Every now and then a gadget comes along that makes us wonder what on Earth its purpose is, and here's the latest: a three-in-one mouse with integrated speaker and microphone. Not just a pointing device then, it's also a VoIP unit.

The 3-in-1 VoIP mouse

Online retailer USBfever.com doesn’t give much away about the mouse’s chatting capabilities, other than recommending it for Skype and MSN users. However, images reveal that a removable microphone plugs into one side of the mouse, whilst a speaker’s secreted in the other.

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Yes, a VoIP headset would probably be an easier way of speaking over the internet. But you can’t fault the 3-in-1 mouse for its unique design and novelty value.

A scroll wheel’s built in and it has a sensitivity level of 800 dots per inch, which is much lower than Razer’s Lachesis gaming mouse. But, the corded 3-in-1 mouse is a chatting, and not gaming, peripheral.

The 3-in-1 mouse is available now from USBfever.com for $16 (£8/€12).