CES 2008: Belkin Lets You Make Free Unlimited Skype Calls Without a Computer

The Skype service is probably the biggest marketing vehicle for VoIP communications, with an increasing customer base of hundreds of millions of people from all around the world. However, it generally requires the presence of a computer, unless the user decides to go for one of the many Skype-compatible phones available on the market.

And the latest announcement regarding a device of this type comes from the Belkin company, who has announced at CES 2008 the Desktop Internet Phone for Skype. This new device allows users to make free Skype Internet calls without having to turn their computers on.

The Desktop Internet Phone for Skype features a speaker, speed dial, call hold/release, call pickup/park, mute, redial, hold, call-timer display, and contact list, which supports over 500 sets of Skype and SkypeOut contacts. Moreover, Belkin's phone plugs into a port on a wired/wireless router or a live Ethernet port so users can immediately start making calls via Skype.

As you probably expected, the calls made with the help of the Desktop Internet Phone for Skype are not completely free of charge, but they're also a lot cheaper than normal conversations. Thus, the device supports inexpensive SkypeOut calls to landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world, as well as SkypeIn, a personal and portable Skype number that the user can carry around, wherever he might be.

In a company's statement, Chris McGugan, VP of Product Management for Belkin, explains the company's decision to develop such a product: "With over 246 million users, Skype continues to grow in popularity, especially among people looking to save on long-distance calls. Adding to our line of Skype Certified hardware, our new Desktop Internet Phone for Skype is making Skype more accessible to more people. Its affordable price and ease of use brings the benefits of Skype to an even broader audience."

Belkin's Desktop Internet Phone for Skype will arrive at the company's retailers around the world in March and will be available for around 100 US dollars, but it's up to the user whether such a product is actually worth this sum or not.


We are just a few, but there are many of you, Softpedia users, out there. That's why we thought it would be a good idea to create an email address for you to help us a little in finding gadgets we missed. Interesting links are bound to be posted with recognition going mainly to those who submit. The address is .