Customer Reviews

GE 2 in 1 - Internet & Standard Phone

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

As a computer technician I have installed the software and set everything up and my phone says I am connected to skype (all though it can not read my contacts, I am told you have to manually enter them). I can not call out or receive calls even though it says I am on line and I am able to do it from the computer. I have been on line with support for over 4 hours now. Each time getting transferred to a new person, now I have the supervisor on the phone who like the last 8 people have no idea what skype is or have ever used it. Like the last 8 people he is reading the troubleshooting tips out of the manual and wants to know if the phone is powered on and is my computer powered on. The last technician was unaware this product comes with a cd or any type of software and the phone still does not work so back it goes, no one should have to go through this. the supervisor I last person I spoke to "tells me there is no one here that has used this phone before, we are unable to help you. I would suggest you return it"

I too was very disappointed with this phone. A phone is an audio device primarily. In this respect, this phone flunks. It's the worst audio I've heard in years. And it has nothing to do with skype which sounds great if I use it thru my computer or I conference in with my landline. It also has nothing to do with the small size of the phone. Even when I wore a good quality headset, it was still terrible. The quality is so tinny, I can barely understand the other speaker. They also complain that my voice quality is terrible. It also tends to break up and crackle. You would think in this day and age, getting decent sound quality would be a no brainer.

I was also disappointed that when you make a skype call, the contacts brought in from the computer display only phone numbers and not the name you set up in skype on your computer. I'm calling people, not phone numbers!

Other than that, it is fine. Set up was fairly easy. I like the fact that you can bring the second handset into the conversation via the intercom function. Unfortunately, I may end up returning it because of the terrible sound quality.

I have not used this phone for SKYPE yet, but as a land line phone it is pratically worthless. The sound quality is so bad you can't understand what the person on the other end is saying. Do not buy this phone, at least not if you ever wanted to use it as a land line phone.

The dual phone-land line and Skype- does work...almost. The audio/voice quality is poor. The volume will sometimes be too loud, then moving the volume down, makes it too quiet...sometimes, almost like if the caller's voice volume does not trip the VOX type circuit, it won't amplify the sound so it is either loud or you can't hear...weird...this is on both handsets. The audio is also raspy and not clear. The size is almost too small. My wife puts it to her ear and covers up the ear piece sound exit and can't hear...I found the interface with the computer, though easy, did not do what I thought it should. I expected that when going from computer to the Skype phone, that the speaker and microphone on the phone would work. They only work if you set the Skype defaults on the computer to be "USB Device"...hmmm maybe this is problem with Skype. dunno, no response from GE Thomson. With both of these problems...it will be going back.

1.When used with the land line I get a lot of hissing and the voice on the other end is very choppy.
2.When used with skype the voice on the other end is very quite and cackly and they can't hear me at all.

I'm very disappointed because I though this would be a good solution for me, especially after reading the review this phone received from PC magazines and editors choice aware.
I will be returning this phone. I would like to find something that works well with a land line and skype.

Not sure why so many people are reporting bad experiences (technical ineptitude, incorrect computer/system setup, unreasonable expectations, or working for the competitors?), but after wasting $140 for an IPEVO s0-20 (inc. $10 S&H), and then paying another $7 on postage to RMA it, I truly appreciate the GE phone. BTW: the IPEVO phone is supposed to be the best of all WiFi Skype phones; read my review under IPEVO s0-20 to see why it's not...

A few years ago, I would have never bought a GE product, especially their phones. They used to make cheap, worthless phones that made Uniden & BellSouth look good. But now, GE is putting Panasonic and Sony to shame...

I bought the GE 2830 Skype phone with 2 wireless DECT 6.0 handsets from Fry's last week for $60. The cradle plugged into my Vista 32 machine, which I always leave on as a multimedia/printer server for the whole house. The SKYLINK software it comes with found my Skype without a hitch, and now I have near-flawless Skype service throughout the house (there is a faint hissing sound in the handsets, which reminds my of my Motorola Razor 3 phone, but I can live with it).

The handsets have intercom capability, EXCELLENT roaming range, speaker-phone capability that works very well, and people on the receiving end say the quality is crisp and clear (compared to my Verizon service). The unit can also be used for both regular house line and Skype simultaneously (with little creativity, one can have 2 dedicated SkypeIn/Out lines on the same handset). Also, each handset uses AAA rechargeable NiMH batteries (included).

SkypeOut contacts pop-up by pressing the blue PC button on the phone, and are grouped the same way you have them setup on the Skype software on your PC. The phone does not seem to be able to "import" these numbers for offline use: if you shut down your PC, the numbers won't be accessible for called them using your land line.

The only quirk I've found so far is this: you have to dial the country code if you are punching in a phone number directly (for example, 001 and then the area code + number in the U.S.). If you forget the 00s, you'll send your Skype software into an infinite loop, and will get a "network busy" error when trying to access Skype again. Solution: exit out of the Skype software and restart it. Other than that, there are no issues. It's nice that the handsets have color LCDs and show contacts coming online / going offline, etc.

In short, as long as you have an always-on PC in the house or office, this unit works very well! If it works on Vista, it should work on XP... If you expect perfection, you shouldn't be fooling around with Skype anyway.

After downloadging and installing the latest version of the phone's software, this phone has been a great joy to work with. It is a great phone! great speaker quality. I spent ~ 10 hours a week on conference calls from people all over the world, including COlombia, Buenos Aires and Eupore. The combination of this phone with Skype's great network quality has really improving our business's internal communications.

This phone's success with Skype is largely dependent on you PC's internet speed. High-speed cable or DSL is preferable for best quality. I use it all day, everyday and it is a great alternative to traditional landlines or cell phones in the home or office. I would like a better menu system, but for making phone calls, I can't complain.

I purchased mine with a good price. It seemed to install fine, but it does not work with Skype, i do not care what anyone tells me, it is worthless.
A. The manual does not tell you how to get the sound to come through the phone.
B. It hangs up on Skype at random within 2 feet of the base.
C. You use the phone and then Skype on the computer goes off, and the person talks from the computer and you cant here them on the phone, or talk to them.
D. Tech states to set sound to USB, well that does not work, WinXP/Hone SP2 Win/XPpro SP2. IT will not work with USB period
E. When you can't use the phone no one will support you, and it will leave your Skype connected to your caller after you "End" call on hand set.

F. They lie about contacts, it puts the phone numbers in, and only skype accounts with not Skype in, will not show up. Only +15066608876 you will see in contacts. contacts on the menu is for your TELEPHONE NOT SKYP WORTHLESS

G. If you enter in your moms or friends number in the contacts area, it can't be dialed from skype.

H. You will not get a refund, try using it for fire wood, it will burn nice, just take out the battery.

THE PHONE IS JUNK!!! BUYER BEWARE DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PHONE!!!
YOU will have to leave your computer on 24/7 and not hibernate and wreck your computer to use.

GARBAGE, but what do you exspect from GE, they do not even have a tech support site, or knowledge base or a number you can call to resolve anything. NOt even a download site to fix the ALPHA SOFTWRE that it runs on

I am burned for $189.66 smackers!!! for a peice of garbage.

TRUST ME IT WILL NOT WORK, IF IT DOES YOU CANT HERE IT THROUGH THE STATIC!!!

This is a great phone in both design and performance. The sound quality is normal. I love it so far and recommend it.