It’s hip2b2

Linksys and other vendors have already released MS Windows Mobile powered WiFi VoIP phones in the past. Check them out VoIP WiFi SIP Phone Black, VoIP WiFi SIP Phone Sliver and Linksys Cordless Internet Telephony Kit for Skype CIT200. Why just MS Windows Mobile? Then Belkin comes out with its Belkin Skype WiFi Phone. It uses Boingo Wireless Toolkit which is open sourced.

Belkin is shipping a WiFi phone based on Linux and Skype’s proprietary VoIP (voice-over-IP) client. The Belkin WiFi Phone for Skype can use open or encrypted WiFi networks, and connects seamlessly at commercial hotspots and hot zones operated by Boingo, Belkin says.

The Belkin WiFi phone is available initially in English, Chinese, and Korean, with other languages to be added later. It comes with a Skype client preinstalled, and is designed for use with Boingo’s $8-per-month “Boingo Mobile” service, which offers unlimited access.

In addition to commercial Boingo hotspots, the Belkin phone also works with open 802.11b/g networks, and supports WPA and WPA2 with PSK security.

The strange thing about this phone is that it is actually more expensive than the MS Windows Mobile phones from Linksys. Well, that is another story. But the again … Netgear and Philips may use Linux too.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 16th, 2006 at 12:37 am and is filed under Linux. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.