A company I work for as contractor, through my employer, manufactures routers for various ISPs. These routers have one of best features you can get on such a device. They support using SIP based VoIP service directly with a phone attached to it.
The way it works is like this.
1. Configure your VoIP settings from administration web interface.
2. Attach a phone to one of the phone sockets on the router and dial a number.
I have been using Diamondcard service for some time to make cheap international calls to my brother. And above mentioned setup will make it even easier, specifically for my parents.
Apart from being easy it has few advantages:
1. You don't have to switch on your PC just to make or receive a call.
2. From what I have heard the feature is designed in such a way that when using DSL you can switch dialing between standard phone line and VoIP with touch of a button. Similar to dialing a 0 to get outside line from office phone.
Unfortunately these devices are not available off the shelf anywhere. They are available only when you buy service one of ISPs to which they are provided. Even then I am sure the routers will not be available for outright purchase.
I have been thinking of buying a wireless router for myself for some time. But if I find something similar to these routers I will probably replace my father's router with new one for the sake of easy VoIP setup and keep the old one for myself.
I have already searched for similar functionality into products of some popular brands like Linksys and D-Link, but couldn't find anything.
Am I not looking hard enough? Has anyone come across such a product available of the shelf?
