Skype Looks to Extend Consumer Reach

Skype said Tuesday that it had partnered with networking equipment manufacturer D-Link to bring a solution to market that would allow its subscribers to place Skype calls over a traditional phone line.

D-Link will offer a USB phone adapter that enables Skype users to plug in a traditional corded or cordless telephone to use with the service. Both a Skype and traditional phone line can be connected to the device, allowing users to switch between services.

Users would also be able to conference call between the Skype and traditional phone lines, the company said.

The devices are part of a broader effort by the company to further its reach in the VoIP market. Several companies other than D-Link have announced partnerships with Skype to extend the feature base of the service.

Creative has announced the Skype Internet PhonePLUS, which allows users to place phone calls through Skype without a PC. Kodak Photo Voice will be the first official photo sharing service for Skype, and new devices will be announced at CES from Panasonic and Netgear.

"The growing Skype ecosystem of leading consumer electronics companies gives Skype users innovative, easy-to-use products and validates the market for Internet calling," Skype business development vice president James Bilefield said.

The company hopes that the new line of products compatible with the Skype service would put it on a more equal footing with traditional phone services, as well as other VoIP providers like Vonage.