ClearOne CHAT 160 Skype-Certified Speakerphone USB Connectivity, Full-Duplex, Noise Reduction, Three Microphones, 360-Degree Sound

Skype VoIP technology is growing in popularity as an alternative to the
more traditional telephone service providers because of its ease of use
and dirt-cheap costs. Who wouldn t want the ability to basically chat
with anyone on the planet that has a computer connected to the Internet
for free? Oh yeah, and they also have video. Now you can see why
technology like this has the big phone companies scrambling to slow down
their own obsolescence. In support of the continued growth of VoIP
providers like Skype, ClearOne has announced their latest high-end
speakerphone, the CHAT 160.
The new Skype-certified CHAT 160 group speakerphone is designed to
connect to laptops or PCs via USB. Its touted as a hands-free
communication option for anyone using Skype but given its rather large
price tag, it s a safe bet that this is an enterprise or SOHO purchase.
The CHAT 160 offers full-duplex audio for voice and video communication.
It features three different microphones and a 360-degree design so you
can bet that it would feel right at home sitting in the middle of a
long, mahogany boardroom table.
The CHAT 160 contains HDConference , the same suite of audio
technologies that is contained in ClearOne's other professional
conferencing systems. The HDConference technology includes full-duplex,
Distributed Echo Cancellation , noise reduction, automatic level
controls, and adaptive modeling. And you thought it was just another
speakerphone. The CHAT 160 is plug-and-play and requires no software or
drivers to be installed.
The CHAT 160 has a suggested retail price of $399.99 and can be
purchased from the Skype Shop at www.skype.com/shop.