InformationWeek's Antone Gonsalves reports that EarthLink today launched a beta test of its new Wi-Fi phone, which is built by Accton Technology Corp.

"EarthLink is beta testing the Accton phone in Anaheim, and plans to make it generally available in the summer," Gonsalves writes.

"The phone would be an additional cost to the ISP's Internet telephony service, which costs $14.95 a month for 500 outbound domestic minutes, and $24.95 a month for unlimited time. Inbound minutes are at no charge. The phone, which includes a cradle that acts as a charger and a Wi-Fi router that plugs into a home broadband connection, would cost $100."

"What we have is an out-of-the-box, inexpensive alternative to cellular products," says David Elgas, the company's director of product management for voice over Wi-Fi.

More here from Wi-Fi Networking News ... more here from Engadget ... and EarthLink's press release is here.