VARBusiness Magazine, a leading publication for the computer channel sales profession, has honored D-Link, the end-to-end networking solutions provider for consumers and business, with the "Tech Innovator Product of the Year" award for its flip-style Wi-Fi phones. The D-Link Wi-Fi Phone gives users low-cost worldwide calling flexibility, secure wireless network access and many value-added features.

Winners in the data/voice products category, D-Link was presented the award in a gala ceremony Monday evening at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Huntington Beach, Calif.

Introduced earlier this year, the industry's first flip-style Wi-Fi phones (DPH-540 for black casing and DPH-541 for silver casing) earned top honors in the competition's data/voice product category. A panel of nine information technology (IT) industry experts judged the products for their usefulness, innovation, price/performance, revenue potential and their "coolness".

"The new D-Link Wi-Fi phone represents another technology leadership milestone in our IP-based data, voice and video strategy, and it is rewarding to have an industry leading publication like VARBusiness recognize the true technical innovation that D-Link is delivering to the industry with this award," said Steven Joe, president and CEO of D-Link Systems, Inc. "We continue to execute a strategy that is expanding the product lines and the technology category segments we compete in to provide richer, end-to-end connectivity solutions for both SMB and consumer markets."

The D-Link flip-style Wi-Fi Phone combines the cost-savings of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology with 802.11 wireless connectivity in a compact Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based package. The sleek and portable D-Link Wi-Fi Phone, together with an Internet VoIP phone service, provides a stylish way to dramatically reduce local and long distance telephone charges compared to standard telephone service. VoIP phone calls can be made where there is a Wi-Fi network or open hot spot to the Internet -- without the use of a PC.

Addressing the growing demand for more affordable and convenient phone options, D-Link introduced the flip-style phones to allow customers to make calls over the Internet using a Wi-Fi connection and VoIP plan at prices significantly less than conventional phone call plans.

To take full advantage of the convenience and money-saving features of D-Link's new Wi-Fi Phone and make calls to standard landline or cellular phones, users must select an Internet (VoIP) Phone Service Plan and sign up for service; rates and features may vary depending on the service provider. For a complete list of compatible VoIP service plans, visit http://www.dlink.com/.

D-Link also announced plans to start shipping its new V-CLICK dual-mode phone early next year, offering the best of both mobile phone worlds -- the widespread availability of cellular phone service and infrastructure, and the tremendous cost-savings and Internet access associated with Wi-Fi and VoIP technology. The D-Link V-CLICK allows users to switch between both modes at the quick click of a button.