We?ve all heard more than we need to know about WAP ? but do you know anything at all about YAP? Well, we?re here to tell ya? that Net2Phone, the Internet telephony carrier, has just taken the wraps off a new technology called Your Alternative Phone, or YAP for short. And get this: the tech allows people without computers to use Net telephony ? bringing the benefits of discount Net telephony to non-PC users. How cool is that? The new range of Net telephony devices - will make use of the Net2Phone domestic and international IP telephony network - are set to be sold worldwide this summer, with prices on the initial range of eight YAP systems starting from $40.00. Immediate benefits to all YAP users are reduced calling rates and free calls for YAP-to-YAP, YAP-to-PC and PC-to-YAP connections ? in other words, calls completed wholly across the Net, bypassing the standard voice phone networks.If the YAP plans come off, then Net telephony looks a sure thing enter the mass market. The initial range of YAP devices includes the YAP Phone, which plugs into the universal serial bus (USB) port on a PC and allows Net2Phone software-driven Net telephony calls, and the YAP Jack, which supports Net telephony calls without the need for a host PC. Also in the pipeline are YAP Ports, which allow both business and residential users can plug the YAP Port into the back of a computer, and make toll-quality phone calls to any PC or phone. The YAP Port for USB-based PCs has its own voice compression technology that further enhances the quality of the call. Plans call for a YAP Port also to be made available for serial port connection to a host PC. Last, but not least, for PBX usage, there is the YAP Multimax, which allows business users to extend their PBXs by up to six Internet telephony lines, each of which will be capable of making and receiving calls, faxes and the like, while simultaneously maintaining a persistent Internet connection. Jonathan Rand, Net2Phone’s executive vice president, said he hopes the YAP system will expand the usage of Internet telephony worldwide. ?YAP is a pioneering product line that will let anyone simply connect their phone system to the Internet and communicate easily and affordably using Net2Phone’s products and network,? he said. Net2Phone’s Web site is at http://www.net2phone.com