VTech ip8300 infoPhone Web Portal

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Landline phones seem to be slowly going the way of the dinosaur now that people are using their mobile phones and VOIP in their place. Companies that manufacture and sell analog phones are adding new features to make their products more enticing and to bridge the analog to digital gap. The ip8300 infoPhone from Vtech is just such a product. It's an analog phone with a twist. It connects to your Yahoo! account for instant messaging and more...

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Access online content from any room in the house
The VTech ip8300 infoPhone is an advanced broadband-enabled telephone that combines standard telephony and personalized content delivery in a sleek design.

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There are no buttons or switches on the sides of the handset, they are all located on the face. This includes a regular numeric keypad which generous sized keys and a collection of seven other physical buttons. Some of these buttons such as the middle navkey, can be pressed in different directions.

The infoPhone comes with a small cradle that the handset charges in and then a separate base station that has to be connected to an existing LAN (Ethernet) port and your phone line.

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The new ip8300 infoPhone uses the Internet to access information directly on the cordless handset’s color LCD screen, including news headlines, weather reports, horoscopes, local directory searches and more. The infoPhone has a dedicated key for one-touch access to personalized, valuable information - sports fans can see the latest scores for their favorite team and busy parents can easily check the local weather before dressing kids for school. The ip8300 bypasses the need for a computer to get these updates since it is connected to the Internet via a dedicated connection in the phone system’s base station.

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VTech has partnered with Casabi to provide an easy-to-use, network-based interface for access to Internet information and services from the phone. Casabi also provides an online web portal that enables users to choose and organize the information to be sent to the handset. Additionally, the Casabi portal can be used to personalize the phone with ring tones and wallpapers for each member of the family. Upon login to the infoPhone, the user’s preferences are automatically updated on the handset.

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“Casabi’s software enables VTech to bring consumers real-time content and services directly to the cordless handset in an easy-to-use, intuitive interface,” said Dave Weinstein, vice president of marketing and business development at Casabi. “VTech’s track record in design and innovation made the company the perfect partner for the technology.”

E-mail users can stay in touch with friends and family using the infoPhone’s ability to send and receive both e-mails and instant messages directly from their cordless handset without relying on a computer. Using the innovative features on the ip8300, users can sign in to their accounts for quick access to e-mail communications, instant messages and buddy list updates.

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Yahoo! communication services
Effortlessly communicate using your Yahoo! account--check e-mail, access your online address book and send and receive instant messages.

• Real-time IM chat and access to your buddy list
• Review and respond to e-mail

Yahoo! Local search
Use your handset to find an emergency plumber or look up the number to your favorite restaurant.

• Call from the directory with the touch of a button
• Access additional information like hours, special offers and reviews

Get information delivered directly to the handset
Customize your profile to receive personalized news headlines, sports scores, horoscopes and weather forecasts with the touch of a button.

• Information comes directly from the Internet--no need to turn on your PC
• A convenient and easy way to stay caught up on your favorite topics

Personalization
Create profiles for each member of the family including:

• Communication services (e-mail, IM and address book)
• Content channels (news, sports, horoscope, weather and more)
• Securely access your profile from any handset in the home

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Key Features include:

• 1.9 GHz DECT Digital Spread Spectrum Frequency Hopping technology
• High resolution 64K color LCD
• Expandable to five handsets using ip831 accessory handset
• Caller ID/call waiting
• Hands-free speaker phone in handset
• Visual Message waiting indicator
• Individual profile and settings via password protected login
• Real-time content delivery of news, sports, horoscopes, and weather
• Buddy list, email and IM support
• Built-in Ethernet port

The price of $129.95 seems really expensive for a phone that does not even have an answering machine built into it. I think the price would be acceptable if it had an answering machine, WiFi instead of hardwire Ethernet, one cradle/base station, one AC adapter and some type of real instant message notification

Hardware Specifications

DECT 6.0 Digital technology
Expandable up to 5 handsets using only one phone jack
High resolution 64K color display
60 name and number phonebook directory