Kevin used the plastic packaging of his 3rd generation iPod Touch as an anchor for the stock earphones, meaning this mod cost him zero dollars.  Here’s the short version of the mod: make grooves on the upper part of the plastic where the two earphone heads will sit. Then cut a hole at the back where you’ll thread the cable through, then wrap the rest of the cable around the plastic. Then get a VOIP app if you haven’t already. Congrats, you have a phone!

Kevin swears that you’ll still hear the audio even though the earphones are not inside your ear when you use the iPod Touch. But that’s not the biggest drawback of this mod. Nor is it the downright ugly look of the finished product – beggars can’t be choosers. The obvious downside to this makeshift phone is that it relies on a Wi-Fi connection. Still, it is better than nothing, and should tide you over until you scrounge up enough pennies to get the Peel, or at least a dumb phone. Head over to Lifehacker for the full instructions.

The Sony VN-CX1A telephone mouse is a fully-functional optical mouse which works with all Windows PCs. Pick it up, and open it and it transforms into a VOIP phone for use with Skype. When propped open on the desktop, it becomes a speaker phone. The mouse comes in black, silver and blue colors which match most of Sony’s VAIO PCs.

It’s available now from Sony Style Japan for ¥7980 (appx. $65 USD.) No release date has been announced for other countries.

The Linksys iPhone series will include several Skype-compatible Internet phones, including both wired and wireless versions. The iPhone product family includes products like the Wireless-G IP Phone (WIP330) which lets you access music, photos, and streaming video from sources on the Internet in addition to making phone calls.
The full series of products includes:

• iPhone Cordless Internet Telephony Kit
  (CIT200): $79.99
• iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit
  (CIT300): $99.99
• iPhone Dual-Mode Cordless Phone for Yahoo! Messenger with Voice (CIT310): $99.99
• iPhone Dual-Mode Internet Telephony Kit for Skype
  (CIT400): $179.99
• iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone
  (WIP300): $219.99
• iPhone Wireless-G Phone for Skype
  (WIP320): $199.99
• iPhone Wireless-G IP Phone
  (WIP330): $369.99

Apple fanboys, you may now resume your speculation on Apple’s telecom plans.

[via Gizmodo]

The phone features a standard telephone keypad and volume controls, as well as an integrated LCD that lets you control Skype without looking at your computer screen at all. It even has a voicemail indicator light to let you know when you have messages. If you don’t want to make a speakerphone call, you can also connect a standard headset. Priced at $89.99 USD, it’s available now.

[via CrunchGear ]