Thomson Makes a Skype Handset for GE

You know Skype has to be getting close to the mainstream of GE wants a handset phone with Skype capability.

Home and entertainment technology house Thomson has somehow been coerced into making a Skype-capable cordless handset phone for consumer product giant General Electric, in the form of the GE 28300EE2. The phone features separate call logs for traditional and VoIP calls, a 100-item integrated address book, and a 120 hour standby time and 10 hoursof talking on a single battery charge. (On a note which I personally find very positive, the phone is also compatible with hearing aids, which is something overlooked by nearly every telephone on the market.)

Oh, and, of course: the phone can be used with premium Skype VoIP calling features, including SkypeOut for placing inexpensive international calls to landlines and mobile phones, as well as free calls to Skype users.

The GE 28300EE2 comes with two handsets, USB connectivity to you can use it with a PC, integrated Skype Caller ID as well as traditional telco Caller ID service, a headset jack, support for call waiting, and voice encryption.

“The fact that one of the top telephony providers in the world is offering a handset specifically designed for Skype is an incredible testimony and validation of the global popularity of Internet voice communications,” said Stefan Öberg, General Manager, Desktop and Hardware at Skype, said in a statement. “The Thomson handset for Skype is as simple and familiar as a traditional phone, making it even easier for consumers to join the 113 million people already connecting with family and friends through Skype anywhere in the world for free.”

The GE 28300EE2 should hit retailers before the end-of-year holidays at a suggested price of $149.