Posted 09/29/09 at 04:15:07 PM by Tom Halfhill

It’s getting almost impossible to be a fully equipped techie. There’s always another new gadget threatening to leave you behind, even if you’ve already got a desktop PC, laptop, netbook, home WLAN, game console, e-book reader, smart phone, iPod, GPS, portable DVD, digicam, DSLR, HDTV, HD camcorder, Blu-ray, DVR, dish, and surround-sound home theater.

What’s next? Media phones.

Nope, they’re not smart phones. We’ve already got that. Media phones are next-gen landline phones tethered to broadband Internet service in a home or office. Typically, they have cordless handsets for voice calls and a fairly large (8-inch or so) touch screen. Built-in DSL or Wi-Fi provides fast, always-on Internet access. VoIP can provide cheap long-distance calling. Like conventional phones, media phones needn’t be booted or shut down.

Continue reading after the jump.

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