In an effort to maintain today s telecomm jag, let s take a quick look at the new Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard which just landed at our Gizmodo test lab.

This tiny, USB-powered device is an interesting addition to the pantheon of Skype-related gear. The Phone Wizard allows you to make both Skype and landline calls from the same telephone. To switch between the two features, you simply press the # key twice. To dial Skype contacts, the Phone Wizard adds a speed dial number to the standard Skype UI.

Installation, on Windows XP or 2000 only, is straightforward. Actiontec includes a driver disk, a USB cable, and a short manual. Sound quality on a standard telephone was as good as using a headseat/mic combo and for regular users of landline phones this unique switching system is very cool.

The Internet Phone Wizard is a nice way to re-use that football phone you got from Sports Illustrated years ago and adds cordless functionality to what has thus far been a pretty wired endeavor.

Actiontec Phone Wizard Product Page [ActionTec]

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