Skype gave it a shot, but Cisco is taking video calling via your TV to the next level. The new Cisco umi telepresence promises to deliver full HD video quality in your living room. The product bundle includes an HD camera, a console that attaches to your TV, and a dedicated remote. The company promises a superior video and audio experience, and that umi will be able to adjust automatically to various lighting conditions. We’re going to see for ourselves how good the experience is, but it had better be amazing. Umi costs $599 for the hardware and a relatively steep $24.99 per month for unlimited calls.

Check out our hands-on with the Cisco umi >>

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When Gmail rolled out its chat sidebar back in 2006, it seemed like a pretty wild curve ball for a company that’s made such things their bread and butter.

It’s a similar situation with Gmail’s latest update, which started rolling out to U.S. based users on Wednesday–you can now call cell phones and landline numbers from the Google Talk sidebar.

Like with most Google add-ons, setting up phone calls in Gmail is extremely easy. If you’re on a personal Gmail account and have received the update, an icon labeled “Call phone” will pop up under your name on the chat sidebar. After installing the required plugin, you’ll be ready to start making calls.

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It’s on! Or is it? In response to magicJack founder Dan Borislow’s sharply-worded comments last week, competitor netTALK has issued a very measured response, defending the credentials of its executives and highlighting the benefits of its TK6000 product, without mentioning its chief rival by name.

While declining our request for a phone interview, netTALK CEO Anastasios “Takis” Kyriakides sent us the following statement via e-mail:

We, at netTALK, would like to respond to the comments made about our company and our product, the TK6000, as of late. Contrary to comments made, our company is founded and run by a staff of seasoned executives with decades of experience who firmly attests to and stands behind the high quality of netTALK’s policies, customer service practices, network and product development activities. Unlike others on the market, the TK6000 works independent of a computer, offering more convenience, flexibility and functionality to the end user – not to mention cost and energy savings. Because the TK6000 is flexible enough to not require the use of a fully powered computer to make and receive calls like other units, our customers are able to save time, energy and money. We developed the TK6000 by reviewing the current leading products in the category and focusing on the best attributes from each, resulting in a product we, and our loyal customers, feel is a best-of-all-worlds communication device.

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It’s amazing what a low price and a marketing blitz can accomplish. magicJack, the pocket-size USB plug-and-play VOIP service, has sold over 5 million units since its 2007 debut. The much-wanted Linux support and number portability are still on the drawing board, but the company (led by the its candid creator Dan Borislow), is branching off into new, exciting territories.

During CES 2010, magicJack publicly announced its upcoming femtocell (news that Mr. Borislow gave us months before), a device that enables GSM cell phones to connect through the YMAX Voice Network and sends voice data over the carriers’ towers. There’s been some rumblings about the legality of this, so we decided it time to contact Borislow once again for the real deal on femtocell, other magicJack products, and a rival: the magicJack-inspired netTALK.

When can we expect the new magicjack and what’s the estimated price?
The femtocell should be out in Q2 for around the same price as the current magicjack.

The femtocell has been the cause of some debate in regards to its legality. How are you allowed to place calls using the carrier’s networks?
It’s definitely legal. There are a couple of different ways to go. You can operate under Part 15 [a section of the FCC regulation regrading unlicensed transmissions], and there’s further exemptions if you operate under a boat, plane, or any transportation. They’re all exempt as well even without Part 15. You can use it in a car, taxi, in a park, a home, anywhere.

Click here for the full interview.

Could this innocuous device be the magicJack killer? netTALK is looking to muscle in on Dan Borislow’s territory with the TK6000, its very own low-cost telephony device that plugs into your notebook via USB.

Like the magicJack, the $99 device allows users to make and receive free calls to anywhere in the USA or Canada, but one-ups its rival by allowing customers to chat it up without a computer. How does this miracle occur? You simply plug your high-speed connection cable, the included AC power adapter, and your existing home phone (corded or cordless) into the TK6000. Once that’s done, the phone should ring, signaling that that set-up is complete. Groovy. You also get the usual features you’d expect from a phone service such as caller ID, call waiting, directory assistance, and more.

Even better, there aren’t any monthly fees, so if you’re looking to dramatically slash your phone bill, the netTALK may make for a compelling alternative to your traditional landline. We’re eagerly awaiting putting this bugger through its paces, but until then a poll: Do you think the netTALK can topple the magicJack?

If the technical or customer support problems haven’t put you off magicJack’s VOIP service altogether, you might be interested that a fan on the Unofficial magickJack Forums put the device inside his ASUS Eee PC 1000HE. As with all the best mods and hacks, the process requires taking the netbook apart and some soldering skills. But if you long for MJ’s magic wherever you go and just can’t be bothered with dongles, you can attempt to copy mikend’s process.

Via Engadget

magicJack, the $39.99 USB dongle that connects to your PC so that you can make low-cost calls through the internet, certainly sounds enticing. The $40 cost of entry includes one year of service, and once that has expired, subscribing  is just $19.99 per year–far lower than the price of traditional landline or cell phone subscriptions. It’s easy to see the appeal: slashing your phone bill in these penny-pinching times only seems prudent.

However, magicJack has also proven to be a hot-bed of controversy, at least amongst LAPTOP readers who visit this blog. Although a number have touted the effectiveness of the product, another vocal segment has claimed that the device is shoddy and lacks reliable customer support. Some have claimed that magicJack flat-out doesn’t work; one person has stated that it wrecked the PC it was plugged into.

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Pictured: Current magicJack

You’ve read the news and reviews online. You’ve seen the TV spots. Magicjack has proven to be a surprise hit device since its launch in 2007, and – on this site at least – has proven to be a hot topic that has  stirred passionate debate about the low-cost, plug-and-play telephony service ($39.99 with one year of service included in price).

In that time, magicJack has seen over 700 bug fixes and improved customer service, which has seen its Better Buisness Bureau rating jump to an “A-” (previously, it was a “F”). And with sales totalling over 3 million units, it looks like the company is thriving.

Still, magicJack inventor Dan Borislow isn’t resting on his product’s success; big plans are in motion that will expand magicJack’s functionality. After the jump, Mr. Borislow’s big plans for magicJack.

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Yesterday we stopped by Verizon to take a look at what the company has up it sleeves for the next version of its Hub. While there was some new hardware on display, including two models that ditch the phone-attached feature, Verizon said that these were just mock-up designs and it wasn’t sure which ODM it would go with. Both prototypes, however, had capacitive touch-screens as opposed to the current resistive technology, and Verizon confirmed one was powered by an Intel Atom processor, typically reserved for netbooks .

While the new designs were very attractive, the screen sizes remained the same. One had a glossy black border, while the other sat atop a speaker.

On both prototypes, Verizon added the ability to switch between multiple pages of applications. And to provide new applications, Verizon showed us an application store portal called App Mart for installing things like Rhapsody radio, an Alarm clock, and more.

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While some Star Trek fans use replicas of items from the show for evil, others are coming up with ways to use them for good.  Take this original series communicator/VoIP/Skype phone coming out in April.  Yes, it’s a real phone (for a value of real that includes being used with Skype…) that you can actually make calls and talk to people with.  Apparently it will also come with sound bytes related to the show.  [Insert lame Beam Me Up, Scotty joke here.]

It’s compatible with Windows (XP & Vista) and OS X and has a USB sound controller, speakerphone, and mic.  According to EverythingUSB you’ll even be able to answer the phone by flipping it open Captain Kirk style and attach it to any number of cloth surfaces thanks to velcro backing.  I cannot wait until this thing comes out.

Hat Tip: Everything USB via OhGizmo!