[BSalita]

Just received a VTA1000 Skype Gateway product from PCPhoneLine.com. The product allows you to attach a POTS phone (or cordless phone system) to Skype via a computer's USB connection. Here's some initial comments. This product is in a similar space to ChatCord. I also own a ChatCord. The ChatCord software is incomplete and their website claims features that they have not delivered. ChatCord is an immature product. Do not buy a ChatCord, at least until the fulfill their claims.

Total different experience with the VTA1000. I've only tried the Skype interface so far, not the SIP feature. The product does everything I want with Skype. The drivers installed smoothly. The audio quality is good. You hear dial tone immediately upon going off-hood. You dial normal 1+area code and it interfaces to Skype network. Go on-hook and Skype terminates the call. Perfect.

The VTA1000 is small, about the size of a pack of cigarettes, and incredibly light. Easy to travel with. Only a USB connection is needed, not microphone or audio.

Both the software and hardware seem well engineered. The documentation is one page. Like the product, the documentation is terse and focused. Everything I needed to know was on that one page. They clearly take pride in being careful and accurate.

I did not try the SIP feature.

The only thing that ChatCord has over the VTA1000 is that ChatCord claims to work with NetPhone and other softphones. However, so far, ChatCord has only delivered on Skype and that software is immature.

This is a large and growing field. I expect there will be many more entrants into this space with more and more features. I don't expect the VTA1000 to be king of the hill for more than a few months. Meanwhile, the device, albeit a bit expensive, is a worthy entrant.

[commstar]

Try this option from cuphone
http://www.cuphone.com/skype/index.htm