D-Link Debuts Mobile VoIP Phone

Retail shelves will soon see a new class of Wi-Fi mobile devices sold alongside cell phones and PDAs that work on carriers' cellular networks.

D-Link Systems Inc., a data networking hardware provider, today rolled out a Wi-Fi phone that will allow people to make free calls anywhere in the world where there's open Wi-Fi access. D-Link claims it's the first pocket-sized Wi-Fi phone that will ship with a full-featured softphone--a software-based phone for VoIP calling--from Internet telephony services provider TelTel.

Using the D-Link Wi-Fi phone, TelTel customers will be able to call each other for free, or non-TelTel customers for a fee. Calls will be made over the Public Session Initiation Protocol Telephone Network, allowing for integrated voice and data applications.

Users will get most of the same IP telephony services on their Wi-Fi phones as the PC version of TelTel's softphone, including buddy list synchronization, which lets users see if their contacts are available to take calls.

The D-Link phone is intended for both consumers and small businesses. It's designed to give people the freedom to use VoIP services when they're away from their PCs and is a cheaper alternative to traditional landline and cellular services, according to Jack Chang, TelTel's chief operating officer.D-Link is showcasing the phone at this week's Spring VON conference in San Jose. It should be available at retailers like Circuit City and Best Buy this summer for less than $300.