USRobotics intros £25 USB Internet Mini Phone

USRobotics is introducing a further Skype-certified USB internet phone, the Mini (9602). It's finished in eye-catching (eye-watering?) red and white and, also unlike its more staid forerunners, has dedicated Skype keys. Suggested price is a VAT-inclusive £24.99, and it should be in store by next weekend.

Key features on the USRobotics USB Internet Mini Phone are said to be:

* Skype-certified to be compatible with the Skype Internet calling application
* USRobotics HiFi Voice technology, for "exceptional call clarity"
* Plug-and-Play installation
* Integrated echo cancellation and noise reduction, for "life-like conversation quality"
* Full duplex operation
* Supports Windows 2000 and XP
* Compatible with USB1.1 and 2.0 ports
* Selectable ring tones
* USB-powered

The one feature notable for its absence, though, is any form of information display. That means that, although there are Skype buttons, you'll still need to keep an eye on the Skype software running on the PC to know for sure what's going on.

We worked hard to devise a theory on why the newcomer is called the Mini, and the best we could come up with - after looking at images online - is that it's a touch smaller than the 9601A model that preceeded it. Trouble is, the specs say otherwise.

But we're so attached to the idea that we worked up a second theory - that someone's done a copy-and-paste job from the 9601A and forgotten to complete all the editing.

Of course, both theories could simply be the product of wildly deranged minds. The name might derive from the fact that the latest model has a mini USB port, rather than a fixed USB cable.

But that would be SO uncool!

We'll try to let you know the truth of the matter, once the company gets back to us.

Got any theories of your own you'd like to air (ideally about this product, Skype or internet telephony generally)? If so, you might care to contribute to this thread in the HEXUS.community.

Update, July 28, 2006, 15:44

The every-helpful Keith White at USRobotics has just emailed and confirmed both of our theories - the product is called the Mini because it's small and the 9602's specs sheet is wrong. In his email, Keith says,

Thanks for bring this to my attention. It appears to be wrong. The actual dimensions are:

Width 4.4cm
Length 11.1cm
Depth 2.2cm

We shall amend datasheets immediately.

HEXUS.links

HEXUS.community :: discussion thread about this article
USRobotics - demo of HiFi Voice Technology
USRobotics - 9602 home page
USRobotics - 9602 specs page
Broadbandbuyer - USRobotics Store (taking orders soon)