If you’re like me, you grew tired of the Baby Bells a long time ago. Unfortunately, given they have the rights to the government-subsidized copper wire running to your home, it has been hard to escape their greedy little hands. Cell phones made it easier to cut the cord, but given that most of the cell phone companies are basically Baby Bell companies now, you’re right back with them again. Now, finally, someone has made a sexy phone that lets you call your friends on Skype using just a WIFI connection.
The Belkin WiFi Phone for Skype is pre-loaded with the Skype software, automatically downloads your contacts from your existing Skype accounts, and supports the majority of the wireless security protocols that are out there today (WEP, WPA, and WPA2 with PSK).
The phone doesn’t have a web browser (probably a huge oversight given that you’ve got a device that inherently connects to the Internet), so good luck getting on a wireless network that requires you to put in your credit card number in a browser. But it looks like the best designed product to come along in this space so far. They’re taking pre-orders at Amazon and the Skype Store. The device retails for $179.99 — a small price to pay to get one step further away from the Bells. [via]