Star Trek fans can now purchase a $43 replica Communicator (also available here and here) that can actually be used to place VoIP calls... as long as you're willing to stay connected to your PC via a USB cable.

"It's basically a glorified speakerphone with 21 built-in sound effects and lines that may or may not have been legally licensed," writes CrunchGear's Doug Aamoth. "It plugs into your computer via a six-foot USB cable, making it exponentially less portable than the communication devices that Kirk and Spock used back in the day."

"The built-in microphone and speaker connect to your computer via USB — they apparently haven't heard of Wi-Fi — and you'll be able access Skype, AIM, and iChat," according to Jaunted. "Just plug in the retrodork dohicky, flip it open, and you are living your dream of mimicking Captain Kirk. Too bad you'll have to be tethered to your laptop to use it..."

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