Yahoo! has teamed up with technology manufacturer Linksys (News - Alert) in order to introduce the Linksys Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice (CIT310), a cordless, dual-mode telephone. The new device combines lower-cost VoIP calling with Yahoo! Messenger with Voice, as well as traditional landline/PSTN calling.

The dual-mode cordless phone will enable users to place free Internet-based calls to their Yahoo! Messenger Contacts. Subscribers to Yahoo! Phone Out can also use the cordless phone to make Internet-based calls to any traditional or mobile phone at lower rates. The device's USB base station allows users to take their Yahoo! Messenger with Voice's calls away from the PCs and roam into other rooms. The phone also has a button that enables the user to easily switch their call from VoIP to a traditional landline with just a click.

Users will also be able to search for local business info from their phone with Yahoo! Local Search. They will be able to program the phone with a local ZIP code to search for a local business and call the establishment with one click. The phone can also be used to access weather forecasts through a weather search setting.

“The CIT310 is our first product to couple the Yahoo! Messenger with Voice experience and access to Internet services like Yahoo! Local Search,” said Tarun Loomba, senior director of product marketing for the Linksys Consumer Business Organization in a statement. “We share the same vision with Yahoo! of not just improving the experience of internet phone calling, but also offering a valuable combination of Internet-enabled features and services that customers will use and really want.”

The device comes equipped with a handset with color display, and a USB base station that plugs into a computer’s USB port and a port for a traditional landline/PSTN connection. The very first customers to get their hands on these phones will receive 100 free minutes to make Yahoo! Phone Out calls to any traditional or mobile phone.

The dual-mode cordless phone also features Yahoo! Messenger Status Message (available, online, busy, etc.), Yahoo! Address Book access, Call waiting for both incoming VoIP and PSTN calls, Caller ID for both VoIP and PSTN calls, Last Number Redial, Polyphonic ring tones, and Melodies and Intercom Call between handsets.

The Linksys Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice (CIT310) is currently being sold through Amazon.com (News - Alert) and will be available through other online retailers later this month. The estimated retail price is $99.99.

Today’s news follows Linksys’ announcement about it teaming up with Speakeasy (News - Alert) to collaborate in targeting small businesses with hosted VoIP systems. The new agreement will enable Speakeasy to market the Linksys IP Desktop Phone (SPA 942) together with its Business VoIP system, a hosted service targeted at small business customers looking for a single provider for broadband-based and voice and data services. Speakeasy Business VoIP offers small and medium businesses a PBX phone option without the hurdle of on-site hardware investment.

“Teaming with Speakeasy makes for a strong offering of VoIP hardware and service that was developed for the small business customer in mind,” stated Linksys’ director of product marketing Sherman Scholten last month. “Speakeasy shares our vision in making it easier to give small businesses a more complete VoIP solution that provides the features, benefits and capabilities that they need to run their company more efficiently. We look forward to working with Speakeasy and supporting their growth in the hosted VoIP market.”

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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne's columnist page.