Which Skype phone is right for you?

by Deb Shinder | Dec 14, 2006 6:15:00 PM

Tags: Telecom & Utilities, Deb Shinder, Skype Technologies S.A., phone

Takeaway: You don't need to stay tied to your PC or laptop to use Skype's free or low-cost VoIP service. Deb Shinder took some VoIP phones for a test drive�get her take on what your various options have to offer.

In a recent edition of this column ("Is Skype ready for the corporate world?"), I took a second look at the Skype software and discovered that it boasted many improvements since the last time I tried it�especially in the area of business-oriented features. But when I did that review, I still wasn't getting the best VoIP experience with Skype because I was using a regular computer microphone and speakers for calls or, alternatively, a computer headset/microphone, neither of which suited my needs. The former setup made me feel a bit like a talk radio host, leaning over my desk to talk into the microphone; the latter reminded me of my brief stint as a PBX operator one summer.

When I talk on the phone, I want to talk on a phone. I don't even like the hands-free headset for my cell phone. This lack of "phone-ness" was always one of my main problems with the Skype experience. So I decided to explore my options.

Using a low-cost USB phone

First, I decided to check out one of the inexpensive USB phones advertised to work with Skype. I was a little skeptical that a $21 device would give me a high-quality VoIP experience, but I picked up a little Xact iVo phone (model number XVP640) right off the shelves at Wal-Mart. I already had Skype installed on the computer, so�in typical IT pro fashion�I first tried just plugging it in without bothering to read any instructions or install any software. (Hey, sometimes that even works.)

Windows XP detected the device, but that was all. I couldn't actually do anything with it. Not surprisingly, my next step was to try installing the Skypemate program from the CD that came with the phone. The software installed easily, but it did require a reboot. Skype launched automatically when Windows restarted.

As a security measure, Skype asks you if you want to allow the other program to access Skype. You need to allow this in order to use the phone.

Once it's installed, the USB phone works transparently. Pick up the phone and dial a number, and your Skype interface pops up on the monitor. There are two lights on the front of the phone. The green one indicates that you have power; the red one tells you that the phone is connected.

To make a call after entering the number or to answer an incoming call, just press the OK button. Disconnect or clear info you've entered with the C key. There's also a key to scroll through your Skype address book.

The sound quality from this cheap phone was pleasantly surprising. It's a full duplex device, so there's no annoying "walkie-talkie" effect�both parties can talk and hear at the same time. There was no echo or breakup; I might as well have been talking on my landline. And it's compact enough to tuck into your laptop bag, making your portable computer with Skype a very usable Internet phone.

I only had one problem: With the phone plugged into my computer's USB port, when I played any audio (for example, on a Web page or through Windows Media Player), the sound came from my phone speaker instead of the computer speakers. But it didn't take long to discover that the software had changed my default audio device to USB Audio Device�i.e., the phone.

To fix that, I opened the Sounds And Audio Devices applet of Control Panel, clicked the Audio tab, and changed the default device back to my sound card under Sound Playback. If you do any recording through a microphone attached to your sound card, you'll also want to change back the setting for the Sound Recording Default Device.

All in all, while pleased with the performance of this low-cost USB phone, I didn't particularly like being tethered to the computer by its cable. So I decided to check out a more expensive, cordless Skype phone.

Cutting the cord

On the Web, I found cordless phone models ranging from about $80 to more than $200. I found several models for less than $100 that work a lot like regular cordless phones. There's a base station that plugs into your computer via USB and transmits to the cordless handset. Some of these let you expand the system by adding more handsets to connect to the same base station. And, as with a traditional cordless, you can roam pretty freely within the typical house and even outside in the yard.

The one that I found more interesting, though, was a NETGEAR Wi-Fi phone that doesn't even require a PC. You can use Skype wherever there's an 802.11b/g connection to the Internet�for example, public hotspots�without bringing your laptop along.

The phone is itself actually a special purpose computer that has Skype preinstalled. Finding one is another story. But I did find a PC Magazine review on the ABC News Web site. The device's short battery life is particularly disturbing. I don't think I'll be shelling out a couple hundred bucks for it just yet.

Using your Pocket PC as your Skype phone

Perhaps there's a simpler solution for using Skype in mobile mode. The software is now available for Pocket PCs running Windows Mobile operating systems (both 2003 and v.5.0). You need a device with a 312-MHz or better CPU and Wi-Fi, 3G, or EDGE network connectivity.

My Samsung i730 PPC phone running Windows Mobile 2003 fit the bill, so I downloaded the Skype for Mobile software to it. It's over 5 MB�not large by most standards, but it takes up a good chunk of the Pocket PC's main memory. (I tried first to download it to the SD card but kept getting an error message.) I did like that I was able to download directly to the PPC instead of having to go through ActiveSync to transfer it from my computer.

Once installed, the Skype icon showed up in my mobile device's Programs menu�after a very short setup process, which involved entering my Skype account's username and password, and selecting whether I wanted to use Wi-Fi only or Wi-Fi and 3G. (I choose both.)

Now I was ready to make a call. The keypad interface is familiar to those who've used Skype on their PCs. Unlike the latest version of Skype for the PC (and unlike the Skype USB phone), you have to dial + and the country code before the number you're calling. Skype didn't find a Wi-Fi network, so it connected to the Verizon EVDO network, and the phone I was calling (my own landline) started ringing.

My husband picked up the call upstairs and said my voice came through clearly. I heard a bit of choppiness and static, but it was entirely usable. Subsequent tests showed that voice quality from my end remained less than crystal clear, but it never got so bad that I couldn't understand what someone was saying.

So what good does it do me to have Skype on my Pocket PC cell phone? Why not just use the cell phone itself to make my calls? Sure, I can do that�but I don't have unlimited voice calling. In fact, I have a plan with a low minute allowance since I do very little calling on the cell phone.

But I do have unlimited Internet access, so using Skype during peak hours means tapping into that instead of using up my precious minutes. It could also be useful in areas where you can't get a cellular signal but do have access to an 802.11 wireless network connected to the Internet.

Summary

You don't have to stay tied to your PC or laptop to use Skype's free or low-cost VoIP service. A Skype USB phone offers a real phone experience while sitting at your computer, and a cordless Skype phone allows you to roam the house or office.

Some cordless phones don't even require a computer at all�just a wireless access point. And for the ultimate in portability, you can install Skype on your Windows mobile device and save money by using its free service instead of expensive cell phone minutes if you're in range of a wireless network or have an unlimited data plan for your mobile phone.

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Deb Shinder is a technology consultant, trainer, and writer who has authored a number of books on computer operating systems, networking, and security. She currently specializes in security issues and Microsoft products, and she has received Microsoft's Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status in Windows Server Security.

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