This whole global economic crisis, and its resulting massive loss of jobs got us thinking. We here at Engadget didn't want to stand helplessly by, announcing every new round of misery without giving anything back -- so we decided to take the opportunity to spread a little positivity. We'll be handing out a new gadget every day (except for weekends) to lucky readers until we run out of stuff / companies stop sending things. Today we've got a boomin' VTech IS9181 internet radio on offer, ready to stream jams from the world wide web when not playing back your MP3 collection. Read the rules below (no skimming -- we're omniscient and can tell when you've skimmed) and get commenting! Check after the break for some photos of the prize!

Special thanks to VTech for providing the gear!

The rules:

• Leave a comment below. Any comment will do, but if you want to share your proposal for "fixing" the world economy, that'd be sweet too.
  
• You may only enter this specific giveaway once. If you enter this giveaway more than once you'll be automatically disqualified, etc. (Yes, we have robots that thoroughly check to ensure fairness.)
• If you enter more than once, only activate one comment. This is pretty self explanatory. Just be careful and you'll be fine.
  
• Contest is open to anyone in the 50 States, 18 or older! Sorry, we don't make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so be mad at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
  
• Winner will be chosen randomly. The winner will receive one (1) VTech IS9181 WiFi radio. Approximate retail value is $199.99.
  
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of the end of the contest. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen.
• Entries can be submitted until Wednesday, July 1st, 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
• Full rules can be found here

What, you didn't even know VTech was dabbling in home audio now? You should be ashamed! All jesting aside, the outfit's first-ever WiFi radio -- which was introduced "way back" at CES -- is now shipping. Priced at $199.95, the Wireless Music Hub boasts built-in 3W stereo speakers (not to mention a 10W subwoofer), 802.11b/g support, an FM tuner and an auxiliary audio port. Additionally, it can play back MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV and RealAudio files stored on any nearby WiFi-enabled computer, though it can't actually get more beautiful with age. Sorry.

VTech's not stopping with just a WiFi radio here at CES -- oh no, it's also introducing a snazzy new DECT line of telephones. Starting with the flagship LS6245, we've got a slim, stylish handset that packs both DECT 6.0 technology and Bluetooth, enabling one person to be on the main handset while a BT-enabled phone taps in as well. The entire lineup features touch sensitive buttons, caller ID, speakerphone, selectable ring tones and a 50-name / number phonebook directory, with the V.Style LS6215 even offering touch tech in the base unit. Each member of the '09 line is priced under $100, and the whole crew should be available for budding seniors in the first half of '09.

VTech, the company you likely associate with old school telephones and educational toys, is breaking out of its shell in a big way. The outfit has just announced its first foray into the wide world of home audio with the IS9181 internet radio receiver. Said device packs 802.11b/g WiFi connectivity and can easily tap into over 11,000 free internet radio stations; additionally, it handles traditional MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV and RealMusic audio files stored on a WiFi-enabled computer (Macs included), and the built-in auxiliary jack enables it to play back jams from practically any other source, too. You'll find a pair of three-watt stereo speakers, a ten-watt subwoofer and a Class D amplifier pushing everything to 11, but you'll have to curb your enthusiasm until it launches this Spring at $199.95.

Still really attached to that landline phone? Seriously? That's cool, we still love you, and T-Mobile still wants your business. Following a few months of trials, the T-Mobile HotSpot @Home Talk Forever service has mercifully morphed into the simpler "T-Mobile @Home," featuring a Linksys-sourced router that plugs into a broadband connection and allows any plain ol' telephone -- you know, the plug-in kind -- to take advantage of unlimited nationwide calling for $10 a month on top of your regular T-Mobile bill. The so-called "HiPort" router runs $49.99 on a two-year contract, and if you're in the market for a fancy new cordless, they'll sell you a two-handset VTech DECT system for $59.99. No worries when you're ready to hop back into the 21st century, either; the system will happily work with T-Mobile's HotSpot @Home WiFi cellphones, too. Look for the whole shebang to go on sale July 2.

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?

Let's just get this out of the way: VTech packed a lot of ugly into the IS6110. That said, the phone isn't too shabby, using DECT 6.0 for call clarity, and supporting AIM and Windows Live Messenger instant messaging. To set it up you just plug the phone into a standard outlet, plug a USB cable into your PC and start LOL'ing all your buddies with abandon. The full QWERTY keyboard and color LCD should make the IM experience passable, but we're guessing this is going to be a price of quality scenario, with parents viewing the phone as a $99 solution to getting the chilluns off the PC for an hour or two so they can get some real work done on Bookworm Adventures. The phone is out in February.

While Mattel might've been liberal with the digital sprinklings across its 2007 lineup, VTech is most decidedly going for those tech-toy dollars with every fiber of its being at the 2007 International Toy Fair. Lucky for the kids, VTech is stepping a bit outside its normal educational role with some more entertainment-oriented gadgetry. Most notable is the $100 VTech Gadget, a phone-like device which includes a digital camera, movie maker, MP3 player, FM radio, games and a TV plug. The big seller is voice and text messaging up to two miles away, and VTech was kind enough to include 256MB of memory to store all that media you child will be messing around with. VTech's other media unit is the $60 Kidizoom Camera (pictured above), which cops that two-eye design from Fisher-Price and can shoot digital photos and videos, with computer and TV hookups for playback and editing. But if you're set on your kids actually learning stuff, VTech still has you covered with its Whiz Kid Learning System, which purveys interactive reading and learning via its portable "Whiz Pad" and touch-sensitive stylus. VTech is also upgrading its V.Smile edutainment system, which includes a sing-along microphone and writing joystick for an odd sort of educational video game platform. What a freaking brilliant time to be a kid.

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]