Amazon.com Review At first glance, the Netgear Skype Wi-Fi phone looks like a stylish candy-bar cellular phone. Inside, though, it's a whole other animal, with a Wi-Fi radio, embedded Skype software, and a user interface that make it surprisingly easy to take advantage of Skype VoIP service. The real story here, though, is that the device completely removes your PC from the picture. As long as you're in range of a Wi-Fi hotspot, the Netgear Skype Wi-Fi phone provides a complete solution for making and receiving Internet-based calls. There's much to like about this device and, except for a couple of small complaints, it just might become one of your best-loved tools for staying in touch.
The Netgear Skype Wi-Fi phone feels great in the hand. And it looks good, too. View larger. |
...it just might become one of your best-loved tools for staying in touch.
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How Skype Works If you're new to VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, there are just a few things to understand about Skype. First of all, instead of using traditional phone lines, Skype uses your broadband Internet connection to send compressed voice data to other Skype users around the globe. Calls limited to the Skype network are completely free, but they require that contacts be Skype users with a Skype-enabled Wi-Fi phone or with Skype software installed on their desktop computers or portable devices. For these so-called "SkypeIn" calls you can also purchase your own phone number, allowing people on land-lines and cell phones to call you on a traditional phone number. SkypeIn comes with a free voicemail service, as well. If you don't opt to purchase a phone number, you can purchase voicemail separately.
Fortunately, Skype can also call out to domestic and international land-lines and cell phones, a service called "SkypeOut". While this service is not free, the rates are incredibly low for international calls. Domestic SkypeOut calls are free until the end of 2006. 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.
Netgear Skype Wi-Fi Phone Design
At about the same dimensions and weight of an average open-faced cell phone, the Netgear easily passes the transportability test. In fact, the design is eerily reminiscent of the venerable Sony Ericsson T630. The phone features a durable silver and white 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 a cell phone. A USB charging port is provided on the bottom of the phone, and there's a headphone jack on the left side, just above a volume control rocker. The other side of the phone sports a button for activating the handsfree speakerphone--a welcome addition. Overall, it's a straightforward design, without any bells or whistles, that gets the job done.
How it Works
Although you initially need a computer to sign up for a Skype account, the Netgear only needs an open 802.11 b/g-compatible wireless access point to get you connected.
Without exception, the quality of our overseas and domestic 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.
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Once you power up, you can easily configure the phone to auto-connect to your Skype account and Wi-Fi network so you'll be ready to talk in seconds. The phone also easily connects to networks with WEP or WPA encryption.
In addition to call hold and switching features, the phone supports Skype-to-Skype text-based chats. |
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 Netgear 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. The phone does support text-based chats with Skype contacts, though--a handy feature that SMS-lovers will enjoy. You can also hold and switch between active calls.
Connection Quality and Convenience
We tested the phone 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 with some slight static at times. Also, in some cases there was slight, but perceivable, lag in the conversation that was intrusive at times. However, we would normally not use Skype to make SkypeOut 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 and the U.S.. Without exception, the quality of our overseas and domestic 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.
The only real problems we encountered with the phone involved software glitches, the most glaring of which was the phone's standby 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. The only other glitch we found was an obnoxious notification sound that played at full volume when the phone connected to the network or disconnected from calls. The sound cannot be disabled in any menu, nor can it be turned down. The device we tested was a beta model, and we can only hope that this will be rectified in production models.
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
What's in the Box Netgear Skype Wi-Fi phone, battery, battery charger, user manual, Netgear software CD, and warranty card.
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