This critter is going to list at $249 when it hits the street in July [they say]. Steep. But, then, the economics of scale and competition should change that.
The SPH101 is the first Skype-Certified device to allow consumers to make unlimited free domestic and international calls to other Skype users over a wireless network without having to be tied to a PC. The WiFi phone will work anywhere in the world where a user has a secured or open access to a WiFi network.
The device comes pre-loaded with Skype software and ready out-of-the-box to use with a wireless network. The device’s intuitive on-screen color menu shows saved Skype contacts and their online availability for easy communications, similar to the PC experience.
The battle continues to expand on many fronts between traditional Telcos and ISP’s, wireless carriers and VOIP providers. There’s overlap which includes one class of operator deciding to join the other side[s]. Sometimes, sleaziness overlaps, as well — witness the many charges of Comcast cutting off Vonage subscribers in regions where they start to offer VOIP.
There’s a breakout between the geeks and creeps in this war. You see types like Verizon do their utmost to hold back widespread access from anything like wifi or wimax. You see Skype and others partnering with technology folks like Netgear to offer new means of utilizing existing communications pathways. If we can only keep the most backwards elements of commerce out of the fray — which means Congress and the FCC — maybe more affordable and faster will continue to roll out.
Vonage has a Wi-Fi VOIP phone for $80.
http://vonage.com/device.php?type=F1000
The problem with the Vonage phone is that you have to pay the monthly fee which will quickly add to more that what you saved on the phone. On the other hand, if you are only using the this one to talk with people who are on Skype it will be ‘free’.
I’m sure the prices on this things will go down eventually. Hopefully they’ll come up with something to use a Nintendo DS for VOIP. Anyone?
My cordless Siemens phone does normal phone calls and Skype, through a USB gizmo. I can check if my Skype contacts are online and call them without going near the computer. When they call me, the phone rings just as though it was receiving a normal call. Cost about €180 (I think).
But Andres, with the Vonage I can call anybody that has a telephone, not just Skype users. And it’s cheap. Since going with VoIP for ALL my phone service I’ve been saving at least $50 a month over my old ATT land line. Now I can afford to drink premium beer.
There was a lot of phony hype about VOIP being a threat because it never was a threat. Now Wifi/max is a threat and you hear very little by comparison. If it wasn’t for blogs and podcasts I wouldn’t get any real news, just stuff they call news that tries to get me to buy things I don’t need.
You can’t retire John, I won’t let you.
James — the Linksys only works with THEIR base station. We gave a couple as Winter Solstice presents and would have tried one for our home/office to use as a cordless around the house — but it only worked with Windows.
Haven’t been able to get confirmation from Netgear, today — their unit sounds like it’s portable and OS-independent with software/firmware for Skype onboard.
why would you use something like Skype over FWD, and the standards based voip services?
actually, we need Congress into the fray to ensure that ISPs with their own VOIP services (like Comcast) do not throttle or cut off other VOIP services like Skype. network neutrality now, network neutrality forever!
We also need Congress to override or preempt statutes enacted by ISP-bribed state legistatures that ban municipal wi-fi.
Unfortunately, since governments everywhere are, by in large, on the telcos’ payroll, none of the above will likely happen …
NOT fully international… in my country they’ve effectively blocked VOIP that has a land-line link, even if you’re using it computer-to-computer.
The biggest advantage of Vonage, well worth the money all by itself, is that it forwards all your voicemails to your email as an attachment, so you never have to check your answering machine.
You get to pick your area code, for example I live outside of San Francisco but have a San Francisco area code, and I also have an additional number with a New York area code for $5 more. They both ring on the same phone. Try getting a second number in a different area code from your POTS vendor and see how far you get.
1. I had to get rid of the land line. We used to call our phone company “US Worst” and then they were sold — and got worse.
2. The prime reason — still — for Skype for me — is audio quality. I’ve been experimenting with VOIP for years and Skype is qualitatively better audio.
I haven’t used Skype-in or their voice mail; so, I can’t comment. And I’m keeping a weather eye on T-Mobile since they’re promising something to tie cell and voip together before the year is out.