TRENDnet® Enables Wireless Voice Conferencing for Small Businesses with ClearSkyT Bluetooth® VoIP Conference Phone Kit for Skype
TRENDnet (7/18/2006)

The world’s first long-range Bluetooth® Conference Phone Kit is one of 4 new VoIP products designed to extend the practical use of Skype in the office and at home

Torrance, CAJuly 18, 2006–TRENDnet, a best-in-class networking manufacturer of wired and wireless networking solutions announced its latest VoIP innovation for small businesses, the ClearSky™ Bluetooth®VoIP Conference Phone Kit (TVP-SP4BK) for Skype™. The distinctively designed Skype conference phone kit is the first product to enable hands-free voice conferencing for small businesses anywhere in the office using a wireless Bluetooth® connection.

Skype™, founded in 2003 and now an E-Bay™ owned company, has quickly become the world’s leading service provider of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). The peer-to-peer service allows users to place and receive encrypted calls to other Skype users or regular landline and mobile phones over a high-speed internet connection for a fraction of the cost of traditional telephony. Small-businesses are increasingly looking to VoIP solutions such as Skype™ as means of saving on long-distance phone charges. However, practical use of Skype™ in office environments has been somewhat limited, since most Skype™ phone solutions today require a wired USB connection directly to a PC. TRENDnet’s new distinctively designed conference phone kit eliminates the need for wires by using a long-range Bluetooth connection, so businesses can make high-quality, echo-free conference calls anywhere in the office.

The ClearSky™ kit includes the conference phone base unit and a Bluetooth 2.0 adapter with a Class 1 Radio. Together they create a long-range Bluetooth connection that limits potential interference in the office environment and helps maintain a reliable connection for seamless voice clarity. By simply plugging the included USB Bluetooth 2.0 Adapter into a Skype-enabled laptop or desktop the conference phone can be placed anywhere within 100 meters (328ft.). The conference phone’s integrated LCD screen and touchpad offer easy control and viewing of Skype™ contacts, call history, status and SkypeOut™ credit balance. This allows users to place and receive calls remotely without being next to their PC.

“To save on international calling many of our small business customers are using Skype™ as a supplement to their traditional PSTN phone systems,” stated Heath Gregory, Marketing Director for TRENDnet. “The conference phone kit is part of a complete suite of products we plan to launch in the coming weeks to make Skype™a practical VoIP solution for users at home or the office.”

The TVP-SP4BK ClearSky™ Bluetooth® VoIP Conference Phone Kit will begin shipping August 2006 with a U.S. Average Selling Price of $149.99 (USD). TRENDnet also plans to launch 3 other wired Skype™ solutions in the coming months. The full suite of Skype™ VoIP products will include:

  • TVP-SP1BK –ClearSky™ Bluetooth VoIP Phone Kit (Currently Available)
  • TVP-SP2 -VoIP USB Speakerphone (August 2006)
  • TVP-SP3 – VoIP USB Phone (September 2006)
  • TVP-SP4BK –ClearSky™ Bluetooth VoIP Conference Phone Kit (August 2006)
  • TVP-SP5GVoIP Gateway for Skype (September 2006)



About TRENDnet, Inc.

TRENDnet is a global provider of award-winning networking and surveillance solutions to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as home office users. Building networking solutions since 1990, TRENDnet enables users to share broadband access, multimedia content, and networked peripherals for true anywhere connectivity. TRENDnet's diverse product portfolio includes PoE, switches, Industrial, IP cameras, NVRs, fiber, Powerline, wireless, KVM, USB, and more. To learn more about TRENDnet, please visit www.trendnet.com.

Contact:
TRENDnet
20675 Manhattan Place
Torrance, CA 90501
USA
Marketing Department
(310) 961-5500
PR@trendnet.com

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(888) 326-6061
sales@trendnet.com