Tiny microphones will aid VOIP adoption

[Bob Russell]

There is a new kind of tiny microphone available from Akustica, that is completely contained on a single chip. The new mic will cost about $3.76 in large quantities, which is a bit higher than about $1 for a traditional ECMs (Electret Condenser Microphones), but it is a good fit for handheld devices or even better quality audio for digital camcorders.

One big advantage is that it doesn't need the insulation to protect from interference that is required for traditional microphones. That's good news for designers of shrinking notebooks and handheld devices that contain more and more capabilities. It is also a boost for design of devices meant to be used for VOIP telephone calls over the internet.

(via ZdNet )