dibbb
join:2003-09-19
 ·Time Warner VOIP
1 edit | [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? I was thinking about getting a Skype handset phone as an additional line.
Has anyone here used one of these, and what's the quality like?
Something like this:
»accessories.skype.com/DRHM/servl···66162200
Thanks for your opinion.
Edit: I have 10Mbps ADSL and 768kbps upload, with very reliable service if anyone was wondering. | |
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 | mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? said by benc  :If not I'd stay away. Skype is almost useless, since you can only call other members of the same service. Let alone any $kype hardware device costs more than any SIP ATA device on the same functionality level. | |
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gridlocked4
join:2008-07-28
| I used it a few years ago and the calls had a severe echo for the first 3-4 seconds then they were fine. I understand it has gotten better with the last couple of releases. I just used the softphone. I stopped using it because of the echo and haven't tried it since.
Unlimited outbound calls to regular phones for the US and Canada are $3 a month. $30 a year for a US number as long as you subscribe to an outbound plan.
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| dibbb
join:2003-09-19 | Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? Thanks for the feedback everyone.
And I thought that Skype was like 2 cent/min to non-Skype phones.
What does the $3/month cover? | |
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| | pabster
join:2001-12-09
Waterloo, IA
 ·Mediacom
| Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? Unlimited USA 3 months is like $6. It's a great deal.
Some folks here are clueless about Skype and keep repeating years-old myths and mantras which simply aren't true. You don't need to pay connection fees or per-minute and you can call any phone you want, not just another Skype user or a PC. The Skype handsets are fine; I use a Linksys CIT400 still and it works great. | |
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| | | | pabster
join:2001-12-09
Waterloo, IA | Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? Oh, I agree. Proprietary sucks and it's my only fault with Skype. But I still use it quite a bit! | |
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| | | dibbb
join:2003-09-19
·Time Warner VOIP
| said by pabster :Unlimited USA 3 months is like $6. It's a great deal. Some folks here are clueless about Skype and keep repeating years-old myths and mantras which simply aren't true. You don't need to pay connection fees or per-minute and you can call any phone you want, not just another Skype user or a PC. The Skype handsets are fine; I use a Linksys CIT400 still and it works great. Myths and mantras?
What were you referring to?
Looks like they do have a per minute or monthly charges:
»www.skype.com/allfeatures/subscr···ptionTab
»www.skype.com/allfeatures/callphones/ | |
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Red Barber
@ivacyfoundation.de
| Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? I don't mind the fact that I can't call sip phones since I never do anyway; the only outbound calls I make are to pstn phones.
The skype rates to call pstn phones are amazingly low.
If it were not for the fact that I have to buy a special phone (and use windows with it), I would be tempted to get skype. | |
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teledatatech
Premium
join:2001-11-23
Bucyrus, OH
clubs: | I am subscribed to the Unlimited US/Canada plan. Its $5.90 for 3 months . I have never been charged a connection fee. In some other countries Skype does charge a connection fee however.
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Embarq DSL 1500/386 | |
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Packetloss
Premium
join:2002-07-01
Harrisonburg, VA
| LOL I knew there would be a lot of Anti-skype here, don't get me worng I'm no fanboy of it myself.
But Skype's been around a LOT longer than many sip providers, has eBay behind it and has been fairly rock solid, the prices are hard to beat.
Ok , ok the hardware argument, yes skype hardware is typical more expensive for stand alone phones, but my Nokia N800 has skype built right in and I take that with me everywhere, it's pocket sized as well, plus it is computer! Not to mention my laptop has skype, and about 5 computer in my home all share the same skype account and can all make outgoing phone calls at the same time all for what $3 a month for unlimited calling.
I have a device that allows you to call in to your home phone, type in a security code and get a skype dial tone, plus when at home it allows you to switch between outgoing pots/Skype at a touch of a button it was $16 on ebay. Not to mention the Yealink desktop skype phones the other computers have.
So my rant is this, yeah Skype isn't an open protocol, get over it Windows isn't open sourced and I bet most of you use that don't ya? If it does what you need at a price you're ok with go for it! | |
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| mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? If you want to invest your $$$ on a device that only works on a proprietary protocol with a single provider, be my guest. Whether it is stupid or not to do such a thing depends really on how you interpret the act. I know I am not going to do such a stupidity.  I can call my friends/family around the world for free with FWD, SIPGate, SIPPhone, VoIPuser, and among other free VoSPs. So far, the only PSTN numbers I call are usually US toll-free numbers.
said by Packetloss :Windows isn't open sourced and I bet most of you use that don't ya? You are damned right! However, I don't use Windows OS, but Linux OS ONLY! I reckon it makes no sense for me to explain why I use Linux rather then Windows OS (see my signature to find out one of the reasons).
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Mazilo always prays for FREEBIES!
US Phone: +1-678-601-0907
UK Phone: +44-703-194-2574
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| | Toollio
join:2003-11-17
Brazil/Cda
| Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? Skype certainly has it's place, even for users of other VOIP services. I pay a relatively economical yearly sum for unlimited U.S. Canada outgoing, which I then couple with a Skype incoming number in Brazil. This allows anyone in Brazil to call me, and the call is easily forwarded to another number of my choosing--usually Vonage or another VOIP service. So anyone in Brazil can easily reach me when I am outside the country, and I pay no per-minute charges for forwarding. VOIP is expensive in Brazil, so it's a good alternative to regular SIP-based services. | |
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edmidor
6th Kyu
join:2008-05-19
Montreal, QC | I've removed Skype from all my PCs a while ago... | |
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| dibbb
join:2003-09-19
·Time Warner VOIP
| Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? said by edmidor :I've removed Skype from all my PCs a while ago... Why, and what do you use now? | |
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edmidor
6th Kyu
join:2008-05-19
Montreal, QC
| Re: [Skype] Anyone here use the Skype handset phones? Bad call quality way too often, it became expensive, it requires PC running, it's locked to itself as a provider (no alternatives in realm of Skype technology), it charges for basic features such as VM, SkypeIN numbers are of very limited availability, etc, etc...
When I discovered SIP with all the cool (and free) features, unparalleled flexibility, and virtually unlimited selection of providers... Skype suddenly looked so last century. | |
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