While it did have the advantage of being credit card sized and so would fit into my pocket and did have some sort of geeky street cred (or so I like to think), it was when I pulled it out at a business meeting that eyebrows were raised.

I can’t quite give up my Tardis USB key just like it would be difficult to give up my Tardis 4-port hub…

I don’t often have call for a memory stick these days but when you need one they are invaluable and to have one always around without having to dig into your gadget bag only to find you have left it at home would be great.

In the past I have tried to attach memory sticks to my key ring but they always broke off due to having weedy plastic loops. This imaginatively title iamakey from Lacie is an all metal affair and looks like it will withstand some real beating.

To order your own click here for the 4GB model or here for the 8GB

Over the years I have used a number of ways to make Skype calls. I have used the speaker and microphone on my netbook, a VoIPVoice Cyberphone-w handset and a Polycom Communicator.

The laptop only experience is ok but the sound is very tinny. The Cyberphone and the Communicator are both excellent devices but I don’t like holding the handset on long calls, particularly when they are video too and the communicator is really better suited for conference calls and neither are suitable for travelling. So when I saw the Freetalk Everyman USB headset for Skype reviewed recently I thought I would give it a go.

They turned up in a small cardboard box with just a single sheet of instructions. Well I say instructions but actually there were just six pictures with either a large red cross or green tick over each. Fortunately set-up was a doddle – just plug-in and go. Skype recognises the headset and asks if you want to use them to make calls.

The call quality was excellent both for me and the other party who commented on how much better it was than usual. The headset makes use of what Skype calls super wideband audio which is included in v4 and improves call quality even at low bandwidth. Having your ears covered means that there is no distraction from external noise which obviously also makes things better.

You can also use the headset as a normal set of headphones. There is a standard 3.5mm jack which can be plugged into a laptop/iPod etc. and then is plugged into a junction box on the cable when you are using them as a headset. Sound quality is reasonable if a little thin but certainly better than the standard iPod headphones for example.

The design is neat too in that they are designed to fold flat (see picture below) and the mic is bendy so it can be folded out the way when you are not using it. The headset folding mechanism is not dissimilar to that used by Sennheiser in its range of headphones, however, the Freetalk doesn’t come with any case. Given that the headset is going to be chucked into my laptop bag I realised that it needed to have a case of some sort. The solution was to buy this pencil case from WH Smiths. It’s a squeeze but it does provide protection (see images below) and has room for some other bits and pieces too.

So, to summarise, the Freetalk headset is a recommended device, particularly for those on the move who want good quality combined with portability. They are available from the Skype online shop for £18.51.