D-Link's Wi-Fi VoIP phone could be a winner

I kind of like the idea of this new flip-style Wi-Fi VoIP phone from D-Link.

The 3.7 ounce phone, which has just started shipping, is listed at $249.99. It isn't sold with a VoIP service, - thus narrowing its appeal, but it will be programmable by consumers to work with a whole range of SIP-based Internet telephony services.

D-Link's website will soon provide a list of compatible VoIP services. Hopefully there will be plain English configuration instructions for each of these services.

Not only that, but this phone will be able to place calls from open (as opposed to, well, closed) Wi-Fi hot spots, as well as over wireless home networks. 

As far as in-device features, the phone supports polyphonic ringtones, seven-step volume control,echo cancellation (a more important feature then phone OEMs sometimes admit), and a 100 name/number address book. 

If D-Link gets their VoIP carrier relations and distribution channels down,  they could really have a winner here.