CuPhone aims to simplify use of Skype

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: STEVE TAYLOR AND LARRY HETTICK ON
CONVERGENCE
06/08/05
Today's focus: CuPhone aims to simplify use of Skype

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* USB to RJ-11 adapter: Candidate for cool product of the year
* Links related to Convergence
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: CuPhone aims to simplify use of Skype

By Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick

Last time, we discussed the Personal Phone Gateway from CuPhone.
Although PPG is a "premiere" product for CuPhone, the company
has a candidate for what may be a cool product of the year. The
other product is a USB-to-RJ-11 phone converter. It's optimized
for working with Skype, and here's the story.

One of the most frustrating parts about using Skype is that you
have use the service "on purpose." That is, in order to make a
Skype call, you must use a headset that plugs into the speaker
and microphone jacks on your computer. And even though it looks
a lot like the headset that you may use on your traditional
phone, it's not the same. So you likely end up with two
headsets - one for your phone and one for your computer - on the
desk. (And some of us even then feel the need to hang up the
real phone when the Skype call ends.)

CuPhone's USB-to-RJ-11 device is simplicity itself. According to
CuPhone, you load its Skype-optimized software onto your PC,
plug the device into a USB port on the PC, and plug the POTS
phone into the RJ-11 side of the device. Whenever you have an
incoming Skype call, you simply pick up the phone. And if you
want to make an outgoing call via Skype, again, you simply pick
up the phone and "dial" using your traditional phone.

The company suggests that this is great for use with a cordless
phone - unteethering you from the PC while chatting away on
Skype. And, as an additional feature, CuPhone even delivers the
incoming Skype username as the caller ID.

But we see an even cooler application for lots of SOHO workers.
Many of us already have multi-line phones sitting on our desks.
How cool would it be to take an unused line that's looking for
an RJ-11 and make Skype "line 4" on your four-line phone? All of
a sudden, your soft phone becomes integrated with your
traditional hard phone.

We'll be testing these products in a few weeks and we'll let you
know what our real-life experience is. But if this works as
advertised, it definitely is a "cool product" candidate,
especially considering that the price of the adapter is $44.

Disclaimer: As always, don't use Skype to make 911 calls!

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

VoIP over Wi-Fi from the Ottawa airport
Network World, 05/16/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlconvergence2219
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Steve Taylor and Larry Hettick

Steve Taylor is president of Distributed Networking Associates
and publisher/editor-in-chief of Webtorials. For more detailed
information on most of the topics discussed in this newsletter,
connect to Webtorials <http://www.webtorials.com/>, the premier
site for Web-based educational presentations, white papers, and
market research. Taylor can be reached at
<mailto:taylor@webtorials.com>

Larry Hettick an industry veteran with over 20 years of
experience in voice and data. He is currently Vice President
for Wireline Solutions at Current Analysis, the leading
competitive response solutions company. He can be reached at
<mailto:larry@larryhettick.com>
_______________________________________________________________
This newsletter is sponsored by Oracle
Are you plugged into the Grid?

The search for cheaper, better application environments is
prompting companies to plug into a grid--grid computing, that
is. This "virtualized" approach to running critical software
lets companies harvest underutilized computing power and respond
faster to business-process change. But you don't just flip a
switch. Learn why from IDC analyst Dan Kusnetzky.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=106151
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

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