JumperTel releases USB phone for low-cost VoIP calling

A plug-and-play VoIP phone from Wisconsin? JumperTel, a VoIP startup Wisonsin-based startup, has launched its own USB phone to challenge both computer based VoIP calling and hardware based setups like MagicJack and Vonage. Unlike these other players, the JumperTel device focuses on peer-to-peer calling with serial numbers instead of actual phone numbers. Although calls run over the Internet to a JumperTel datacenter and the company has claimed it can assign real phone numbers and route calls to the public network, the device currently does not allow calling to non-JumperTel users.

An interesting part of this particular device is that all of its software in built in to the USB phone, meaning users can plug the device into any computer (PC only still), install the software and make calls to other JumperTel users. The service is $12 a year after the $21.99 purchase of the JumperPhone 100. According to TelephonyOnline, the company plans to focus sales on developing countries where cheap calling is in high demand.

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