Actiontec Electronics is extending the world's most popular Internet telephony software, Skype, to the home phone with the Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard. When connected to a PC, this small hardware accessory allows free and low-cost Skype calls to be made from and received by any traditional handset. UK consumers who purchase the GBP 34 Actiontec product at www.dabs.com and www.retailonline.co.uk also receive vouchers for 60 free SkypeOut minutes and one month of free Skype voicemail under a UK-exclusive promotion that begins today.

The Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard can turn any corded or cordless phone in a household with an Internet-connected PC into a Skype-enabled device, permitting consumers to talk to other Skype users worldwide for free and to make low-cost SkypeOut calls to landline and mobile phones anywhere in the world. The SkypeOut service offers global calling to traditional phone numbers at local rates, keeping costs lower than most regular long distance services.



No special phones are needed to use the Actiontec product, and the same phone can be used for regular and Skype calls. Family members on different phone extensions can be on landline and Internet calls simultaneously, effectively providing a second phone line at no cost.

"Skype has attracted more than 47 million users around the world who use the service while they're sitting at their PCs, but there are many more people who want to be able to make and receive Skype phone calls over standard phones," said Gunjan Bhow, Actiontec's Vice President of Marketing. "By combining the power of Skype with the convenience of the telephone, the Internet Phone Wizard offers new flexibility for consumers who want to use the Internet to reduce their phone bills."

The Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard plugs into the user's phone and the USB port of his or her PC, allowing it to be used from country to country without worrying about compatibility with different wall sockets. The product supports call waiting as well as Skype speed dialing, and incorporates state-of-the-art echo-cancellation technology for signal clarity. No network configuration, change in firewall or router settings, or external power supply is required. Power is provided by the USB port of the user's PC.

The Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard is an official Skype Certified product. Skype's Internet calling service is available as a free download at www.skype.com. Skype-compatible products do not offer emergency services via SkypeIn/SkypeOut, which are not replacement phone services. More information on the Skype Certified program is available at http://share.skype.com/developer_zone/certification/ certification_program/ (Due to its length, this URL may need to be copied/pasted into your Internet browser's address field. Remove the extra space if one exists.)

Specifications

The Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard comes with USB and RJ-11 telephone cables for connecting the device to the PC and telephone. Minimum system requirements include a Windows 2000/XP PC with a 400 MHz processor, 128 MB RAM, CD-ROM drive and an available USB port, plus a LAN or modem-based Internet connection.