Skype trying for mainstream push at CES

Las Vegas (NV) - A number of CES announcements by Skype seem to be unscoring the company’s push to be accepted among the ranks of mainstream VoIP service providers.

D-Link announced its DPH-50U Skype USB phone adapter that let users accept both regular telephone and Skype calls from the same phone. While the product is similar to boxes already available from Actiontec and others, D-Link’s entry into the Skype cloud serves as yet another acknowledgement of Skype’s importance in the VoIP market.

D-Link has set suggested retail for the device at $70 and said it will be available at Skype’s online store, its online shop and retails in the U.S. and Europe. But exact timing of availability was not given.

In another announcement, Panasonic said it plans to launch a "Skype compatible cordless telephone product" that will enable "select Panasonic cordless telephones" to interface directly with Skype. With the new product, consumers will be able to make and receive Skype and traditional calls using the same Panasonic cordless phone.

Panasonic’s announcement, however, mostly seemed to be selling futures, with no concrete pricing or availability given.

Finally, a Skype press release today said that the company will make an announcement regarding its collaboration with Netgear on a "breakthrough product".