Skype Toys from U.S. Robotics

U.S. Robotics has come a long way from modems, developing a VoIP line of products. Two Skype-related gadgets caught my eye.

The $50 USB Internet Speakerphone, which will be available sometime this month, plugs into the company's $50 Skype phone to let you talk hands free. The speakerphone comes with mute and volume buttons and includes echo cancellation.

The $60 USB Telephone Adapter, available this March, plugs into your regular landline phone and converts it into a Skype phone. It can still make regular POTS (plain old telephone service) calls. In fact, if you're on a Skype call and you get an incoming POTS call, the Adapter gives you a call-waiting signal and lets you take the call. The reverse situation, where you're on a POTS call first, works too. You can also make Skype conference calls.