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Mouse phone does triple duty

VoIP handset, IM device and optical mouse

Mike Yamamoto Staff Writer, CNET News.com
Mike Yamamoto is an executive editor for CNET News.com.
Mike Yamamoto
KYE Systems

We've never been huge fans of touchpads; call us old-fashioned, but we just like the feel of a mouse in our hand. But we also understand the aversion to carrying one more thing with your laptop.

Geniusnet has addressed at least part of that problem with the "Genius Navigator 380," a combination VoIP phone, instant-message device and optical mouse released in India.

While being used as a mouse, the closed clamshell handset can still ring or its LED will blink when someone is trying to reach you. It supports up to six instant messengers simultaneously in one window. But if you've got more than one mouse lying around, don't forget which one is the phone; it could be embarrassing trying to answer the wrong one.