“Tom’s Hardware”:http://www.tomshardware.com/ recently “reviewed”:http://www.tomshardware.com/mobile/20050315/index.html placing “Skype”:http://www.skype.com calls through a WiFi-connected PocketPC PDA using a Bluetooth headset… I guess you’d call that mouthful of techno jargon cutting edge.

Skype offers a special “client”:http://www.skype.com/products/skype/pocketpc/ specifically designed for Microsoft’s PocketPC operating system. Most “high-end”:http://shopping.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=AuofreyHhpxGA0FHiaiv7w4bFt0A;_ylu=X3oDMTA4Mm84YjJyBHNlYwNzb3J0?p=pocket+pc+pda&did=&sp=pall&X=3 PocketPC devices now integrate both WiFi and Bluetooth support, so theoretically one should be able to complete a Skype call via a PDA completely wireless (i.e., using WiFi to connect the PocketPC to the internet _and_ a Bluetooth headset to connect the caller to the PDA). Indeed, Tom’s Hardware finds that this is the case.

bq.. Our Skype for Pocket PC operational trial revealed that a high-performing Pocket PC equipped with wireless functions can indeed be used as a device for Internet telephony. The voice quality obtainable is perfectly satisfactory for personal use, and the method offers the big advantage of the extremely low calling cost: frequent or long-distance callers will quickly notice the positive impact on their phone bills.

In a business environment, this solution is not yet mature, due to the limitations we described regarding voice quality for intercontinental calls, and the sometimes variable quality when calling fixed line and wireless numbers

p. The review also offers a lot of detail on how to set up your PDA to connect via WiFi and pairing the PDA with a Bluetooth headset.

Definitely a sign of telecommunications to come.

_*Update: 2005_03_22*_
Check out “The techADDICTION Show #3″:http://www.thepodcastnetwork.com/ta/2005/03/22/the-techaddiction-show-3/ for an audio demo (part of their podcast) of Skype on a Pocket PC with a Bluetooth headset.