Smart Tech Makes New VoIP Products No-Brainers

LOS ANGELES -- A penny for your thoughts? Well, not even a penny can buy this neat new device that tells you what the person on the other end of the phone is really thinking.

This speech-analysis application is a prototype, not quite ready for prime time but well worth keeping an eye on. Just from a person's tone of vioce, it determines whether he or she is interested in a conversation or just "being a jerk." Also, Gadget Grrl highlights the Ooma -- it's a VoIP with more oomph for the buck.

First, let's look at the Ooma:

Ooma VoIP $399 ooma.com

If you've got a "soho" -- small office/home office -- VoIP, or voice-over-Internet protocol -- is worth investigating for the savings you'll get on your phone bills. VoIP, comes in many forms these days, and a new player in this space is Ooma.

What sets this Internet telephony service apart is that there are no monthly fees or contracts associated with the service. Instead, you pay a one-time upfront $399 for the hardware. This is a special launch price; the manufacturer's suggested retail price is $599. This service enables you to make free, unlimited local and long-distance calls anywhere in the U.S.

Ooma offers two different models: landline and stand-alone.

Here's where it gets interesting. The landline model is different from other VoIP devices, because with Ooma you can keep your existing phone number, and your local phone company maintains control of your phone number.