First, there was VoIP phones that helped up bridge the communication divide with our friends and family who are residing far away from us, as calling cards aren’t exactly the cheapest way to go if you are bent on holding conversations long into the wee hours of the morning. Thankfully, VoIP technology in terms of software and hardware has progressed to such an extent that it is now possible to hold video calls that have a decent frame rate. There are many Skype-certified phones available in the market these days, but if you want to carry out a video conversation, you’d have to pick up a webcam as well. 3J Communications decided to roll both devices into a single offering with the aptly-named Skype Video Phone.

This VoIP-enabled phone looks like your standard issue landline phone as it comes with the standard numeric keypad, a fairly generous LCD display with blue backlight for easy navigation under low light conditions, a camera which is attached to the Skype Video Phone’s base, offering a frame rate of 30fps at 320 x 240 pixels resolution. In addition, the camera will adjust the brightness level automatically for the most optimal video setting. This means you no longer have to set up your webcam separately, as calls made will automatically trigger the camera.

Additional features include selectable ring tones for incoming calls, the ability to dial Skype contacts and Skypeout numbers via the phone keypad, echo cancellation, noise reduction, and full-duplex communication for crystal clear conversations. The Skype Video Phone retails for $56.88 and is compatible with Yahoo! Messenger and MSN Messenger as well.

Source: Ubergizmo