It seems that when it comes to Skype phone design, it's really the speakerphones that lead the way. We already have Ipevo's strinking white-and-green Xing, Polycom's functional but not unattractive Voicestation 500, and now out of Japan comes Buffalo's latest Skype salvo: the BSKP-CU202/SV (Google translation here).

Although the name doesn't exactly run off the tongue, the BSKP-CU202/SV is a good-looking alternative to the Polycom and Xing, and with an RRP of just ¥9,800 (£41 / $82) it's infinitely affordable for anybody looking for a cheap, stylish speakerphone.

And how's this for plug and play: apparently this baby doesn't need any drivers or even a power supply, it just plugs straight into your USB, sucking up the juice it needs straight from your computer. A 4W main speaker and 2x1W side speakers provide a sturdy if not massive audio power. Should make a nice little speaker setup for playing music from as well.

I'm assuming this will land in the Japanese Skype Store fairly soon - more info as and when I get it on availability elsewhere.

Via Digital World Tokyo.