Gift Tip 6: Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1

Oct 27 2009, 10:21am CDT | by Luigi Lugmayr

Skype is an application that runs on your PC with a webcam, microphone, and speakers or headphones. However if you rely on Skype heavily for everyday communications or it is a business tool used around the office, then a standalone unit which isn't connected to a PC may be your preferred option. Alongside handsets that look like standard wireless home phones there is a new option from Asus that combines the best of Skype into a single unit. The Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1T combines a 7-inch touch screen (800 x 480 resolutions) with webcam and voice communication. Effectively it is a complete Skype solution away from your PC screen.

Although Asus Skype Touch is aimed at all Skype users, it's feature set particularly suits the home user with little experience using all of Skype’s capabilities through a PC. The interface is icon based and has a large touch screen keypad for typing. Connection just involves hooking into your broadband (wireless or wired) and logging into Skype. All features such as video, voice, and messaging are handled through the device at the touch of a button.

The Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1 followup to the voice-only S1, enables virtually unlimited video calls without a computer -- a world's first to get a big thumbs-up from Skype. The SV1 packs an 800 x 600 pixel 7-inch LCD, integrated speaker and mic (or jacks for your own), a VGA-quality webcam, and connects to the Internet over 802.11b/g WiFi or Ethernet. It'll even run off battery power for up to 20-minutes if absolutely necessary. Furthermore, the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T allows you to make calls to fixed and mobile lines at really cheap rates; users can also receive calls from any land or mobile phone line if they have an online Skype number.

The only downside is the cost, which is $299 and this will be a turnoff for homeowners, since they could get Skype up and running on their PCs with a cheap webcam with microphone.

Great Gift For
The Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1 is an ideal gift for someone who uses Skype heavily for their business or personal reasons.

Price and Where to Buy
The Asus Skype Touch AiGuru SV1 is selling for about $270 on Amazon.com.
Compare prices offered by other stores.

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Luigi Lugmayr
Luigi is the founding chief Editor of I4U News and brings over 15 years experience in the technology field to the ever evolving and exciting world of gadgets. He started I4U News back in 2000 and evolved it into vibrant technology magazine.
Luigi can be contacted directly at ml@i4u.com. Luigi posts regularly on LuigiMe.com about his experience running I4U.