The $200 to $300 Internet Telephone that we dreamed up here back in June (CI No 2,687, 2,688) is close to becoming reality. Entering the Internet access arena in a big way, London W-based marketing and promotions group Firecrest Plc is about to launch a prototype of its Internet Transphone, and Transphone 2 is on the way. The handsets are being developed in conjunction with Dionne Developments Ltd. Transphone is a telephone handset complete with magnetic and Smart Card facility which, coupled with software such as Camelot Corp’s Digiphone, for which Firecrest has exclusive UK marketing rights (CI No 2,792), will enable users to make free or inexpensive phone calls worldwide to other subscribers over the Internet. The size of a slim mobile phone, it fits on the side of a personal computer monitor, enabling not just telephone calls but also all manner of home shopping and banking. Transphone 2, (both worldwide patents applied for) is a stand-alone telephone about the size of an office handset, which will have a small screen, alpha-numeric keypad and built-in modem, enabling Internet access, facsimile, and electronic mail in addition to the card facility. It plugs in to an ordinary telephone line, can be hooked up to a printer, and used as an ordinary phone as well. The company is looking to license worldwide distributors. At a target price of under ú200, it looks as if the Transphone 2 could be a serious contender in the low-cost Internet access device race.
