Microsoft and Netgear have announced the launch of portable internet phones for MSN and Skype users respectively, challenging Vonage's model. They are clearly no longer happy offering PC to PC internet telephony alone. This is a wise move if they want internet telephony to go even more mainstream.
Microsoft's device for MSN's IM users will be made by Phillips. But perhaps the more exciting and advanced of the two attempts comes from Netgear and Skype.
They announced a wi-fi phone, the size of a large cellphone, that would allow Skype users to call each other without the need for their computers. The calls can be made from a hotspot or over their own wireless home network. The phone shows who is online and available and even allows calls to fixed lines through the SkypeOut service.
This is a big step forwards for internet telephony. How exciting.
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