Many of are using voice-over-IP solutions, such as Skype and Gizmo Project for making cheaper calls, both for business and pleasure. The added advantage of using Skype is that we can catalogue and store our friends and, when they’re online, we’re notified and we can nudge them for a chat, either through IM, via voice or through our web cam.

However, what happens if you’re offline and someone tries to a make a call? What happens if you wander off to make a cup of tea, and your Skype connetion is marked as ‘online’? A call comes in and it’s ignored – the friend either thinks your ignoring them or are too busy to chat.

KishKish SAM is a simple voice answering machine for Skype users. When you are away from your PC and there is no one to answer your incoming Skype calls, KishKish SAM will pick up the call, play a greeting message and the "all-time classic beep", so the calling party will leave a voice recorded message.

And for your fun, SAM will play a video greeting of your choosing while the caller leaves you a voice message.

This is the free version. The paid-for Silver and Gold versions enable even more functionality, such as the ability to record a live conversation and record audio as an MP3, saving space on your drive.

KishKish SAM 4 will work with Skype 3+.