Anyone use a SKYPE WiFi Phone?

[cockroachfarm]

Most hotels these days have free WiFi in the lobby and I don't always want to drag my laptop there. I'm thinking of buying a NetGear SPH220W WiFi Phone with Skype (about $150.) to make my calls home to the family and to business associates and clients in other parts of the world.

Anyone here familiar with this phone? Or owns one?

 

[fudo]

I don't know anything about that particular phone, but Skype service is good.

 

[cockroachfarm]

I don't know anything about that particular phone, but Skype service is good.

Sure is! Haven't used it much in the past year or so but I just downloaded the latest version and topped up my SkypeOut account for calls to landlines and cellphones. The voice quality is superb - even on a cheap headset.

 

[brinstar]

Skype is fantastic. We just picked up that Netgear WiFi phone a few weeks ago.

I was looking for something to mainly use at home (we don't have a normal phone). Our battery only lasts about an hour of talk-time, which is much less than advertised, so we possibly got a dud. Call quality has been usable, but not great. At least half of the calls we make, people say it sounds like we have bad cell reception. We've ordered on of the Phillips non-wifi cordless sets for our home use, and will probably just get rid of the Netgear one.

If you are traveling around areas that have open hotspots it may be great. The main shortcoming of those phones is that they will not work anywhere that requires you to go to a web page before using the internet. So, most hotels and airports are out. Until they come out with a version with a browser, you may be better just sticking with the laptop unfortunately.

 

[cockroachfarm]

Skype is fantastic. We just picked up that Netgear WiFi phone a few weeks ago.

I was looking for something to mainly use at home (we don't have a normal phone). Our battery only lasts about an hour of talk-time, which is much less than advertised, so we possibly got a dud. Call quality has been usable, but not great. At least half of the calls we make, people say it sounds like we have bad cell reception. We've ordered on of the Phillips non-wifi cordless sets for our home use, and will probably just get rid of the Netgear one.

If you are traveling around areas that have open hotspots it may be great. The main shortcoming of those phones is that they will not work anywhere that requires you to go to a web page before using the internet. So, most hotels and airports are out. Until they come out with a version with a browser, you may be better just sticking with the laptop unfortunately.

Yes, I think they bury that little disclaimer in the fine print. Your mentioning it might save me $150 - thanks! :thumbup: