If your Christmas list is looking a bit sparse, what with its pathetic line-up of a Nintendo Wii, Panasonic Blu-ray player, Planet Earth box set, Prada handbag, Now That’s What I Call Music 65 and giant Dairy Milk, then here’s something to fill out the page: the DUALphone 3088 cordless phone from RTX.

The latest Skype-certified phone goes on sale at the Skype Shop from this Friday (1 December… yep, it’s December already, but look on the bright side – it’s nearly spring) with an RRP of £99, and it’ll certainly look chipper on your sideboard.

But what’s so good about it? Well, you don’t need to have your computer switched on to make Skype calls using the handset. In fact, you don’t even need a computer at all, though you do need a broadband router and a net connection. Ideally one that works. Unlike mine. Yes… but that’s a whinge for another day. At least the net cafe is warmer than my house.

The DUALphone 3088 lets you make traditional landline calls as well, so you can use it as a normal olden days phone as well as a Skype phone.

When you do use the Skype capability, Skype’s user interface appears loud and clear on the colour display, giving you access to all the usual Skype features, including your list of contacts. If you haven’t got an account (do what?), you can open one via the handset.

The phone boasts more than 10 hours’ talk time and up to 140 hours on standby. Bundled with the handset you get two rechargable AAA batteries, which are automatically recharged by the cradle.