NETGEAR SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype

by Netgear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 2.6 x 10.2 inches ; 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001492T5U
• Item model number: SPH200W
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #75 in Electronics > Office Electronics > Telephones & Accessories > VoIP > Phones
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 26, 2007

Product Description

Manufacturer Description

Netgear's SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype makes and receives Skype phone calls wherever you have Wi-Fi access, also works with most leading Wi-Fi hotspot providers including T-Mobile USA. The SPH200W lets you talk for free to other Skype users without a PC, calls any phone worldwide at low SkypeOut rates with no monthly fees and works with security protected home WiFi networks.

Unlimited free wireless calls to Skype users, without a PC

• Makes and receives Skype phone calls wherever you have Wi-Fi access (1)
• Works with most leading Wi-Fi hotspot providers including T-Mobile USA (1)
• Lets you talk for free to other Skype users without a PC
• Calls any phone worldwide at low SkypeOut rates and no monthly fees (2)
• Works with security protected home WiFi networks

Features include:

• Mobile Wi-Fi phone to make and receive free Skype calls without a PC
• Connects to any open Wi-Fi network (1)
• Includes charging cradle
• Intuitive menu allows you to see who's online
• Manage up to 500 contacts
• Access other Skype services such as SkypeOut, SkypeIn and Voicemail (2)
• Built-in speaker phone for hands-free talk
• Save network profiles for easy and fast access
• Supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 Wi-Fi security

Frequently asked questions on Netgear's WiFi Phone with Skype
What is a WiFi Phone with Skype?
A wireless mobile phone that allows you to make free Internet calls to anyone who also has Skype, anytime you have a Wi-Fi wireless Internet connection.

Isn't Skype designed to just work on PCs and laptops?
Not anymore. Now you can walk around within a Wi-Fi network to which you have access and talk to other Skype users anywhere in the world.

On a PC, Skype shows when my contacts are online. How does that work on WiFi Phone with Skype?
An intuitive on-screen menu lets you see the status of up to 500 of your contacts. You can see who is available to talk, similar to what you see on a PC.

Can I use it to talk with non-Skype users?
For pennies a minute and no monthly fee, you can use SkypeOut minutes to call any phone.

How do I download Skype to the Wi-Fi phone?
It is pre-loaded with Skype and ready to use out of the box with a wireless network.

Can I use the Netgear WiFi Phone with Skype at any Wi-Fi hotspot?
The WiFi Phone with Skype does not contain a web browser, therefore it cannot access hotspots that require web-based login or authentication.

What's in the Box:
WiFi phone, battery, phone charger cradle, USB cable, power adapter, user manual, resource CD, warranty card.

NOTES:
(1) The SPH200W is compatible with leading hotspot providers that support the WISPr (Wireless Internet Service Provider Roaming) protocol, including T-Mobile USA. A list of WISPr hotspots can be found at www.netgear.com/hotspots. NETGEAR neither operates nor guarantees the continual availability or compatibility of Wi-Fi hotspots. Subscription or usage fees may apply for Wi-Fi hotspot usage. Wi-Fi hot-spots requiring browser-based authentication are not supported.

(2) For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited. The Skype service is offered and operated solely by Skype, and NETGEAR does not guarantee Skype service availability, quality or pricing.

No emergency calling, emergency calls will need to be made by alternative methods. This phone will not function during a power failure or broadband outage. Use of Skype software, SkypeOut and/or SkypeIn is subject to Skype's terms of service and end user license agreement.

Product Description

Unlimited Free Wireless Calls to Skype Users, Without a PC. Make and receives Skype phone calls wherever you have Wi-Fi access. Works with most leading Wi-Fi hotspot providers including T-Mobile USA. Lets you talk for free to other Skype users without a PC. Calls any phone worldwide at low SkypeOut rates and NO MONTHLY FEES. Works with security protected home WiFi networks. The SPH200W is compatible with leading hotspot providers that support the WISPr (Wireless Internet Service Provider Roaming) protocol, including T-Mobile USA. A list of WISPr hotspots can be found at www.netgear.com/hotspots. NETGEAR neither operates nor guarantees the continual availability or compatibility of Wi-Fi hotspots. Subscription or usage fees may apply for Wi-Fi hotspot usage. Wi-Fi hot-spots requiring browser-based authentication are not supported. For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited. The Skype service is offered and operated solely by Skype, and NETGEAR does not guarantee Skype service availability, quality or pricing. No emergency calling¿emergency calls will need to be made by alternative methods. This phone will not function during a power failure or broadband outage. Use of Skype software, SkypeOut and/or SkypeIn is subject to Skype¿s terms of service and end user license agreement.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 120 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great phone, and here's some info for you, June 16, 2008

By 

Tom Chappell (Durham, NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NETGEAR SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype (Personal Computers)

This review concerns only the SPH200W; I don't know anything about the earlier SPH101.

I was hesitant to buy this product based on reviews, but I went ahead and got it, expecting to have to do some troubleshooting.

The product has been completely satisfactory to me. The phone is adequately sturdy, battery life is quite long long (I power the phone down when I'm on the move to keep it from searching for networks, and I get 3-5 workdays of standby out of one charge), and call quality is fine. Incoming call clarity is superb; outgoing clarity isn't always great because of the mic placement and quality on this phone. Setting up the phone is easy and intuitive. The phone connects quickly and reliably to networks, and options for preferred networks, entering passphrases, etc., are many and easy. Making calls is very easy. As is clearly indicated on this product's box, there's no onboard web browser, so you can't authenticate on a network using a browser. If you just have to register hardware on a network you use (like I do at work), that's easy - use your computer to register, or just tell your IT person the MAC address of your phone, which is under the battery.

You can charge the phone using the included cradle which receives a male USB mini-A plug, or you can plug a USB mini-A cable directly into the phone. Netgear supplies you with an AC adapter which plugs into the wall and terminates with mini-A, so you can charge this phone like you would any mobile phone. There's also an A- to mini-A USB cable in the box, so you can charge from your computer if you need to. Both methods work with either the cradle or without it. Very versatile charging options.

Here's what I think will be useful to potential buyers -

Netgear's support is mediocre at best, and I couldn't get any info. from them about compatible headsets or batteries. Don't buy this phone expecting excellent support from the manufacturer. I did some legwork, and much research later, I have answers:

"Standard" headsets don't work with the SPH200W. You need a 4-pole plug, to start, and then not all headsets of this description will work. Nokia headsets have worked for me - I bought an HS-47 for peanuts, and it works great. This significantly improved outgoing call quality.

Batteries. No help from Netgear on this one, I'm sad to say. The battery for the SPH200W is lithium, 3.7V, and has 900mAh capacity. If you search for batteries which are interchangeable with Nokia BL-5C, you'll find one which will work. The Netgear battery is the shape of the BL-5C, and many BL-5C replacements are 3.7V (vs. 3.6) and some are higher capacity than the stock one (Lenmar makes one which is readily available and works very well with this phone). If you absolutely must have tons of battery life out of this appliance, get an extra battery and you'll be good to go for a long long time.

Other complaints of others:

1) "the speakerphone isn't hi-fi." It's true. Have you heard high-quality sound from a mobile phone's speaker? I never have. This works just fine; I can understand what callers are saying when I use the speaker. I don't listen to lossless audio playback on my phone.

2) "outgoing call quality is poor." Not quite true, though this is the SPH200W's weak point. It's often just as clear as a digital/cell connection, but sometimes it's obscured enough to be annoying. If you want to upgrade, spend a few bucks and get a good headset. If this still doesn't satisfy you, wait for the next generation of wi-fi phone technology.

3) "battery life is terrible." Not true. If "less than 9 days of standby" is "terrible," then I guess I can see what folks are saying here. You get plenty of talk/standby time out of this battery, and it's very easy to keep it charged up with all the options you have. Extra batteries are also easy to come by.

I'm glad Netgear is producing VoIP equipment. This is a good piece, and I recommend it to anyone who is weaning him/herself from a 2-year wireless contract.

82 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Almost great SPH200W, February 24, 2008

By 

Michael L. Borgstahl "MikeBHot" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NETGEAR SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype (Personal Computers)

Having read the specs on this phone I had to buy it. Wow make skype calls without a PC from any wiFi hotspot. Having owned Netgear routers gave me some assurance of the quality. I got the phone early, about October 2007, after Netgear support researched my query and told me where I could order it.
Generally the phone works very well as claimed. I purchased a Skype out plan for $30 that gives me unlimited land and cell phone calls in the US and Canada for a year. The SPH200W was easy to set up and load contact information into via the USB connecter, and effortlessly linked to my wireless Netgear router. I made calls easily without my PC turned on and found the display and useability quite good, with better range than bluetooth devices. I heard both sides of the conversations very clearly, as good as my VOIP phone service from my local cable company. Call quality was described by those I was talking to as TERRIBLE! This was a consistent comment no matter whether calling locally, nationwide, or to Canada, to land phone or cell phone. I decided the phone's voice pickup must be faulty but liked the phone well enough I wanted to try using it with a good wired headset to see if that improved the outgoing voice quality. After several attempts and contacts with Netgear support for help with what headset the phone might work with, I gave up and returned the phone. The lack of NetGear support may have been because NetGear was at that time unprepared for support, as some phone support personnel told me they had no such phone as the SPH200W.
Bottom line for me. With TERRIBLE outgoing voice quality the phone is not worth having no matter the price. I liked it well enough I may try a later release in hopes they have overcome this voice pickup problem. Lesson re-learned, early adopters beware.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works as advertised for me., May 29, 2008

By 

J. Kelley "I only review what I own. Comments... (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NETGEAR SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype (Personal Computers)

I bought this Skype phone because it works specifically with T-Mobile's HotSpots. I've logged in at the Red Carpet Clubs at LAX and John Wayne Airport. The sound quality is excellent. At home, I used it nightly with a friend who is moving to Hawaii. His cell plan didn't cover Hawaii and his last visit cost him over $300. This time we talked for hours over Skype. He used his laptop and I used my Netgear phone. There's three heavy hitting wireless users sharing a single Apple Airport Extreme. We have Roadrunner Extreme Cable Modem service. So, we're well equipt at home for using the Netgear Skype phone. I also use the phone using a portable Apple Airport connected to a hotel's inhouse wired Internet access. It works flawlessly.