Nettalk Duo VOIP Telephone Service

by NetTalk

• Plug and play; 1 x RJ-11 port, 1 x Ethernet port; Mini USB; 3' USB to Mini A connector; 3' Ethernet cable
• Free calling to the US & Canada or DUO to DUO; No computer needed / No contracts / No monthly bills; Ultra-low cost international calling rates
• First year of service is included. $29.95 each additional year; Live US-based technical support and personalized customer service;
• Free 411 directory assistance, Enhanced 911
• Visual voicemail, call waiting, conference calling, conference bridge, and fax friendly

Product Details

• Item Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B0045S2JE8
• Item model number: 094922033482
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (532 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #4 in Electronics > Office Electronics > Telephones & Accessories > VoIP > Adapters
• Date first available at Amazon.com: October 3, 2010

Product Description

The NetTalk DUO VOIP Device is a sleek and small VOIP telephone device that connects directly to your router or computer, creating a fax-friendly phone line with free calling features such as call waiting, conference calling, Enhanced 911, 411 directory assistance, visual voicemail (voicemail sent to your e-mail), and a videophone application.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

170 of 179 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Update: Better VOIP available | Original:Good service/Great Price February 23, 2011

By AVputer Nerd

I decided to go all in with the NetTalk DUO. I was tired of paying outrages landline bills. I really like the fact that you can plug it directly into a router. I wouldn't want to keep a computer on all the time just to receive phone call like you'd have to do with a MagicJack.
Once I got the DUO hooked up to our router and registered the device with NetTalk, everything has been satisfactory. There has been an occasional glitch, but for the price you pay, I will deal with it. Glitches: (1) incoming calls don't always connect properly...the caller can't hear the receiver answer. The second try seems to always work properly. (2) some times there is latency during a call...but this is not as bad as some cell phone calls I've had.
My wife doesn't like the fact that you have to dial all 11 digits to make a call. Someone else has mentioned this in a review...I say, really, how hard is it to enter in 4 extra digits? In larger cities, you're dialing 10 digits anyway.
I did have my first DUO die after about 3-4 months, but NetTalk cross-shipped me a replacement DUO, so I was without a home phone for about a week. Not that big a deal since the NetTalk service includes voicemail that gets sent to your email. FYI...the emailed voicemail file is a .wav audio file that plays fine on a PC/Mac, but does not play on Android/iPhone smart phones. This is one request I plan on making to the NetTalk support. The emailed file should be compatible with your smart phone so you can listen to it when you get the email on your phone.
I can see getting a secondary device for my kids once they get to the age where they want to talk on the phone all the time.

BTW...I plugged the DUO directly into my wall phone jack. This way it connects to all the phones in the house and I've had no issues with it working this way.

UPDATE 3/19/2013:
I have decided to stop using the NetTalk DUO. During the 2.5 years and 3 faulty devices I realized it was becoming more and more problematic. The last 4 months before I turned it off for good was almost unusable. FYI...nothing in my network or ISP had changed.

I decided to test a ObiHai device in conjunction with Google Voice. After 2 months of ZERO problems I determined the ObiHai+Google Voice is a quantum leap forward in reliability and quality.
Read my post about my experience here toddstechnotes(dot)blogspot(dot)com
Side note...stay away from MagicJack!

92 of 100 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome, Simply Awesome March 4, 2011

By sp

I am usually not one to review a product, but I had to for this one. It is simply awesome. It was a simple plug and play installation for me, and you can't beat the price. I was on a local voip company before and this little unit outperforms there service for 1/10 the price. $30 a year can't be beat for the features.

One thing to keep in mind is to visit their forums. They have a list of routers that works well with this unit and a list of those that don't. Do research first, and you shouldn't have any issues.

101 of 112 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Substandard Product November 5, 2011

By M. C. Hewins

This is not a 100 percent functional product. There are A LOT of flaws with the Nettalk Duo. This is a substandard product. That being said, I can live with the flaws for the savings it offers because I don't use a telephone all that often, and I mostly make out going calls.

Major Problems with DUO:

Device randomly stops working and you have to monitor it's 'green' light to make sure its on

Drops calls frequently

Incomming calls, often don't come in

Voice mail does not work if DUO is not plugged in or functioning in your home (which it doesn't up to half the time), which is a MAJOR flaw. I wouldn't mind its lack of functionality by half if I could get a voice mail when it wasn't working. However, when its not working, people who call me get nothing, not a ring, not a "sorry" message, just dead silence.

Minor Flaws

Voice distortion, many people complain that they can't hear me or I'm distorted when I talk on the phone

You have to dial the area code before every local number, or it won't work. No message telling you what you did wrong, and no instruction on this point with product, you just gotta figure it out yourself.

In summary, if you need a phone for an emergency, DO NOT get the duo. If you needed a reliable phone for receiving callbacks on jobs, or other important things, DO NOT get the duo. This is a completely unreliable, buggy product that practically requires a babysitter to make sure it works.

All that being said, I'm cheap and I don't use a phone much, so I'll live with it's MANY flaws for the substantial discount, however, I am at a total loss to understand why so many reviewers here defend this product so vehemently. It is NOT a quality product and NO ONE should represent it as such. While I can understand people like me who put up with its flaws for its price, I find it reprehensible to over-rate a product because you choose to put up with its lack of functionality. On this product it seems like a lot of people are sabotaging the integrity of the review process, which is why I felt so compelled to give a accurate product review. BUYER BEWARE!