The landline telephone will soon be a thing of the past. A new device using Skype's voice over Internet protocol technology lets users make calls over the Web from any phone in the house--even cell
phones. The VoSky Call Center from Actiontec Electronics, fresh from the massive telecommunications conference in Barcelona, Spain, is one of several new Skype-powered devices that have recently come
to market. Skype is a far cheaper alternative than paying for a landline, although calls made outside of the Skype network still command a fee. Skype-powered phones must always be connected to the
Internet, and the audio quality of each connection can vary significantly. A columnist at the
Los Angeles Times reported difficulty with several connections that stopped mid-call, and was also
unable to check voice mail with pass codes that would disrupt the system. Any calls that are routed through the home system utilize Skype's network. Setup can be also be quite tricky, according to the
article. The system, which looks like a little black cable box, costs $70. Linksys offers a simpler, more expensive home VoIP system for $110.
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