Without a shadow of a doubt, the star of CeBit 2006 was Voice over IP (VoIP). The show featured almost an entire hall full of VoIP vendors, each trying valiantly to convince the hoardes of showgoers that landlines are on the way out. We endured the crowds, and now bring you a photo tour of the VoIP-related products that caught our eye.
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OneVillage attempts to make VoIP accessible to a mainstream audience by offering all the gear you'll need as a complete package. From its Web site you're able to download the calling software and order a phone, and OneVillage helps you get it all up and running. Pictured above is one of the VoIP phones available for purchase. -
The Yappermouse is another VoIP phone offered by OneVillage, but this particular product functions as a mouse as well. Strange, but handy as it results in one less object taking up space on your desk.
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The OneVillage Web site sitting behind an active Skype window. This is all you'll need to get started.
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Plantronics' array of VoIP headsets. More can be found on its Web site.
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The V-100 VoIP telephone adaptor from NetComm. It connects to both your router and a regular telephone, enabling you to make VoIP calls without necessarily going through a computer.
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NetComm's MyNetGateway NB9W device. It's a router that offers 802.11g Wi-Fi, four wired Ethernet ports and two phone line ports for hooking up a regular telephone handset. This enables you to make VoIP calls without being at a computer, and you're even able to switch between landline and VoIP on the fly.
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A generic VoIP handset offered by Gadget Empire.
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Freshtel's 2070 VoIP handset, which connects to a USB port. FreshTel is unique in the VoIP landscape in that it has created the hardware, software and the network that's used to run its services.
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As with a few of the devices shown previously, the Freshtel Internet Telephone Adaptor has been designed to enable VoIP calling without being tethered to a computer. One end connects to a router, while the other connects to a regular telephone handset.
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Pitched at the mobile professional, the Freshtel 4030 Stick Phone hooks up to the USB port on your laptop and enables you to make VoIP calls with or without a sound card installed.
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D-Link has also jumped aboard the VoIP train, and the first of its solutions is a fully fledged VoIP phone system. We tested the display unit by calling a regular mobile telephone, and the quality was superb.
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This upcoming product from D-Link is the first VoIP handset we've seen that uses a mobile phone form factor. It's quite stylish and features in-built Wi-Fi support, so you're able to make VoIP calls anywhere there's a wireless hotspot.
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