VoIP communications have become extremely popular over the past few years, as they allow users to carry out long-distance calls, as well as short-distance ones at some pretty affordable fees. This level of popularity has convinced quite a large number of electronic products manufacturers to roll out various devices that use the power of VoIP, without “abandoning” their main functions, and that's exactly the type of device you'll read about as follows, namely the USB Handsfree Skype Mouse, presented by the people over at USB Geek since the second half of 2007.



Thus, the device combines two of the most popular devices found in the vicinity of any PC nowadays, namely a mouse and a VoIP headset. However, the design of this device is not exactly high-tech (betraying its Chinese origins), but, nevertheless, it does what it's supposed to at a relatively OK level.



Thus, the USB Handsfree Skype Mouse incorporates, obviously, a 800 dpi optical USB mouse, but also sports a built-in USB sound card and earphone connector, as well as a built-in microphone and speaker with echo-cancellation technology, which allow it to act as a handsfree speakerphone and enables full-duplex communications.



The device also features call and cancel buttons (for enhanced convenience during the conversations), and offers various chord music ring tones catering to different tastes. Moreover (or more importantly), it works with a very wide range of VoIP services, including here Skype, VoipButser, VoipStunt, VoIPCheap, VoipDiscount, SparVoip, Internetcalls, poivY, WebCallDirect, VoipCheapCom, FreeCall and NetAppel.



The device is quite versatile from the point of view of supported operating systems, as it works quite OK under Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME, 98, and won't occupy too much space on the user's desk, either, as it measures just around 9.8 cm x 5.0 cm x 2.0 cm, at a weight of around 90 grams.



The USB Handsfree Skype Mouse retails for around 25 US dollars, which is a very low price for such an item and quite a clear mark of the fact that the device is far from being a high-end one.