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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benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL
 ·Charter Pipeline
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Callcentric
 ·AT&T Midwest
1 edit | Do you already use Skype?
If not I'd stay away. Skype is almost useless, since you can only call other members of the same service.
There's no free method to connect Skype to Asterisk or any ATA, as far as I know.
If I were use I'd get an IP Phone and use a real VOIP service that uses the SIP protocol.
As for which VOIP service, it depends on your needs but I'd stay away from both Vonage and Packet8.
Vonage, so I've heard, makes it hard for you to cancel.
Packet8 has a crappy TOS. When your contract ends it automatically renews into another contract, much like a CD (Certificate of Deposit).
Callcentric is a good choice. You'd need a DID for incoming calls. It's either $6 for a toll number, or $4 + $.029/min. for toll-free.
For outgoing it's either $20/mo. or $0/mo. + $.02/min.
EDIT: I should mention that Skype does have a SkypeOut thing, where you can call real phone numbers. But since it's costs per minute you're better off with a real VOIP service. |
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mazilo
From Mazilo
Premium
join:2002-05-30
Lilburn, GA
| 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
| reply to dibbb
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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cahiatt
Premium
join:2001-03-21
Smyrna, GA
·BroadVoice
·Charter Pipeline
·AT&T Southeast
·dock.net
| reply to dibbb
I have a Linksys WIP330 SIP phone that I use here at home on my Broadvoice account. Works great. I took it with me to the UK two weeks ago and it also worked great on the free wifi provided at the bed and breakfast I stayed at.
Usage outside your home may be iffy though. Sharing wifi bandwidth with a bunch of knuckleheads at Starbucks will probably yield a choppy phone conversation.
Never used Skype though. |
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soccerdad62
Premium
join:2005-04-16
Saline, MI
·ooma
·Comcast Digital Vo..
·Comcast
·magicjack.com
| reply to dibbb
I recently bought the Belkin WiFi phone for Skype and am very pleased with it so far using my home WiFi network. I'll be traveling this week and will be able to test it at wireless hot spots. Call quality has been excellent and I have Skype Pro so I get unlimited US/Canada calls for $3 per month. The handset was pricey though ($139 on sale). |
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dibbb
join:2003-09-19 | 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
| 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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sgarrand
Insert Witty Phrase Here
Premium
join:2000-04-13
West Brookfield, MA
·Callcentric
·VOIPo
·QuantumVoice
·Charter Pipeline
 ·1and1
| said by pabster :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. I think the only thing people slight Skype for on these forums is the use of proprietary technology rather than SIP. It is nice to buy a SIP-capable adapter and be able to switch providers on it. With your (fairly expensive) Skype hardware you can only use Skype. That's all. Had to put in my two cents, sorry. 
Scott
--
The thoughts contained in my posts are my own and not those of my employer. |
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dibbb
join:2003-09-19
·Time Warner VOIP
| reply to pabster
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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pabster
join:2001-12-09
Waterloo, IA | reply to sgarrand
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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teledatatech
Premium
join:2001-11-23
Bucyrus, OH
clubs: | reply to dibbb
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
| reply to dibbb
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
| 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).
--
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
| 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 | reply to dibbb
I've removed Skype from all my PCs a while ago... |
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dibbb
join:2003-09-19
·Time Warner VOIP
| 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
| 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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soccerdad62
Premium
join:2005-04-16
Saline, MI
·ooma
·Comcast Digital Vo..
·Comcast
·magicjack.com
| reply to soccerdad62
Update: If you're using the handset for a second line at home, you're fine and the international rates through Skype are compelling enough to give it a try...however...
The handset just didn't work overseas. I signed up for a trial with Boingo Mobile to try and get a connection through their hot spots with the phone and never got it to work, even once. I've tried it in the Detroit airport too and maybe I'm not giving it enough time to associate with the Boingo network, but no go. Fortunately I did have my MagicJack, which allowed me to make cheap calls to the US from abroad. I'm a bit disappointed with the whole Skype handset thing. |
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Red Barber
@ivacyfoundation.de
| 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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