3G. Wireless Communication Solutions

TRENDnet, based in Torrance, California has announced its latest VoIP innovation for small businesses - The ClearSky Bluetooth VoIP Conference Phone Kit (TVP-SP4BK) for Skype. The distinctively designed Skype conference phone kit is the first product to enable hands-free voice conferencing for small businesses anywhere in the office using a wireless Bluetooth connection.

The ClearSky kit includes the conference phone base unit and a Bluetooth 2.0 adapter with a Class 1 radio. Together, these create a long-range Bluetooth connection, users plug the included USB Bluetooth 2.0 adapter into a Skype-enabled laptop or desktop and the conference phone can be placed anywhere within 100m. The conference phone’s integrated LCD screen and touchpad offer control and viewing of Skype contacts, call history, status and SkypeOut credit balance. This allows users to place and receive calls remotely without being next to their PC.

The TVP-SP4BK ClearSky Bluetooth VoIP Conference phone kit will begin shipping in August with an MSRP of US$149.99.

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Skype Wi-Fi VoIP phones already announced by four companies (SMC, Belkin, Netgear, Edge-Core), Skype is working with other manufacturers to produce dual-mode phones for later this year.

Skype current parnters for these GSM/ WiFi dual-mode phones include Nokia and Motorola. One of the issues still to be worked out is whether the dual-mode phones will be released SIM-free, or whether they’ll be able to work out deals with cellular providers. As this sort of Skype experience would be more seamless than some of the current efforts to run Skype on smart phones, including PDAs such as Palm. The key breakthrough is that they could also connect to a mobile network at other times.

This might have been a reference to mobile network 3, which at the end of this year will launch a “specific Skype service” allowing users to call other Skype users for free through their 3 handsets. However, 3’s service will be based through its 3G handsets rather than Wi-Fi, and will probably involve a monthly charge for the service.

While GSM isn’t going to be to everyone’s liking, this is the kind of step forward that is likely to catapult Skype to the top of the VoIP market share, regardless of service category, and help them earn their keep. (Remember that eBay purchased Skype for US$2.6 billion.) Hopefully they’ll be following up with similar announcements for other types of cellular networks.

More detail at Silicon.com