Sony mouse is a Skype chatterbox

(Credit: Technabob)

Speaking of convergence, the last place we thought we'd see a combo trend is the mouse and phone. That hardware mashup had initially been confined to some smaller brands like Taiwan-based Genius, whose mad scientists have produced such unholy marriages as combo camera-speakers.

But now Sony has come up with its own mouse phone (phone mouse?) for the Japanese market, an optical rodent that can be opened up for use as a Skype handset or propped up to become a VoIP speakerphone, according to Technabob. The Genius model still has one more function--it triples as an instant-message device--but Sony has played to one of its strengths by offering its VN-CX1A in colors designed to match its PCs. But frankly, until it comes in polka dots, we're not interested.