| With the fast accelerating popularity of voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and broadband, there are zillions of products that strive to deliver a satisfactory user experience.
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| How? With the help of a simple connection via the USB port of your laptop or computer to make handsfree Internet phone calls over either the instant messenger or VoIP communication platforms.
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| Polycom Communicator is a well-formed handsfree speaker-cum-mic device that connects to the PC via a USB, allowing for trouble-free VoIP calls. One just needs to plug the device into an available USB port on your computer.
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| Compatible with the Windows XP (lacks support for Macs and Linux), the Communicator is ready for use with any software that uses standard Windows sound calls. It can also act as a sound card for PC games and is a decent microphone for recording and listening to audio.
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| Polycom seems to have added an extra auto-echo-cancellation into the Communicator, which reportedly allows smooth voice transfer to and fro. In practice, while we did experience clear, room-filling audio that was free of echoes and feedback (with only the occasional voice delay), people on the other end of our VoIP calls reported differing experiences.
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| Some enjoyed equally crisp sound; others could hear nothing but muffled sounds, even after increasing the volume and testing the Communicator at different times of day. But the best aspect of the Polycom Communicator is the freedom the speakerphone provides.
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| There's no need to frantically look for your headset and put it on when a call comes in. For those who still want their headsets, there's a standard 3.5 mm headphone socket too. Polycom's Communicator is priced at Rs 8,195.
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| The D-Link too has announced the launch of D-Link DPH-10U, that too plugs directly into the USB port of any windows compatible desktop PC or notebook PC.
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| D-Link's speakerphone, too, is an USB phone handset equipped with a regular dialling keypad and features few special function keys, a built-in speaker and integrated microphone.
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| The D-link is also fully compatible with Microsoft's NetMeeting, MSN Messenger Service, Yahoo Messenger, and other popular VoIP services for Windows XP/2000 environment.
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| Other features of D-Link DPH-10U USB VoIP phone include an integrated speaker and microphone, and there is no need for an external power adaptor as it draws power from USB port itself, hardware audio controller for effective echo cancellation and noise reduction, full duplex support and facility to record the conversation directly on host PC's hard drive by simply the press of a button on the handset. The D-Link DPH-10U USB VoIP phone is available at an estimated price of Rs 1,175.
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| Peripherals manufacturer Logitech too has a few impressive VoIP audio gear. For example, the PC-based speakers from Logitech, the Z-5500. A basic Plug and Play affair and you are ready to work with both Windows XP/2000 and Mac OS X environments.
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| But in case, your computer has a high-end soundcard then you are better off with a conventional non-USB headset.When making long calls, a headset with built-in microphone proves comfortable. The premium USB Headset 350 is reasonably comfortable and has a sound quality that is hard to find on VoIP headsets. At around Rs 17,00 it represents great value as well. |
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