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Posts Tagged ‘skype’

Home phone design is lamentable.  Yes, there are a few exceptions – Bang & Olufsen, I’m drooling at you – but in general the humble PSTN handset is the dreary cousin to the glittering, posing cellphone.  What’s surprising is the number of manufacturers whose different departments churn out both cellular and land-line phones, but across that great corporate divide the DNA never seems to travel.  Well, Panasonic have finally decided to change all that; hence their latest handset – a WiFi Skype phone in fact – looks very similar to the company’s mobile range.

Panasonic KX-WP1050

Continued »

If you talk a lot on Skype while you’re on the road, but are tired of talking on bulky headset? Kensington has a new phone that might be just what you’re looking for. It’s a small Bluetooth phone that fits neatly into your PCMCIA slot, so there’s nothing extra to carry around. That is unless your laptop isn’t Bluetooth enabled, then you’ll need an adapter.

SkypePhone

Continued »

NETGEAR SPH200DI’m a hard-sell when it comes to VoIP handsets, in fact some might say I was just plain picky.  I can’t see the point of anything that has to be plugged in to a USB port (unless you’ve got a server at home, would you really want to leave your PC on all the time on the off-chance that you want to make a call?) and I want as much of the software functionality available from the handset itself without having to go to a computer to set it up.  Well, NETGEAR have met my arduous demands and actually gone a bit further; their SPH200D works both with Skype and your PSTN landline, allowing calls to and from both to be managed simultaneously.

Based on the DECT standard, a full-colour screen, speakerphone and capacity for up to four handsets registered to each base-station round out what’s on offer for the $199.99 MRSP.  It’s available now.

Product Page [NETGEAR]

skype logo
I just bought myself the $14.95 USD plan from Skype. You can make unlimited outgoing calls from Skype. This plan rocks, and if you are working at a place like SlashGear around this time (right before CES), you know you are going to have to make plenty of calls!

It has probably already saved me $14.95 from long-distance bills since I purchased the plan yesterday. Although the quality is obviously not as good as a landline, it provides many options in a slick interface. Next up I have to buy a nice iPhone from Linksys so I can use Skype on-the-go!

You have to act fast, because you can only buy the plan for $14.95 until January 31st. Also, Skype is planning to introduce new connection fees that might be put into the Unlimited plan later on.

Skype Unlimited Calling [Via: Skype]

iphonelink
After Brian Lam let it slip that an “iPhone” would be revealed on December 18th of last year (yeah, 2006), the product was released under the Linksys brand. Though it doesn’t play music, the iPhone from Linksys might actually be what I need.

These days, people are paying high prices for traditional phone service (including me), so I got interested in Skype and their “$15 for unlimited outgoing calls a year” plan. I then remembered how I could take Skype on the road, but only if I had a Skype phone that connected via Wi-Fi. This research of mine was ironically conducted a day before the iPhone was announced, and I found that there weren’t too many Wi-Fi Skype phones.

When the iPhone was released I became excited. Maybe I will end up buying the iPhone, maybe not. But if there is one point I am trying to make in this post, it is that VoIP is continuing to grow, and in the future we will see a growth of Wi-Fi Skype phones.

We all know that Skype has been very nice to its users this past year, with free phone calls to the US and Canada, but this service is about to come to an end, in the new year. A software/VOiP company called “iCall” may have the solution.

iCall

There are some problems you should be aware of though. First, this software is completely Windows based. This is a gigantic problem for people on alternate operating systems. Second, this little company has very little support for various technical problems. I am sure this will change if it grows.

So, if you use Windows and want some free calls in North America, this may be perfect for you. This software seems like it may work for many.

Free Calls with US and Canada [Via: Ben’s Yet Another Vlog]

Novomax has relased the SP U200, a puck-like device capable of making conference calls via Skype. It can also be used for any other program that uses voice chats, like MSN and Yahoo, along with other SIP protocols and software. A headseat can also be plugged in.

SkypeVoIP Phone

The SP U200 is said to have 360 degrees of audio. You can mute the volume and then turn the stereo volume back on. It has a “Plug-N-Talk” feature, allowing you to plug it into your PC and start talking away. This is a great little “on-the-go” device.

Other features like echo cancellation, noise suppression, and automatic calibration are also included. The package contains the unit, a USB cable, a CD with drivers, and the manual. It looks as though the device is powered through USB.

SP U200 Product Page [Via: Novomax]

Skype desk phoneHere’s something I’d give space on my desk to – it’s a dual-mode PSTN and Skype VOIP phone, with a poseable Day of the Triffids 320×240 resolution, 30fps VGA webcam to let your friends see your pretty face while you talk to them. 

The camera is actually connected via USB, so if you fancy upgrading sometime in the future you can, and it’s all USB bus powered so no need to scrabble around on your hands and knees under the desk for an outlet (you can save all that for the Christmas party).  Calls can be made either from the phone’s keypad or from the on-screen interface, and both the computer and the phone will ring on Skype calls.  If I could improve it, I’d make it standalone rather than needing a connection to the PC, but I guess you can’t expect too much for $56.88.

Product Page [via Chip Chick]

If VOIP is your thing and you’re looking for a handset then Wired News might just have the review round-up for you.  They take a look at a variety of handsets from the DECT wireless through to the cheap’n'cheerful USB attached, with ratings to help you decide whether they’re worth your cash or worth throwing to the dog.

Phillips VOIP handset

If you’re looking for more information, a quick glance at the SlashGear archives shows a whole lot of VOIP coverage; you’re spoilt for choice!

Flying Skype High … and Low [Wired News]

For those who live away from home or family, one of the worst nightmares is the phone bill. Making a long-distance call could be out of limit sometimes, and what could you do about it? Not to mention those who have a long-term relationship. Stop calling him/her means the time to find a new date. Thanks to the Internet and software like Skype that allows us to keep in touch with friends and family. The world still has something even more to be thankful. The Skype Voice-over-IP (VoIP) service lets you talk to people just like that you would on the telephone; however, it still needs a computer to operate. But that’s about to be changed.

SPH101

The new generation of Netgear Skype WiFi Phone, the SPH101, will gets you off your computer entirely. With a WiFi network and this handset, you can make free calls to other Skype users anywhere in the world at anytime. This phone will help you to be more available for your friends to call since there is no need to be on your PC to stay connects. You can even makes a call to ordinary phone for just pennies a minute. You pay what you use because there is no monthly fee for the service. Get your Netgear SPH101 today for a sum of $467 then what you need is just a Skype account, and you are good to go.

Wireless Skype Phone Model SPH101 [via Netgear]

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