Siemens yesterday announced an agreement with Yahoo to extend VoIP calling capabilities to Siemens' Gigaset cordless telephones.

The companies plan to offer the Siemens Gigaset M34 USB adapter, which IP-enables Gigaset phones with the VoIP calling capabilities of Yahoo Messenger.

The adapter will allow users to make and receive calls through the free PC-to-PC calling feature of Yahoo Messenger, and to make calls to fixed line phones through the Phone In and Phone Out features.

The Gigaset handsets also allow users to access Yahoo Messenger friends' lists, view contacts and presence status, and change personal presence status.

"It is rare that a business alliance is as seamless and complementary as this," said Martin Kinne, chief executive at Siemens Home and Office Communication Devices.

"While Siemens provides the plug-and-play cordless phone devices, Yahoo delivers the 'killer-app' communication features that make in-home IP attractive to consumers."

The adapter is compatible with Gigaset cordless phones introduced in late 2004 belonging to the C-Class and above, and will be available by the third quarter of 2006.