The price? $299. When? Well, that's a little less clear, although it's "just in time for Christmas," according to one undated press release in the press pack, and "in October 2007" according to another. We suspect it's the latter. Actually, the same press releases that lists October as the ship date says it will be priced at about $350. Hopefully we can clear this up Monday.

What makes this thing special? Seventeen custom servo motors, for one, as well as a built-in gyro sensor, 2 LEDs, voice command recognition and a speaking vocabulary of 200 words and phrases. Watch the iSOBOT strut his stuff here. Among the pre-programmed actions: pushups and air guitar.

The good folks at Guinness apparently have confirmed the robot is the "smallest robot in production" at less than 7 inches high. In an effort to fit in with American audiences, the little guy has created an appropriately hideous MySpace page, whose latest entry reads:

Whats up! I will be arriving to America shortly!! My purpose to the U.S. is to study the American culture. I am planning on staying as long as it takes me to absorb all that is "Americana" .. Technically, I am still pretty young (from concept to development) but I would also say I have the memory capacity and motor skills ..17 servo motors to be exact.. of a "teenage mutant ninja..." sorry..."teen-ager," cut me some slack.. I am still learning...Isobotrobot.com."

Tomy is positioning this as a hobby robot, rather than a pure toy. The good news is that it will come preassembled and preprogrammed. The only thing you have to do is teach it how to wreak havoc on your cat.