New Skype Handset Doesn't Need a PC

RTX, developer of wireless communication has introduces the Dualphone 3088, which can be used as a normal telephone as well as for calling via Skype — without a PC. The new Dualphone helps people to save money on their phone bill and gives them more flexibility when using Skype.

The Dualphone 3088 is a convenient cordless phone which removes the need of a computer when making Skype calls. The phone also allows the user to decide whether to make a free call via the Internet between Skype users, or to use the regular landline connection. The Dualphone has a Skype user interface and possesses nearly all the Skype voice features. The phone base station connects easily to the broadband router and the phone line. The new Dualphone 3088 has a colour display and an operating time of more than 10 hours of talk time as well as up to 140 hours at standby.

"The former USB Cordless Dualphone was our first Skype Certified USB cordless handset," said Manrique Brenes, director of Hardware Business Development at Skype. "It has been available for three years and has been a very successful phone. We are therefore delighted to join RTX in taking Internet calls a step further with cordless embedded phones for Skype."

"We see the greatest opportunity in the price-conscious mass market, where ease-of-use is essential," said Tage Rasmussen, CEO of RTX Telecom. "This is why we have developed a platform for low-cost cordless phones for both Skype Internet calls and regular phone calls, with the added benefit of being able to use a cordless handset without a PC. We will also provide the new platform and product as a design service or OEM/ODM product for global brand manufacturers."

While the Dualphone 3088 includes a regular landline connection, Skype itself is not to be used as a replacement for your ordinary telephone service and does not support emergency calls.

The Dualphone 3088 will be available at RTX's distribution partners and at www.dualphone.net. The product will be also be available at selected European retailers and at the Skype Online Store from December 1, 2006 at a recommended retail price of EUR 159, including VAT.

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Hotmail gives 1GB storage space to users

Microsoft Corp. has announced a global storage upgrade for MSN Hotmail’s active e-mail accounts - expanding the storage capacity to 1 gigabyte and extending the expiration period for inactive accounts from 30 days to 60 days for those accounts that are more than two years old.

The storage upgrade and extension of the expiration period for e-mail accounts is part of Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to meet the evolving needs of Hotmail users as they transition to Microsoft’s next generation email service, Windows Live Mail.


The storage upgrade, which began rolling out in Asia on November 7, will affect Hotmail users in ten markets in the region including Australia, China, India, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Singapore

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Made in India chips from June 2007

SemIndia, a consortium with investments from strategic partners, will roll out its first batch of chips by June 2007 from its Hyderabad facility and has already procured orders to the tune of $400 million.

The consortium is setting up the first phase of the project, an ATMP (assembly, testing, mark and packaging) plant with an estimated investment of $100 million, which would be funded through $30 million equity and $70 million debts.

Talking to CyberMedia News in Chennai, Bob Kondamoori, managing director of Sandalwood Partners, an India-specific venture fund, said that while Flextronics and Sandalwood Partners, an India specific venture fund, is taking $10 million each in equity and the promoters would fund the remaining $10 million.

“For the debt portion of 70 per cent the company had tied-up with ICICI Bank and the State Bank of India,” he informed.

“Andhra Pradesh government has already allotted 75 acres for the company,” he said adding that the building construction would be completed by March 2007.

Kondamoori said, “The major order is from AMD and we have already worked out on the technology transfer for the wafer fab to be set-up in the second phase,” he said.
“The company is awaiting the Union government’s semiconductor policy, which is likely to be announced by November, to implement the second phase,” he added.

The company plans to employ about 1000 people in the first phase, and most of them would be diploma holders.

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