Until now, making a Skype call required being near your computer. Now you can make or receive Skype calls from any mobile phone as well as any handset in the house or office with the VoSKY Call Center from Actiontec. This small hardware accessory makes it possible to use the Skype service to call across the country or across the world for free or at online rates, wherever you are.

The VoSKY Call Center enables Skype subscribers to use their cell phones to talk to their Skype buddies for free, or to non-Skype users anywhere in the world for the cost of a local call. By plugging the device into an Internet-connected PC and any stationary phone with which it is being used, users have the ability to:

• Place Skype and SkypeOut calls from any mobile or stationary phone, simply by calling the phone number to which the Call Center is connected and following the voice prompts to initiate the call.
• Receive incoming Skype or SkypeIn calls on any mobile or stationary phone, using an incoming call forwarding feature that allows the Call Center to direct Internet calls to any phone number of the user's choice.
• Get notified on any phone when Skype contacts come online, using a call return feature that enables the Call Center to call any phone number when a previously unavailable buddy signs on. Users can then call that person by pressing the "1" button on their telephone keypad.

These features extend Skype's reach not only to cell phones but also to consumers who have no broadband connection at home. In that case, the VoSKY Call Center can be installed at the office, and users can call their office number to make Skype or SkypeOut calls.

The VoSKY Call Center plugs into the USB port of the user's PC as well as any stationary phone with which it is being used. It allows the same phone to be used for both regular and Internet calls, avoiding the complications of needing separate handsets for each. It supports call waiting as well as Skype speed dialing; incorporates state-of-the-art echo-cancellation technology for signal clarity; and requires no network configuration, change in firewall or router settings, or external power supply. Power is provided by the USB port of the PC.

The VoSKY Call Center is available immediately for $69.95. Package contents will include USB and RJ-11 telephone cables for connecting the device to the PC and telephone, an installation CD-ROM, a quick start guide, and a user manual on CD-ROM.