[AG-TECH] Has anyone tried...

[David E. Bernholdt [bek] 574-3147]

http://www.phonebridge.com/?

This is a device which hooks up your computer speakers and mic and a
standard telephone to your sound card, automatically switching the
speakers on and off when you pick up/put down the phone.  (No software
involved.) It is targeted at VOIP telephony, and lists for $130
(though you can find it for as low as $85)

The reason I ask is that advertised features include "Full Duplex" and
"True Echo Cancellation inside".  Unfortunately, I can't find any more
substantive information anywhere.

Given the price, I'm pretty skeptical, but also curious.  My _guess_
is that "echo cancellation" is merely turning the computer speakers
off when you pick up the phone handset.  And of course a standard
phone (not speakerphone) is already full duplex.  So my _assumption_
is that this is worthless in an AG environment, but I'd be happy to
hear otherwise.

Thanks
--
David E. Bernholdt                   |   Email: bernholdtde at ornl.gov 
Oak Ridge National Laboratory        |   Phone: +1 (865) 574 3147    
http://www.csm.ornl.gov/~bernhold/   |   Fax:   +1 (865) 574 0680