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We have come a long way from the days of headsets for Skype calls (thankfully), and we are now starting to see more and more traditional telephone style handsets on the market. The one really inconvenient aspect of Skype (and other VoIP services) is the need to have your computer turned on all the time - that just restricts the ability to use Skype as a regular phone service rather than something that you do via the computer.

The new Desktop Internet Phone from Belkin does away with the need to use the computer, looks great and at $99.99 is pretty affordable. What it does lack though, and this is why I personally wouldn’t get one, is a built in web cam. That said it is still well worth taking a look at, it features:

• A speaker, speed dial, call hold/release, call pickup/park, mute, redial, hold, call-timer display and contact list.
• Contact list supports over 500 sets of Skype and SkypeOut contacts.
• Automatically logs into Skype after initial login.
• Plugs into port on wired/wireless router or a live Ethernet port so you can immediately start making calls.
• Supports inexpensive SkypeOut calls to landlines and mobiles anywhere in the world, which requires the purchase of Skype credits on Skype.com.
• Supports SkypeIn, a personal and portable Skype number that people can call you on wherever you are in the world, which requires the purchase of a SkypeIn subscription on Skype.com.

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