Linksys CIT310 Dual Mode Cordless Phone

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Pal Tom Keating has the first look at the Linksys CIT310 dual mode phone. Tom has pretty extensive review, of the product, so we will stick to the highlights here. The Linksys CIT310 is a dual mode cordless IP phone that is configure to work with Yahoo! messenger. Similar to the Linksys CIT200 for Skype, the best feature of the Linksys CIT310 is the ability to make post PSTN calls and free VoIP calls to other Yahoo! Messenger users.

The Linksys CIT310 utilizes wireless DECT 6.0 standard. It comes with a docking base station and it has multiple handset support (no details on how many yet) and, according to Tom, has a range of 300 meters outdoor and 50 meters indoor. Standby time is 100 hours and talk time is 10 hours. Although it features a color screen, one of the issues I can see with the Linksys CIT310 is that the viewing screen is small.

Linksys CIT310 Features:

• Supports Yahoo! Messenger with Voice’s Internet-based calling services
• PC-to-PC
• Phone Out: PC-to-Phone
• Phone In: Phone-to-PC
• Supports traditional landline/PSTN calls using a local phone line
• Color Display
• Yahoo! Messenger Contact List display and search
• Yahoo! Local Search based on city zip codes
• Weather search (get 2 days of weather info on the display, based on the zip code entered in the phone)
• Yahoo! Messenger Status Message (available, online, busy, etc.)
• Yahoo! Address Book access
• Call waiting for both incoming VoIP and PSTN calls
• Intercom Call between handsets
• Caller ID for both VoIP and PSTN calls
• Last Number Redial
• Polyphonic ring tones, and Melodies
• Single base station supports up to six additional DECT based phones for PTSN calls
• Headset jack for connecting a headset
• Multi-language support (English, French, Spanish)
• A full charge on the battery enables up to 100 hours of standby time and up to 10 hours of talk time

Overall, it looks like Linksys simply duplicated their efforts with the made for Skype CIT200 when they created the CIT310 for Yahoo! Messenger. But with a retail price of $79.99, you can not really ask for much more. The only question I have, “is this the just the start of the made for Yahoo! Messenger devices?”
P.S. For more information on the Linksys CIT310 or to purchase this unit, click here.