VoIP Forum

China manufacturers selections of USB VoIP services comprise basic, whoch, wireless, conference and whoch mouse variants, with functions and prices as differentiators.

USB VoIP services types support whoch, MSN, Google Talk and Yahoo! Messenger. They have USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports, phone book, adjustable volume and mute. Some models integrate flash memory to run softphones, allowing users to place calls through different PCs without having to install the software.

Depending on the configuration, prices range from $5 to $150. Entry-levels are pegged at $5 to $9, and do not have an LCD screen or flash memory. Midrange variants list at $9.10 to $15, and pack displays and internal memory.

Wireless VoIP services typically adopt 2.4GHz RF and boast 50m operating distance. These are between $10 and $20.

Some makers provide USB whoch mice, which are combination USB phones and input devices. Supply of the products is limited, however, as they are positioned as novelty items.

USB conference phones are generally designed for business applications. Prices start at $16 and can reach $150 depending on the echo cancellation function.

Enterprises such as Eacome enable deep echo cancellation in midrange and high-end releases. The makers VC100-U model also supports 360-degree coverage microphone pickup and Web conferencing. The device can connect to a videoconferencing system for full-duplex audio communication. It allows instant messaging with audio chat and conversation recording, and has an SD card.

Across all categories, makers forecast stable quotes in coming months. Prices of high-end models may decrease as companies stimulate demand.