* News from Netgear, Vonage and EarthLink
At last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2007) in Las Vegas Netgear added to its Skype-compatible phone portfolio with Netgear Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D).
In its statement, Netgear said, “The phone can simultaneously connect to a router through Ethernet … and a standard telephone wall jack to support both landline and Skype Internet calls without the need to be connected to a computer.”
The device “incorporates DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telephony) technology, [using] the 1.9-GHz band … to avoid interference from Wi-Fi networks.” The base station supports up to four handsets and the handsets incorporate a built-in speakerphone display to view contacts and callers.
Skype is also supported by Netgear Wi-Fi phones, Belkin Wi-Fi phones, and the Linksys i-Phone Wireless G-Phone for Skype. (Yes the Linksys i-Phone is the same “name brand” that is the basis for Cisco’s infringement lawsuit against Apple.)
Also last week, Vonage announced it had signed a three-year contract with EarthLink to offer its customers Wi-Fi Internet access in select cities throughout the United States. Vonage will buy Internet access on a wholesale basis from EarthLink and Vonage will then “sell its own Wi-Fi Internet service to consumers under the Vonage brand,” according to the statement.
Vonage also said it plans to provide the wireless hardware and other software tools later in 2007. By providing Wi-Fi access, Vonage is positioning itself as an alternative provider to DSL and cable modem-based Internet access and VoIP providers with the offers.
Next time, we’ll discuss some CES 2007 announcements concerning mobile video calls, but until then, read this story from the show about service providers and their thoughts on converged services.
