-friendly edition
As the saga continues, we've got yet another flip-flopped story rolling through in regard to the toxicity (or not) of cellphones to our environment. Just under a fortnight ago, a report based on an (admittedly lacking) research study claimed that Colony Collapse Disorder within bees was being encouraged by cellphone radiation. As expected, the researchers began living a life filled with Q&A sessions about the data, and now the "truth" is coming out. Essentially, the scientists are claiming that their data was "misinterpreted," and that the study actually looked at DECT phones and base stations, which transmit a "different frequency than mobiles." Furthermore, another member chimed in and boldly stated that their "studies cannot indicate that electromagnetic radiation is a cause of CCD." So that settles it -- until the next round of bickering begins, of course.[Via Guardian]
Philips freshens up your landline with the ID9371 handset
We know, it's hard to really brag about the aging landline you keep around for no good reason, but if you're looking for the hippest thing to hit PSTN since DSL, Philips' ID9371 just might be it. This sleek, sexy handset rocks all the dashing design cues of the avant-garde mobiles carried by the affluent set, but manages to operate on a lowly landline all the while. Aside from the obviously glossy paint job, adoration for fingerprints, and backlit display, the device also features a "soft-touch" enclosure, SIM-card copy support, built-in answering machine, alarm clock, caller ID, signal strength indicator, and XHD sound technology that purportedly delivers every tonal frequency imaginable. Sure, we're used to cramming cutting-edge gizmos into a retro casing, but kudos to Philips for doing things vice-versa.[Via ShinyShiny]
Thomson gets experimental with TV and radio-enhanced VoIP phones
The words "Thomson" and "experimental" don't usually see much of each other, but the company is exploring a few new angles for its burgeoning VoIP lineup, and seems to have come up with a couple of interesting hybrids. The T2700 is a DECT phone with a fancy looking base station and a few hidden qualities. In addition to the usual VoIP duties, the phone can become a stereo loudspeaker for internet radio, and boasts of "HD sound" with enhanced bass and treble over your usual phone audio quality. Next up is an unnamed device (pictured) that seems positioned to compete with Nokia's N800, including an 800 x 480 touchscreen, internet browsing and a USB webcam for videoconferencing, with the main thrust of IPTV over WiFi or the use of a digital TV tuner via USB. Thomson is also sending its GE InfoLink RSS reader phone to Europe and announcing a video watermarking chip for set-top boxes. Unfortunately, we don't have the greatest pics of either of these phone devices, but we'll keep an eye out.Read - Thomson VoIP phonesRead - Thomson watermark chip
Binatone announces first CAT-iq compliant phone
The recently-announced CAT-iq standard doesn't exactly have the greatest name recognition just yet, but Hong Kong-based Binatone looks to be doing its part to help get it off the ground, announcing its first CAT-iq compliant phone at CeBIT. CAT-iq, for those not up to speed, is a new standard for VoIP cordless phones developed by the DECT Forum, which promises to deliver "high definition" sound quality in addition to an array of Internet-based services. Binatone's phone looks to bring all those newly-standardized options into the conference room, with a cordless handset complimented by a wireless, full-duplex speakerphone. When not chatting it up, you'll also be able to use the handset to check news, stocks, weather, and other information, as well as listen to Internet radio stations with "stunning sound quality." Unfortunately, there's no word on what it'll cost, although it looks like it'll be available sometime in the third quarter of this year.
Amex's TSP-VS501 dual-mode DECT handset for Skype
Oh lordy, can it be... a decently designed Skype handset? In a sea of craplastic Skype phones, up washes the sleek TSP-VS501 Skype handset with touch-sensitive keys. Better yet, this dual-mode phone from Amex Digital also works with your regular ol' PSTN home line. Just connect the telephone line and computer (via USB) to the included base station and you're good-to-go just as far as the DECT cordless handset will take you -- in other words, about 150 feet indoors. The handset packs everything you need for making and receiving traditional analog or Skype calls including your Skype buddy list showing current availability. No pricing or availability but we'll be sure to check it while on display at CeBIT in just a few weeks. [Via Akihabara News]
Netgear announces dual-mode DECT Skype phone
Among Netgear's announcements this morning we've also got yet another Skype phone -- but this time it's a dual-mode DECT cordless device, however, descriptively dubbed the Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype SPH200D. Besides the requisite SkypeIn and SkypeOut support (over Ethernet only), you'll also get landline calling and 1.9GHz wireless for $200, available immediately.
VTech announces Internet-connected cordless phones
VTech's trotted out a pair of Internet-connected phones today in anticipation of the full unveiling at CES in January, although if you think "Internet-connected" means VoIP, you may be somewhat disappointed. These are strictly landline phones, albeit tricked out with some nifty Internet-assisted features. The ip8300 infoPhone (on the left above) is a standalone unit, using an Internet portal service from Casabi to pull information like news, weather, and horoscopes off the Net and directly onto your handset, viewable on the phone's color LCD. The phone itself uses DECT 6.0 technology so it won't interfere with your WiFi router or other wireless devices, with the phone's base station capable of supporting up to five handsets. VTech's wf6972 Wi-Fi phone takes a slightly different route to get on the Internet, using (as it's name suggests) your existing WiFi network to pull information collected from an application running on your PC (Windows-only, it seems). Look for the ip8300 to be available in March for $129.95 (and $49.95 for each additional handset), with the wf6972 landing shortly thereafter in April for $179.95, with each extra handset (up to 16 of 'em) running you $79.95.[Via TG Daily]
Linksys introduces CIT310 DECT phone with Yahoo! inside
Nothing gets our heart pumping quite like a new VOIP handset, and when it's a dual-function model that can connect to a landline too, well, we sometimes have trouble containing our excitement. The latest system in a seemingly endless parade of similar products comes from Linksys, whose CIT310 supports Yahoo! Messenger with Voice, and looks a lot snazzier than some of the other phones we've seen from this company. Based on the DECT standard, the CIT310 hooks up to your PC's USB port and your regular telephone line, allowing you to make and receive both Yahoo! and POTS calls anywhere within range of the base unit. Additional features include zip code-based business searches directly from the handset's small color screen (including one click calling) and local weather info in case your weather station, TV, PC, thermometer, and newspaper all happen to crash simultaneously. This model will available for an even $100 exclusively through Amazon until sometime in January, so you should be able to pick one up in a bricks-and-mortar store right after you've finished returning all those other VOIP devices you're bound to receive this holiday season.[Via Geekzone]
Thomson and Skype to release GE 28300EE2 VoIP phone
You know something's gone mainstream when corporate giants like Thomson and GE get involved, and these two are presumably validating the internet calling craze by teaming up with Skype to release a GE-branded VoIP / conventional landline phone. The GE 28300EE2 isn't too much different than the other computer-free units we've seen, and sports the DECT 6.0 protocol as well as a color LCD screen to view Skype messages and traditional caller ID data. Aside from handling both VoIP and landline duties, the device sports speakerphone, conference calling, a 100-name address book, and 10 hours talk / 120 hours standby time. GE throws in two (conservatively styled) handsets to get you started, but since six units are supported, you can snag a few more to prevent having to move a muscle to communicate with your entire household. You can get your VoIP on with the GE 28300EE2 "sometime this fall" for $149.99.
GN Netcom 9350 dual-function wireless headset now shipping
If you've been looking for a headset that'll work with your plain old phone service and also let you do that VoIP thing, you might want to take a peep at GN Netcom's new 9350 dual-function headset (or just look past it if you're on a budget). While GN's "future-proof" claim seems a little dubious, for $349 you do get a 300 foot range on 1.9GHz (think: "WiFi-friendly") with DECT 6.0 technology, as well as promised sound enhancements from the headset's noise-canceling microphone and DSP and IntelliTone capabilities. Expect to get about six hours of talk time when using it with a PC, or nine hours on regular phone duties, with a recharge time of three hours and forty-three hour standby time. If you really want to blow things out, you can also sync up to four headsets to a single base station for conference calls, which kinda negates the whole VoIP cost savings thing, but do your thing.
Philips adds a new Skype phone to their VoIP lineup
It's not quite as sexy as that Windows Live Messenger VOIP4331S phone from them we spotted a few weeks ago, but Philips' new VOIP321 cordless Skype phone should do nicely for someone wanting a bit of "old school" cordless phone comfort for their VoIP calls. Like the 433 unit, this 321 model is based on DECT technology to enhance security and voice quality. The phone has buddy list ability, polyphonic ringtones, and the specs just get more boring from there. No word on price, but you should be able to get your Skype-on with this thing, in the US at least, this July.
ATS announces E6501 DECT-enabled cordless VoIP phone
A new VoIP handset from American Telecom Services promises to help you break free from your landline addiction and make an easy transition over to Internet telephony, while still allowing you to situate satellite phones all over the house to match your current setup. At first glance, the E6501 offers a number of compelling features, including SIP-compliance, built-in speakerphones, DECT support for avoiding the already crowded 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz bands, and most enticingly, a sub-$50 pricetag for the base unit and only $30 each for up to five additional handsets. The bad news here comes when you find out that set only works with ATS' chosen service providers, a group that's currently comprised of just IDT and a company called SunRocket, so Vonage and Skype fans will need to look elsewhere. For those of you still interested, unfortunately there's no word yet on which retailers will be carrying these models, nor when we can expect to see them in stores.[Via VoIP & Gadgets Blog]
