This is a circular disc unit 8cm across, the centre 2.5cm is a surprisingly clear spear the speaker grill is actually 4.5 of the unit. From the top (back of the unit) a mini USB plug fits in and there is a space for an optional (supplied) earpiece. There are three buttons on the face surround and a blue LED at the bottom front of the unit with a small - but powerful - microphone fitted into the side of the unit.

Installation is quick and as simple as it can be, insert the mini USB plug into the unit, connect the other end to a USB socket on the PC. Windows finds the hardware and within seconds installs software (from within Windows) and then you get a message saying your hardware is ready to use. The blue LED will be on and that's it you should be able to speak to and hear others through the US Robotics USB Internet Speakerphone.

Reviews : Headsets

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There is a CD-ROM provided but unless you wish to use any of the additional software provided it is not required. There is a thickish small manual supplied (20 pages in English) but again it is unlikely to be required much if at all.

If you do not already have Skype then there is a copy on the CD. If you have a copy then just use the Speakerphone instead of a headset - or like me - instead of my speakers and the microphone from the headset.

The quality I found is better than that given by audio speakers and microphone as both the speakerphone and microphone within it are using USB. It is one of life's little curiosities that just after the excellent Logitech USB notebook speakers that this US Robotics USB device arrives.

I remember some years ago Philips - I think - pioneered sound down USB it was of course before it's time as not all PC's could support it but the idea in principle was great and it comes to fruition here in these and other such products, they are Gadgets at the moment but I can see them becoming mainstream if the sound quality - and quantity - produced by these devices is produced as the norm.

The three buttons on top of the unit are to mute the microphone, lower volume level and raise volume level. Simple and easy to use and the illustrations on the buttons are clear.

As a regular Skype user I immediately noticed an increase in clarity to the voices coming in and in conversations with others they say I am clearer and sharper as well even when they are using more traditional solutions.

To me this means that not only is the speaker better but also the microphone. The other benefit is that you can move away from the PC so instead of having the microphone a few centimetres from your mouth it could be a metre of so enabling you to be untethered.

My Internet searches found it at only one site - link below - at £48.36 but it is still very new. If you travel to the USA it seems to be available there for less than $50.

http://www.exciteit.co.uk/store/EXCITE_viewItem.asp?idProduct=76086

http://www.usr-emea.com/products/p-voip-product.asp?prod=voip-9610&loc=unkg