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Review: Hotspot troubles hamper Belkin's Wi-Fi Skype phone
Night minutes. Weekend minutes. Data minutes. Mobile-to-mobile minutes. Roaming charges. Rounding off to the next minute. Service charges, usage charges, government fees, taxes. C'mon Verizcingusprintmobile — aren't there more ways to squeeze blood money out of my cell-phone usage?
Or, frag that mess and go with a portable Skype phone, like this one from Belkin. It looks just like your ordinary, average candybar cell phone. But instead of connecting you to your caller via an overpriced cell network, you make (almost) free calls via the Internet using Skype VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol, pronounced VOY'p) from any Wi-Fi hotspot, at home or on the road.
Boy, would it be a pleasure to report that this portable Skype phone is a viable option to Soulless Cell Company. But we can't. Crap. But at home, it's a lot more convenient than being wired to your PC to make and receive calls.
THE ESSENTIALS
WHO WANTS THIS
Yakkers who want to make "free" portable calls.
WHY
Cell-phone calls are expensive. Why pay more?
WHAT'S COOL
Jammin' it to your mobile provider.
WHAT'S LAME
Sounds like you're talking in a tunnel — when you can find and connect to a network.
FINAL MARK: C
Would be great at home with better sound quality; lousy on the road.
PRICE: $180
See Belkin's site for more on the Belkin Sykpe phone.
Joining a long list of notable nascent technology products such as the Kaypro 1 and the Apple Newton, this Skype phone is clearly a sign of one potential telecommunications future. Optimally, a phone like this would work best in the more than 100 cities with mesh networks already operating, such as Los Angeles and Hoboken, NJ, or being built around the country . But lacking that, using a portable Skype phone outside your home is analogous to driving a car cross-country in 1910. Because of the ad hoc nature of current Wi-Fi hotspots, you must first locate and connect to a local network before you can make a call, a laborious and often fruitless process that's hardly worth the time or the effort.
Not only does this phone look basic, it is. Physically, it's 4.5 x 2 x.75 inches, has a rubberized back for an easy grip, a tiny joystick on the front for menu navigation, a mini USB jack for charging, and a headphone minijack. All the keys are square but tiny and not backlit. Even though this phone is designed to connect to the Internet, there's no Web browser of any kind —s VoIP calls only, please. There's also no Bluetooth, no personal apps (calendar, alarm, etc.) that are found on all cell phones now, no camera, and only four ringtones to choose from, none of them very loud. Yep, just a Skype phone.
Once the signal bars appeared, I attempted several calls, with varying degrees of no success. I actually heard the phone at the other end ring on one attempt, then nothing. In other words, the phone had a powerful enough receiver to find dozens of distant networks, but not strong enough to hone in powerfully enough on the closest network to actually make a call. They could not hear me now.
Also fickle was the battery meter, which arbitrarily shifted between a third and two-thirds filled. But you'll want to leave the phone charging at home — you get only 3 hours of talk time and a mere 30 hours of standby.
By biddera at 7:31 AM ON 11/21/06
I just received my Belkin a few days ago, bought for $85 off Amazon. I run a secured WEP wifi network, static IP, attached devices by mac address.
After adding the Belkin mac address to my router config,(you can get this from the back of the phone under the battery or in the phone configuration settings), I was able to connect to my network by using the 'Add network manually' on the Belkin phone config settings.
Setup for a secure network needs some good networking skills, as this can get very tricky for the non IT savvy. Setup for an open network is easy for any standard user.
I took a trip around my neighbourhood to find an open network. I was able to locate, connect and make a call very easily.
Some open networks will give an 'IP address not assigned' when trying to connect, but this maybe due to the open network not having DHCP enabled.
PROBLEMS:
3 days on and the Belkin will not connect to my home secured network. I tried manually adding the Belkin to the network, the Belkin discovers the network and tries to connect, without success.
Tried powering down and up, but still will not connect to the network.
I will post a further update on my problems and solutions over the next few days.
Phone Quality:
Phone looks and feels good, Screen is a bit on the small side.
Battery does not last that long and you have to charge every day, if you make many calls.
Call Quality:
Sometimes the call has echo. All calls come through very dull and thick sounding. The volume settings on the phone do not go high enough.
Ease of Use:
Networking skills required if attaching to a secured network.
By biddera at 7:28 PM ON 11/27/06
ECHO ECHO ECHO ECHO!!!. Tried changing the ports to port 80 or 443 settings on the Belkin phone, but no change. On any call the echo is really bad on a pstn line. On a mobile or 0870 line, just give up and use your normal landline.
Lockups: Yes the phone locks up completely at adhoc times. The only way to solve this is to remove the battery, place it back in and turn back on.
Sounds: Every time the phone drops the wifi network, it makes an annoying sound that you can't seem to turn off, other than turning all sounds off on the phone. So that means you can't hear the phone ringing from your SkypeIn line.
Outcome: The Belkin phone does not live up to the hype. Not worth £90. I have a vosky skype box which does the trick, with clear calls all day long.
No further update for this product.
By Nicky at 10:32 AM ON 07/17/08
I have this phone and have had for a while. Initially all worked great. Then it refused to connect to my router. Not a router problem as the PS3 and the laptop were both fine. Eventually after removing all security from the router (IP address restrictions and the WPA security), I got it to connect and could use it again. I then re-enabled them and again it carried on connecting. However it has now decided to fail again. Extremely fustrating!
By manak at 1:49 PM ON 09/25/08
I need mobile phone to mobile phone facility using skype. Please tell me what I have to do now. I need 2 or 3 phone. one for me, one for my wife & one for my daughter. I want it to be handy one & dont want to use computer. I mean want skype facility just like other cell phone facility. Please reply me at the earliest probably immediately
By 84550422252265850 at 6:16 PM ON 06/02/09
i do need a phone because my kids are at there dads ?
By Anonymous at 6:06 AM ON 10/25/09
i want by this phone how mutch your price?
on your cellphone!
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Anonymous:
i want by this phone how mutch your price?...More »