Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK )

by Belkin

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.8 x 2.8 inches ; 12 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000GTSEHQ
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: F1PP000GN-SK
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (156 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #9 in Electronics > Office Electronics > Telephones & Accessories > VoIP > Handsets
  • #54 in Electronics > Office Electronics > Telephones & Accessories > VoIP > Phones
• Date first available at Amazon.com: August 22, 2003

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

If you're a Skype subscriber, you're probably very happy with the cheap calls you can make to overseas land lines and mobile phones, and you're probably ecstatic over the free calls you can make 24/7 to your fellow Skype subscribers around the world. But you're probably not overjoyed having to be tethered to your computer in order to make those calls.

Thankfully, Belkin has come to your rescue. With the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype, not only are you free to roam away from your computer as you talk turkey with Istanbul, you don't even need a computer to make calls. As long as you have access to a Wi-Fi network -- any hot spot will do -- you can use your Belkin Wi-Fi phone to connect to your Skype account and talk to your heart's content.

We recently put a beta model of the Belkin Wi-Fi phone to the test, and we walked away impressed with its potential. While there are a few wrinkles still to iron out, the Belkin Wi-Fi has a promising future with Skype subscribers.

How Skype Works
For the uninitiated, Skype is a free service that allows you to use your computer's broadband connection to make phone calls to anywhere in the world. You simply create a free account on the Skype web site, download software to your computer, and once you have a microphone and headset, you can call land lines, mobile numbers or other Skype users through your computer. The Belkin Wi-Fi for Skype takes the computer, headphones and headset out the equation, but this is generally how the service works.

With Skype, your calls to overseas non-Skype users are substantially cheaper than most cell phone or land-line services, and your calls to your fellow Skype users, regardless of where they are in the world, are absolutely free. So if you're in a business that requires extensive overseas communication, or you're trekking the globe, Skype is a service you'll want to consider.

The Belkin Wi-Fi Phone Design
At about the same dimensions and weight of an average open-faced cell phone, such as the Sony Ericsson T637, the Belkin easily passes the transportability test. The phone features a durable black shell and a bright screen that offers a soft blue and white background with crisp black text. While adequate in low-light or office conditions, the screen doesn't fare well in bright sunshine, but it's still readable. Because the phone is only intended to be used for calls, it does not include any advanced media options. This interface is designed simply to get you connected to your Skype account. An easy-to-use center control toggle makes it a snap to navigate through the phone menu, and the number pad is similar in size to cell phone. The charging port and headphone connection are provided on the bottom of the phone, while the volume control is set to the side. Overall, it's a straightforward design, without any bells or whistles, that gets the job done.

How the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone Works
Although you initially need a computer to sign up for a Skype account, the Belkin only needs an open 802.11 b/g-compatible wireless access point to get you connected.

Without exception, the quality of our overseas Skype-to-Skype calls was as clear as any land line we'd ever used. There were no lags in the conversation, and nothing resembling static.

Once you power up, you can easily configure your Belkin Wi-Fi phone to auto-connect so that within seconds you'll be ready to talk. But if you're on the road, you'll want the option of connecting manually to the strongest available network. Using the center toggle, it's easy enough to navigate to the network settings where you'll see the full list of available networks and their relative signal strengths. You simply choose the one you want to connect to. If the Wi-Fi network offers open access, the Belkin will connect to it automatically; if it requires a password, you'll be prompted to submit it via the phone's keypad.

Once you're connected, the phone will sign you into your Skype account, and you'll be ready to talk. Your "contacts" folder will give you direct access to all of your Skype contacts. Simply navigate to the person you want to call, and if they're signed in, you can be talking to them within seconds. If you want to call a land line, you use the key pad to dial the number the old fashioned way. And while you lose some of the Skype features with the Belkin that you otherwise have with your computer, such as the ability to initiate conference calls, you gain the freedom of being able to roam within the range of any accessible wireless network as you talk.

Connection Quality and Convenience
We tested the Belkin Wi-Fi for Skype by calling land lines and cell phones in the continental United States, and by calling overseas to other Skype subscribers. While the quality of the connections within the U.S. to non-Skype users varied, the voice clarity was generally adequate on our end, though in each case the recipient of our calls did not immediately recognize our voice. Also, in each case there was a perceivable lag in the conversation that was intrusive at times.

However, we would normally not use Skype to make non-Skype calls within the U.S. With more than 80 percent of its subscribers outside of the U.S., Skype is ideal for international calls, and it's truly optimized for Skype-to-Skype calling. In our third set of tests, we called fellow Skype subscribers in Europe. Without exception, the quality of our overseas Skype-to-Skype calls was as clear as any land line we'd ever used. There were no lags in the conversation, and nothing resembling static.

None of this is to say that the beta phone we tested was without flaws. In our first round of testing, the phone powered up and connected to our office network seamlessly. However, in subsequent calls using the same network, we had some connection difficulties. Although the Belkin phone could "see" the network, and the password was configured correctly, it simply wouldn't connect. But once we took the phone to a public hot spot, it once again performed flawlessly.

One design problem we encountered involved the phone's power-saving mode. After 30 seconds of inactivity, the screen goes completely dark and the phone appears to be shut down. Changing the screen's "time out" settings had no effect on this. This would not be an issue if the phone had a feature such as a continuous time display or screen saver that indicated that the phone was still powered up. As it stands, however, it's too easy to assume the phone is shut down when the screen is black, and it's therefore easy to inadvertently drain the battery.

But that's a glitch that should easily be rectified, and it did little to take away from our overall conclusion that the Belkin Wi-Fi for Skype is a phone that has the potential of turning your free Skype subscription into an invaluable asset.

Pros

• Durable, compact design
• Exceptional clarity with Skype-to-Skype calls
• Eliminates the need for a computer while making Skype calls

Cons

• Inconsistent quality of non-Skype calls
• Regulating the power-down mode is problematic
• Phone offers no other multi-media features

Product Description

Pre-loaded with Skype software and featuring the same Skype interface, the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone is ready to use with any wireless network. To make a call, simply use the intuitive on-screen color menu to locate your contact and view their online availability—exactly like you use Skype today. The Wi-Fi Phone is Skype-certified, which means that it adheres to all Skype’s requirements to ensure that your Wi-Fi Phone experience is just like it is on your PC.

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

166 of 174 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Don't Plan On Using The Belkin Wi-Fi Phone On The Road, January 10, 2007

By 

Richard V. Burckhardt "The Web Optimist" (Palm Springs, CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK ) (Personal Computers)

Being someone who uses Skype constantly for both business and personal long distance and PC-to-PC phone calls, I got a Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype as a Christmas gift from a loved one who knows just how nerdy I am when it comes to new gadgets. I love them!

Unfortunately, I can only say that I *like* the new wi-fi phone from Belkin. Appearance-wise, it's terrific with a sleek black case, color screen and attractive key layout. It's a good, comfortable size and feels about like a stylish mobile phone. It comes with a USB cable for charging and software updates, as well as a regular power cord for charging. You can use the phone while it's connected to the charger, which is what I find myself doing a lot.

The sound quality is good and it connected right to my household wi-fi system once I punched in the security code. The controls are easy to access and use. I was quite excited to get going with it and used it for several days without incident.

Then it froze. No matter what I did, the buttons made no difference and the screen stubbornly stuck on 11:38 a.m. and no amount of prodding would break it free. I looked for some sort of reset button like you get with a Palm or other PDA-like device, but there isn't one. I finally decided that the only way to get the baby to reset would be to take out the battery and put it back in.

Thus, my next problem. The battery cover refused to budge. It was as if it had been super-glued shut. I pulled, pushed, yanked but it held firm. I had no other choice than to resort to the proverbial waste of time - support.

Yep, total waste of time. I tracked down Belkin support, filled out the form to inform them of my problem (frozen screen, stuck battery case) and got an answer from some clueless girl telling me I should go into the menu and use the "reset" function. Duh? The SCREEN IS FROZEN, honey! How the heck am I supposed to do that!

So, back to pulling, tugging and yanking on the battery cover. I finally managed to pry one corner up and get enough leverage to get the darned thing open without breaking it. I pulled the battery out, the phone reset and I was up and running again.

My next disappointment came when I stayed at a hotel that offered free wi-fi. I had hoped to use the phone to make some calls, but, alas, the hotel requires you to open their web page in a browser before you can connect to their access. That's all, just open their page in a browser - no inputting codes or anything. Just an open browser.

The Belkin phone has no Internet browser, a terrible oversight for a product that people will want to use at Internet cafes and the like. Not a smart move, Belkin.

Yes, the phone is supported by Boingo, which has hotspots here and there. In my area, my choices are a UPS Store or an RV park. Somehow I can't see myself hanging around those to make phone calls. I'm out of luck at Starbucks, hotels and anywhere without completely open wi-fi access.

Another minor peave is the lack of Skype chat support. My company uses Skype chat a lot during the business day, so I can't plan on using the Belkin Skype phone exclusively for business because there's no chat support. I understand that trying to do chat on that itsy bitsy keyboard is difficult, but people send text messages all the time on cell phones, so there should be support for chat. If nothing else, I'd like to be able to set the phone up to let people know that I don't have Skype chat, try me on AIM or whatever.

Anyway, don't think I'm totally unhappy with the Belkin Wi-Fi-Phone for Skype. I'm not. It's great to carry around the house with me when I'm not on the computer. It just means I have to switch back and forth between it and a Skype-enabled computer quite a bit. I guess my suggestion for those considering one is to say that it's great if you just want a wireless Skype phone for home, have no need for Skype chat and don't plan on trying to use it too many places outside your home network. It's a shame, but it probably won't work for you on the road or in your neighborhood Starbucks.

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If you like new gadgets, then it's for you, but pay attention to reviews., August 4, 2007

By 

J. C. Bocanegra Trujillo "JCB" (Puebla, Pue, Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK ) (Personal Computers)

a) It works without a computer, there's no need to transfer contacts, no computer config, no software to install, no usb/network cable or base station required.
b) It's ready to call as long as you have access to either a 802.11b or 802.11g WI-Fi network.

I've read previous reviews (thanks to all) and knew in advance some of the following drawbacks:

ON THE CON Side:
1) Clock is not accurate even when phone it's on. If turned off, it resets back to 01/01/2000. You need to set time AND date every time.

2) If you "rush" the phone by clicking fast it will lock and reboot itself and date/time resets again. No syncing with an internet clock server.

3) NEEDS a Firmware Update. Tried Menu, Settings, General, Software Updates option and still got the message "You already have the latest software installed". It's: v1.1.0.10 R20 from 2006/12/13 (I've checked www.belkin.com and still there's no update).

4) It should save more than one Skype account (it already saves several Wi-Fi networks & passwords). Logging another user is SLOW and painful.

5) HARD keys. Specially the right "soft key" and the End/Power key.

6) It "rings" a little low, even at max volume. If it's not in the same room, you may not hear incoming calls. Also it only has 3 ringtones and SILENT. There's no way to add more.

7) No belt/holster clip. Hopefully, keypad can be locked/unlocked by holding both the left soft key AND the [a/A*] key. If you want to "roam" with this phone on your belt, then look for a case or swivel case that fits because it's not as small as most modern cell phones are.

8) It doesn't work with most Hot-Spots (at least if they're not "Boingo Mobile"). If you need a browser to enter an user and a password as most Hotels do, you're in the dark.

9) NO Speaker mode.

10) Phone and battery get a little hot when doing long calls (Enough to feel the heat on your ear and hand).

11) The design looks a little OLD and CHEAP. Put it next to a cell phone and you'll see what I mean.

12) No cradle. It comes with one USB cable and a charger. There's no craddle available yet. SMC offers TWO diffent craddles for it's Wi-Fi phone. One it's a charger (SMC Wi-Fi Phone Cradle Charger - Phone charging stand) and another also comes with an access point: "WI-FI PHONE CRADLE CHARGER W/ BUILT IN AP (SMCDPCR-AP)".

13) Skype user logged in the phone appears to be "reconnecting" from time to time. Also it doesn't apper On Line inmediatly.

14) No way to send SMS messages from the Phone.

15) When calling, batteries don't last the 3 hours advertised. I agree it needs a longer lasting battery (maybe a 1500mAh or 1800mAh?).

16) Lots of errors on User Manual. By example, "Keypad tones--Set this as either "On" or "Off"" option detailed on page 44 is completly MISSING on software's phone. Keypad DO NOT HAVE sound and there's NO WAY to turn it "On" or "Off".

Another discovery was that the "SMC WiFi Skype Internet Phone" (SMCWSKP100) is the very SAME device. "Netgear SPH101 Skype Wi-Fi Phone" looks suspiciusly similar to Belkin's. "Linksys WIP320 Linksys Wireless-G Skype iPhone" also has the same look and software screens. I believe that's because all of them are developments of Trolltech.com (navigate to Menu, Settings, Information). Visit www.trolltech.com and take a look at the "Qtopia Greenphone", it has a camera!.

ON THE PRO SIDE: Why I bought Belkin?, because (along with SMC) it seemed to me, the least worst reviewed of all Wi-Fi Skype Phones I've checked (and I liked black, the rest are white ;-). I'm not returning it now because IT DOES what I wanted: Let me do Skype calls whereaver there's a Wi-Fi available (remember: no hot-spots). If network is fast, you'll get very good, FREE (Skype) or VERY CHEAP (SkypeIn-SkypeOut) calls. Voice is VERY clear, with almost no echo, very little delay ("sound latency") on most international calls. That's still VoIP technology's nature, and mostly Skype's software fault, the broadband network and/or because of all the telecom operators in between. Also, so far, I haven't lost calls in the middle of a conversation.

WHAT I WANT: I'm waiting for Belkin firmware update. Also, I'm waiting to see if Belkin rolls out SOON a line of accesories. The biggest battery recommended by the manual (NP-60, used for digital cameras/camcorders made by Fujifilm, Pentax, and Panasonic) is only 1050mAh (the original is 1200mAh & User Manual says it's 1100mAh).

MY DECISION: Seems expensive but surely will pay off. More time and calls are needed to enjoy all of it's benefits, to discover more bugs and to understand Phone's behavior in different networks. Take your time to read the rest of this phone and SMC WiFi Skype Internet Phone's reviews. If you love new gadgets AND don't mind finding some or lots of bugs, then give it a try. It makes cheap calls cheaper by not having to keep your computer "on".

BUT, If you don't want a "Beta product" (Amen, "Blue Devil"), or waste time "debugging" a poorly tested device, then wait until similar, more mature products are rolled out on this side of the planet. Maybe I should check again the "Panasonic Wi-fi Phone for Skype". With excellent reviews... hummmm.

Hope you'll find this review as useful as I've found the rest to me.

47 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works like a charm, December 13, 2006

By 

S. Epstein "scottwired" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK ) (Personal Computers)

I too was awaiting this -- for many months. It works well so far on my home network. Haven't taken into the big bad world yet. Sound quality is fine -- the person on the other end sometimes hears an echo, but overall good. I wish there were some controls on the side of the phone to get into a memorized setting, or an indicator for voicemail. Wish the screen didn't smudge as much. Wish the battery laster longer. And last but certainly not least, I wish it had a cradle. That's a biggie. But it's cool and I've bragged about it to a few people, which hopefully enhances my reputation as cool phone guy.

The keypad and display are nicely done. And Skype has a deal running through January for unlimited calling for $30 for a full year. Go to their site to find out more.

It's fun to snub your nose at the traditional phone companies. I just hope they don't laugh when my house burns down because I could't dial 911.