Showing posts with label skype. Show all posts
Showing posts with label skype. Show all posts

4/17/2012

Linksys iPhone CIT300 - Cordless phone / USB VoIP phone - DECT - Skype Review

Linksys iPhone CIT300 - Cordless phone / USB VoIP phone - DECT - Skype
Average Reviews:

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Never knew what "Skype" was until I bought another phone
at Wal-mart...and hooked it up and was able to make clear sounding call thru the interest for pennies a minute.
Later I wanted to be able to sit on the couch and talk so
I found this cordless iPhone by Linksys (a name I trust) and this is
cordless and I can talk anywhere, even has a speaker.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Linksys iPhone CIT300 - Cordless phone / USB VoIP phone - DECT - Skype

Product Description:
Get cordless handset convenience when you use Skype! Now your don't have to sit in front of your computer when you want to talk to your friends. The Linksys cordless Dual-Mode Internet telephony kit comes with the handset, charger, and a USB base station that plugs into your computer. Dual-Mode capability lets you choose whether to make calls over a standard telephone line or with the Skype application running on your PC. Just select who you want to talk to from your contact list on your Handset, press a button, and get ready to talk.Of course, the Handset supports SkypeOut dialing as well as your Skype contact list. It rings when you have a Skype or SkypeIn call coming in, and shows the caller's ID on the screen. The Handset also supports call waiting and Skype's optional Voicemail service. When you're on a call, you can hit the Mute button for privacy, or use the speakerphone function to let everyone join in.In short, the Linksys Dual-Mode Cordless Internet telephony kit allows you to choose to make calls to other Skype users or over your existing standard telephone line. You'll get the convenience of a cordless phone and all its features, plus the high-quality voice reception that you get from Skype on your PC, without being tied to your computer.

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4/10/2012

Actiontec VoSKY Skype Call Center ( USB07051C-01 ) Review

Actiontec VoSKY Skype Call Center
Average Reviews:

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This is a must have, if you like skype. I never liked the pc calls in the early days due to the voice drops and the choppy sounds. But ever since skype came on to the scene, it has been a great experience. The voice quality is unbelievable. I have my folks from India calling me (I am located in US) from their PC using skype. Best of all it is free for me, as the internet connectivity is broadband for both my parents and me, so we can talk for ever without any per minutecharges to the telecommunication company.

One issue with skype was that I am kind of tethered to the PC.
Well, not any more. With the vosky call center, I am no where near my PC. Infact I use skype from my mobile phone these days.
(see it is free after night and weekends for both incoming and outgoing calls). You might be thinking I have some of those fancy paid skype services such as skypein and skype out. Well No, nada. What makes it possible is this little product.
The setup is fairly simple. It has just three outlets. The telephone line goes to one of them. The other outlet connects to the telephone. The third one is a USB port which goes to the PC (with windows xp). I keep the PC always on with skype connected with my account. Now, I have setup all my family and friends with speed dialing numbers such as 1, 2 etc. Now all I have to call them from my regular phone is ##1.
Also dialing ## takes me to this vosky call center exchange. I can call any of my contacts with the preset speed dial numbers I have setup. Also, I can call from my mobile phone to my home phone number and access my callcenter(like those answering systems - password protected). Another cool feature is that I can put a wakeup call on any phones, whenever my contacts become online. So I do not have to setup a ren de vouz with my parents for a prearranged time for the PC calls. All they have to do is call my skype account, and my regular phone will ring. Also, from my phone, I can call my skype contact, and if they are offline, it gives me an option to
altert me when they become on line. So as soon as my parents sign in, I get alerted on my phone(or mobile).

Also, my PC has VPN, skype and call center software works in both mode. So thats is great too. Also, when the PC is off, my regular phone works as before.

Also you have the option to setup an answering system, which will route all calls to your PC as audio files.

Do not waste time buying USB phone/mic/speakers etc, when you can use your regular phone, anywhere, anytime.
I will post some pictures of my setup on www.emindshop.com

Click Here to see more reviews about: Actiontec VoSKY Skype Call Center ( USB07051C-01 )

Product Description:
Now VoSKY Call Center from Actiontec takes the great sound quality and low cost of Skype calls and makes these features accessible everywhere, on any phone. Place Skype and SkypeOut calls from your home, mobile, office or any phone .Receive incoming Skype calls to any phone. Get notified on any phone when your Skype contact becomes online

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3/27/2012

magicJack Phone Device - 2 pack Review

magicJack Phone Device - 2 pack
Average Reviews:

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I've own this product for awhile now. Yes it does all what is listed on the company website. The incoming voice quality is good and almost near landline voice quality. Outgoing voice quality is adequate. Several people say the sound is almost like I'm calling from overseas but they can hear me Ok.

Cons:
[Audio Conferencing]
When dialing into audio conferencing services thia is where the system doesn't recognize passcodes to dial-in.

[Delay]
Short delay in calls both incoming and outgoing.

[Fax]
No support as of yet for Faxing. I was able to receive a fax based on the information magicjack list on there website. No success in sending a fax.

[Voicemail]
Tad bit sluggish.

Pros:
- Cost
- Easy setup
- Features

Click Here to see more reviews about: magicJack Phone Device - 2 pack

Product Description:
With magicJackTM never pay a monthly phone bill again. Simply plug the magic|Jack into the USB port on your computer with a highspeed internet connection, plug in any phone or phone system and you're done! Never again pay a monthly telephone line charge or any bills for local or long distance calls! With Magic Jack there are no contracts. There are no hidden charges or fees.

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3/26/2012

Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK ) Review

Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager
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Being someone who uses Skype constantly for both business and personal long distance and PC-to-PC phone calls, I got a Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype as a Christmas gift from a loved one who knows just how nerdy I am when it comes to new gadgets. I love them!

Unfortunately, I can only say that I *like* the new wi-fi phone from Belkin. Appearance-wise, it's terrific with a sleek black case, color screen and attractive key layout. It's a good, comfortable size and feels about like a stylish mobile phone. It comes with a USB cable for charging and software updates, as well as a regular power cord for charging. You can use the phone while it's connected to the charger, which is what I find myself doing a lot.

The sound quality is good and it connected right to my household wi-fi system once I punched in the security code. The controls are easy to access and use. I was quite excited to get going with it and used it for several days without incident.

Then it froze. No matter what I did, the buttons made no difference and the screen stubbornly stuck on 11:38 a.m. and no amount of prodding would break it free. I looked for some sort of reset button like you get with a Palm or other PDA-like device, but there isn't one. I finally decided that the only way to get the baby to reset would be to take out the battery and put it back in.

Thus, my next problem. The battery cover refused to budge. It was as if it had been super-glued shut. I pulled, pushed, yanked but it held firm. I had no other choice than to resort to the proverbial waste of time - support.

Yep, total waste of time. I tracked down Belkin support, filled out the form to inform them of my problem (frozen screen, stuck battery case) and got an answer from some clueless girl telling me I should go into the menu and use the "reset" function. Duh? The SCREEN IS FROZEN, honey! How the heck am I supposed to do that!

So, back to pulling, tugging and yanking on the battery cover. I finally managed to pry one corner up and get enough leverage to get the darned thing open without breaking it. I pulled the battery out, the phone reset and I was up and running again.

My next disappointment came when I stayed at a hotel that offered free wi-fi. I had hoped to use the phone to make some calls, but, alas, the hotel requires you to open their web page in a browser before you can connect to their access. That's all, just open their page in a browser - no inputting codes or anything. Just an open browser.

The Belkin phone has no Internet browser, a terrible oversight for a product that people will want to use at Internet cafes and the like. Not a smart move, Belkin.

Yes, the phone is supported by Boingo, which has hotspots here and there. In my area, my choices are a UPS Store or an RV park. Somehow I can't see myself hanging around those to make phone calls. I'm out of luck at Starbucks, hotels and anywhere without completely open wi-fi access.

Another minor peave is the lack of Skype chat support. My company uses Skype chat a lot during the business day, so I can't plan on using the Belkin Skype phone exclusively for business because there's no chat support. I understand that trying to do chat on that itsy bitsy keyboard is difficult, but people send text messages all the time on cell phones, so there should be support for chat. If nothing else, I'd like to be able to set the phone up to let people know that I don't have Skype chat, try me on AIM or whatever.

Anyway, don't think I'm totally unhappy with the Belkin Wi-Fi-Phone for Skype. I'm not. It's great to carry around the house with me when I'm not on the computer. It just means I have to switch back and forth between it and a Skype-enabled computer quite a bit. I guess my suggestion for those considering one is to say that it's great if you just want a wireless Skype phone for home, have no need for Skype chat and don't plan on trying to use it too many places outside your home network. It's a shame, but it probably won't work for you on the road or in your neighborhood Starbucks.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype with Boingo Hot Spot Manager ( F1PP000GN-SK )

Product Description:
Pre-loaded with Skype software and featuring the same Skype interface, the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone is ready to use with any wireless network. To make a call, simply use the intuitive on-screen color menu to locate your contact and view their online availability-exactly like you use Skype today. The Wi-Fi Phone is Skype-certified, which means that it adheres to all Skype's requirements to ensure that your Wi-Fi Phone experience is just like it is on your PC.

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3/14/2012

Netgear Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D) Review

Netgear Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D)
Average Reviews:

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I've been using this phone for little over two months and really like it. Before, I couldn't warm up to using Skype because I didn't want to be tied to my computer. Now with this phone I'm using it now for all of my outgoing (SkypeOut) calls. My long distance bill has fallen to zero and I've reduced the number of cell minutes as well.

There is practically no setup. I just plugged the base unit into my router, and it connected automatically to my network. I did have to punch in my Skype name and password on the numeric keypad, but it turns out that I could have done that easily through a web browser - the base unit has a configuration page similar to other Netgear routers. Once my name and password were in, I could start calling.

The phone displays all of the contacts that you have previously set up with Skype. In fact, I recommend using Skype on your computer to do all of the setup - it's just easier that way. The phone even shows the amount of Skype credits that I have.

The voice quality is great, but there is a slight delay - similar to what you get when your overseas call is routed through a satellite. I like the fact that the phone comes with a standard 1/8-inch headset jack - I use a headset for most of my calls.

As far as wireless range, I've been able to range throughout my house with no discernable dropouts. It's seems to get better range than my 2.4GHz cordless phone and my WIFI.

So the bottom line is: I'm happy with this phone, happy that it's Skype, and I plan to keep using it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Netgear Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D)

Product Description:
Your internet connection can easily become a phone line, allowing you to make free, or very cheap, calls worldwide. The Netgear SPH-200D Cordless Phone with Skype takes all the hassle out of the process. You don't need to install any software, or even turn on your PC. All you have to do is plug the

Place Skype handsets all over your home for total wireless freedom, no matter how you choose to connect. View larger.

The SPH-200D lets you make and receive calls in three different ways. Learn more.

The handset comes with a base station that enables traditional land line calling. A charging cradle is included, too.

An easy, user-friendly interface makes calling a snap. Cordless Base Station into your internet router and start using Skype's worldwide internet phone service to talk to your friends and relations wherever they may roam. And if that's not enough, the SPH-200D also replaces your land line phone. Just plug the base station into any active phone jack and it becomes a traditional cordless phone as well.
Three Phones in One
There are three ways to use the SPH-200D. For no cost at all you can make Skype-to-Skype calls anywhere in the world. Skype software is pre-loaded on the phone, so you can start calling any other Skype users at their computers or at similar Skype phones right out of the box. An intuitive on-screen menu lets you see which Skype friends are online and available to call. Push a button and you're making a free domestic or international call.
Your second option costs only pennies per minute and includes no monthly fees. With SkypeOut you buy phone time in advance, then use the internet to make calls to cell or land line phones all over the world. You can also get a SkypeIn account for a small fee, which gives you an internet phone number, allowing friends to call you from any phone, anywhere, anytime. With the SPH-200D you can do all of this without fooling with software or plugging headsets into your PC. It's all there in the palm of your hand.
And of course the SPH-200D is also a traditional cordless phone. With the latest cordless technology, DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), the handset delivers incredible range, clear voice quality, and a full menu of digital features. You can even add up to three additional handsets, which allows you to replace all the old-fashioned phones in your home with one that truly belongs in the 21st century.
What's in the Box
Cordless phone with Skype, rechargeable battery, cordless base station, power adapters for the charging cradle and base station, setup guide, and warranty card.
For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited

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2/28/2012

USB VOIP Phone Adapter, Support SIP, Skype Review

USB VOIP Phone Adapter, Support SIP, Skype
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Great device and idea
allows you to make Skype calls from your regular phone and accept Skype calls on regualr phone.
Installation went easy and simple.

The only "problem" is that because of USB cable it has to be placed near your PC so it's sometimes a problem to connect all house phones to it (because home phone line entry point located usually far from PC).
But if you managed to do so or use only cordless phone set with several handsets it's not a problem.
Otherwise only one phone set can be connected and even if it cordless it's a bit unconvinient.
Another thing that missing is ability to "flash" (call waiting) between normal and Skype calls.

Also, after installation the software sometimes redefines your default Windows sound device making you think that your sound gone - just go to "Control Panel"->"Sound and Audio Devices" and set your old soundcard back to be default one.

P.S.: personally I would prefer simular device but the one that have Skype client "built-in" connected by network to router not USB to PC (or even better by WiFi) so you would not need you PC be turned on all the time. But since my PC is on 24/7/365 it's not a problem for me.

*Edited*: Aperently 2 revisions of the device exists "the old one" where you use "*" to switch to Skype dialing ane "new one" where you use "**".
The problem with old revision is that you can't use regular "*" services (like *72 and such) on regular line becouse it switches to Skype.

Click Here to see more reviews about: USB VOIP Phone Adapter, Support SIP, Skype

Product Description:
Plug-and-play installation,USB1.1 compatible, no need sound card PC-to-PC, PC-to-phone, Phone to Phone operation Driver built-in, no need addtional driver Echo cancellation, noise reduction Full duplex communication ACR(Auto Calling Router) function Complies with H.323, MGCP, SIP protocol Interface:One USB interface to PC One RJ11 interface to PSTN One RJ11 interface to fax or normal phone USB LED and PSTN line LED indicatorSystem Requirement:P2 with 200 MHz CPU or better with USB interface 64MB of RAM 10MB or more hard disk space Operating System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Network: LAN, ADSL, ISDN, 33.6K modem or better.

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2/10/2012

USB Skype VoIP to PSTN (RJ11) Cordless Phone Adapter Support SIP, Skype MSN Review

USB Skype VoIP to PSTN Cordless Phone Adapter Support SIP, Skype MSN
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This unit works very well for voice calls. Easy to install. I'm using it with a four phone cordless system.

I have only one issue and it may be a SKYPE issue. I am unable to use it with my fax machine to transmitt faxes. The machine responds with "poor line quality". There's an app for SKYPE to allow you to send faxes from your computer that I have not tried yet. That might determine if it's SKYPE or the adapter.

If you don't need fax capability, then this is a great way to drop POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service)

Click Here to see more reviews about: USB Skype VoIP to PSTN (RJ11) Cordless Phone Adapter Support SIP, Skype MSN

Product Description:
Receive both VOIP calls and PSTN (regular) calls simultaneously. PC-to-PC, PC-to-phone, Phone to Phone operation. SKYPE-ready. Share your standard phone line with SKYPE. Plug-and-play installation; USB1.1 compatible; no need for a sound card. Complies with H.323, MGCP & SIP protocol. On-board echo cancellation & noise reduction. Full duplex communication. Powered by USB. No external power required. System Requirements P2 with 200 MHz CPU or better with USB interface. 64 MB RAM. 10 MB or more of hard drive space. Operating System: Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. Network: LAN, ADSL, ISDN, 33.6K modem or better.

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1/20/2012

Siemens Gigaset HDSP DECT 6.0 Handset for the A580IP (A58H) Review

Siemens Gigaset HDSP DECT 6.0 Handset for the A580IP
Average Reviews:

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First lets not start bitching about Skype not being supported to be as 'a fatal design flaw' since this device was never designed nor advertised to work with Skype. If Skype is being closed system and not following industry standard (SIP) that's Skype's fault. There are tons of SIP providers with rates much cheaper than Skype.

Pros:
- uses 2xAAA NiMH batteries that can be had easily and cheap or in cases of emergency you can use non-rechargeabe batteries
- sound quality is outstanding both VoIP and POTS lines albeit volume is fairly low for both earpiece and speakerphone. There is no background hissing or delays like from ATA adapters such as SPA3102, nothing at all.
- long range and battery life
- keyboard is indeed backlit unlike what some suggest here
- headset physical layout is pretty good and I find it to be of very good build quality although prone to smudges. Keypad size and responsiveness is pretty good.
- It can tail stand easily and it is recessed a bit so you can see display nicely

Cons:
- menu is confusing and some button option orientation is weird. For example first option that shows in menu is SMS option - how many folks will use this? 'Clear' button is programmed on the left side, hmmm ... maybe good for lefties
- volume is too low for my taste

I gave it a 5/5 even though headset volume is too low to my taste.
Reason why I gave it 5/5 is to applaud functionality and quality that comes with this whole A580IP system (6 SIP + 1POTS) for I would say fairly low price. After all how many phone manufacturer came with a standalone all-in-one product like this?

Click Here to see more reviews about: Siemens Gigaset HDSP DECT 6.0 Handset for the A580IP (A58H)

Product Description:
Each Gigaset accessory handset includes a handsfree speakerphone for comfort and convenience, and popular features like phonebook transfer between handsets, polyphonic ringtones and interactive infoservices Gugaset handsets also offer exceptional range and ECO-mode, designed to reduce the handsets pwer consumption.

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12/26/2011

Ooma Core VoIP Phone System Review

Ooma Core VoIP Phone System
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I have been a Vonage customer for three years and suffered through all of their growing pains.At $25 a month though for unlimited service I thought I would check to see what other options were available and decided on giving Ooma a try.

The Ooma hardware is well designed, with thoughtful touches like a built in speaker for listening to voicemail and a brightness control so that you can turn down the brightness of the unit in a bedroom.The hardware comes wonderfully packaged like a product from Apple and includes just about any of the cords you might need to get everything connected with your existing service.

Setup was quite easy.You have to get online and activate the Ooma Hub unit by entering the MAC address on the bottom of the unit and telling Ooma what kind of service setup you are doing, such as whether you will use Ooma with an existing line, get a new phone number, etc.They don't even need your credit card and you are activated.

If you are getting a new phone number then you are essentially done at this point.You get a new phone number to use, and you connect the Ooma hub to your home network.Ooma recommends you put the Ooma hub between your Cable or DSL modem and your home router (if you have one).The reason for this is that it allows the Ooma unit to manage your outbound internet traffic and make sure your phone calls are optimized ahead of other traffic, so that phone calls always have priority, sound good and work properly.

If you have a more sophisticated home network router than can do traffic shaping, recognition of IP audio, etc (some of the top of the line D-Link models have these "QoS" features built in) then you can simply plug the Ooma hub into such a router and get good results.

After plugging in the Ooma to your home network you simply connect a home phone to the Ooma unit and you are pretty much ready to go.There is an "ooma music" dial tone you will hear when you make or receive a call.This is one of the ways Ooma lets you and others know you are using their system and is sort of a free advertising that lets people know you are using this service.

You can plug the Ooma hub back in to one of your home wall jacks and then connect the Ooma scout unit in to another jack in the house so that you can use a 2nd phone there.The scout can even be configured to only ring on a 2nd line, have it's own voicemail, etc... this is possible because the Ooma hub has a built in DSL network system in it that allows it to communicate with the scout units over your home phone wiring.This is very sophisticated compared to other VoIP vendor offerings.You can add up to about 20 scouts on the system and keep adding lines, etc, but obviously there are bandwidth and practical limits that you might run into in such a scenario.

If you are porting a number things get a bit more complicated. After indicating I wanted to port my number I was informed on their website that I needed to call them to complete the porting process.The agent I reached was a bit confused and kept insisting I should just use my existing phone service with Ooma.About the 3rd time of telling him I just wanted to get my number ported he got the paperwork started up.They email you some forms a few days after activation that you need to fill out and fax in to get your number ported, which takes a few weeks.In the interim you are assigned a temporary number to use and you can plug your existing line into the Ooma hub and it will take your inbound calls and route them through the Ooma system.There is a $40 charge for porting your existing number but Ooma will waive this fee if you sign up for the $99 premier service that includes a 2nd phone number plus additional features.Ooma advertises that you can keep your original home service as a backup line, so that your phone works even if the Internet is down, but in my experience Internet service is at least as reliable as my old school home phone line.Anyways, it's your choice.

In my case I elected to port my number, but didn't connect my old line to the Ooma Hub (as the agent insisted I do), I simply forwarded the number to the temporary phone number that Ooma assigned to me during the porting process.

Ooma offers a full suite of software features such as "simulring" (ring a cell or 2nd line at the same time your Ooma phone is ringing), magical "2nd phone line" from another phone on the system when the 1st line is busy, etc.You can control your entire Ooma system from the "Ooma Lounge" which is basically a web page you can access from anywhere that lets you control your Ooma system, features, additional numbers, caller ID, etc.You can learn a lot more about these features on Ooma's website so I won't go into them in great detail since this review is long as it is.

Sound quality on the Ooma is very very good.My mom who is used to hearing me talk on my Vonage line immediately noticed how much better the service was.Sound quality should be excellent provided you connect the Ooma equipment properly.

I would strongly recommend this service to anyone with even a basic technical ability.If you simply need the "basics" of phone service such as call waiting, caller ID and voicemail, Ooma will be a one time purchase.Their premium services are also very nice and reasonable at only $99 a year (sure beats paying Vonage $300 a year for similar features).

One question that keeps coming up is how Ooma can make money with this model.The answer is that Ooma makes money when you buy the system hardware and also makes money when you subscribe to the $99 premium service.There's no saying that they won't increase the price of the premium services at some time in the future.Also, I wouldn't be surprised to see Ooma come up with new tempting hardware offers down the road such as better "scout" and "hub" units that offer features such as video calling between Ooma subscribers.

I am a voice over IP engineer and can certainly recommend the Ooma service, it's a great option compared to spending $30-$60 a month for basic phone service with your local phone company.Ooma supports E-911 for emergency calling, and if you are really worried about having a phone line during a power outage simply connect your cable modem, Ooma Hub and cordless phone system to a UPS Battery Back UP and you will have power for at least an hour during a power loss since all those devices will be running on battery.

I highly recommend this product and the model that Ooma are starting to put together to move beyond the "bell head" phone system that we all grew up with.

12/16 update//

I wanted to provide an update to my review and answer a few additional questions.My number port was completed by Ooma almost exactly three weeks after the request which is fantastic.When the porting request is completed you start to log into the Ooma Lounge with your "real" phone number versus the temporary one that Ooma assigns to you.

I had no issues setting up my 2nd line either.Simply select from available numbers in the area code of your choice and tell Ooma how you want the call handled when it comes in (if you want it to ring to a particular hub/scout, have its own voicemail, etc).Now on to a few questions and/or mis-information I have seen about the Ooma system.

1. I have seen a lot of posts comparing Ooma to Magic Jack.There is no comparison.Magic Jack is a USB adapter that requires a PC running 24/7 to handle your phone calls. PC crashes, no phone.Want multiple lines/scouts... too bad.The Magic Jack is a toy compared to Ooma.Additionally Ooma's basic features are far superior to Magic Jack and requires NO FEES!With Magic Jack you do have to pay annual fees for unlimited calling.So Ooma will actually be cheaper in the long run for most users!

2. I have also seen reviews indicating that Ooma works well, but choppy voice is experienced when using the Internet.This is caused by incorrect installation of the Ooma hardware.Ooma hub must be installed BETWEEN your cable modem and your home router or it cannot prioritize your telephone calls for good quality!The only exception is if you have a home router that prioritizes your voice traffic, such as some higher end models.If in doubt you must put the Ooma directly behind your Cable or DSL modem to get the optimum performance!

3.I have also seen people comment that you can't use multiple phones with the Ooma system.This is only partially correct.If you want to use scouts and the features they offer (have a 2nd or 3rd number ring in to a scout, etc) then yes, you would need a scout for each phone you want to use with Ooma.However, if you just want a "shared line" (like regular home telephone service) then you can simply plug your Ooma Hub into your home phone jack and plug in as many other phones as you want.This will prevent some of the advanced features from working, but will basically work like a Vonage system, etc.Obviously many people have multiple handset wireless systems these days so they will just plug their wireless base station into the Ooma Hub and use scouts for other phones.

4.Someone asked me the question if I work for Ooma since I've commented in many reviews.The answer is no, I don't work for Ooma but I am a very satisfied customer and a voice over IP engineer with 13 years of industry experience.Ooma is the best residential voice over IP system I've ever seen and I very much would like them to succeed and offer their superior service for decades to come.The only way this will happen is with strong word of mouth advertising from professionals such as myself!

2/28 update//

There have been numerous questions...Read more›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Ooma Core VoIP Phone System

Product Description:
In a volatile economy, there's one utility you can save with the aid of VOIP technology - your phone service costs. Smart and stylish, the ooma Hub and ooma Scout partner with your high-speed Internet and your existing home phones to deliver free home phone service. Your one-time purchase eliminates monthly bills for U.S. calling and delivers extremely low rates for international calls. Your one-time purchase of an award-winning ooma Hub device frees your phone service. Call anyone, at any number, anywhere in the U.S. without charge. Think how much you pay the phone company each year. Now imagine what you could do with all the money you save. Ooma is the only company in the history of the telecom industry that lets you own your dialtone. Your one-time ooma purchase eliminates monthly charges for unlimited US calling. Compared to other stand-alone VoIP providers, there are no monthly fees for US calling. Plus, the ooma system has been architected to deliver exceptional voice quality and reliability, giving you the crisp, acoustic performance of a landline, without the associated fees. A number of our customers have reported that ooma delivers "excellent voice quality," "better than landline." Easy-to-read manuals are full of colorful diagrams and simple instructions to make set-up as painless as possible. It takes the average customer less than 20 minutes to activate and install the ooma system. Using the ooma system is even easier! ooma devices have been designed to provide an intuitive out-of-box experience. Ooma can move your number from your current phone provider for a one-time fee of $39.99. To use the ooma Hub device, you need TWO things: 1. A high-speed Internet connection (cable/DSL/fiber-optic); and 2. A home phone. Try out ooma's enhanced calling features with a free trial of ooma Premier, which includes a free second phone line, real-time message screening, one-touch Do Not Disturb and Send to Voicemail, a second personal number with private voicemail, and more.

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12/20/2011

Dual Mode Cordless Phone for Skype & Regular Phonecalls Review

Dual Mode Cordless Phone for Skype & Regular Phonecalls
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
These are great VOIP phones, and they run on all Windows.
You just have to tell it to run in XP mode/

Heres a forum to help. Runs wonderful in Vista ultimate, but just about everything does.

[...]

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dual Mode Cordless Phone for Skype and Regular Phonecalls

Product Description:
Works as traditional (connected through RJ-11) and / orSkype-enabled cordless phone. Based on DECT technology and supports up to4 additional handsets. B / W alpha-numeric LCD display with Skype contact listintegrated on handset. 10 polyphonic ring tones. Extended battery life with 8 hours talk time and 110hours standby time. Additional features with digital clock and alarm on thehandset.

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12/12/2011

ATS Digital Clear Expandable Cordless Internet Phone with Integrated Router for SunRocket Service - 6011S Review

ATS Digital Clear Expandable Cordless Internet Phone with Integrated Router for SunRocket Service - 6011S
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
My review relates to this product as it's a sunrocket device. My advice is go with a different VOIP service. There's many out there ! But after 2 weeks trying to work a customer service issue with Sunrocket, and being bounced around, I gave up.

They do not have a number to their billing department. If you ask them to transfer you there they say billing will email you. Bottom line..small startup company..with immature customer support department.

Don't use Sunrocket at all ! But only my suggestion.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ATS Digital Clear Expandable Cordless Internet Phone with Integrated Router for SunRocket Service - 6011S

Product Description:
Save On Your Phone Service! ATS 6011S Internet Phone with Integrated RouterYou could save hundreds of dollars a year with SunRocket! Why pay $40 or more for home phone service? With SunRocket and the ATS 6011S Internet Phone, you can send your calls over existing high-speed Internet connection and enjoy huge savings! Make and receive calls to and from any regular phone, anywhere in the world. Add another phone line or replace your existing service and save big! And now, this Internet phone includes and integrated router so that you don't need any extra equipment to get started. Only compatible with SunRocket Service.

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12/05/2011

Philips VOIP841 PC-Free DECT 6.0 Wireless IP Phone Review

Philips VOIP841 PC-Free DECT 6.0 Wireless IP Phone
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I purchased this phone a little over two months ago.Overall I'm quite happy with it, though I do wish I had waited until the price dropped and saved some $$!I've read many of the reviews and agree with many of the good ones, and can empathize with many of the not-so-good ones.

First of all, I think everyone assumes someone looking to purchase this phone already knows about Skype, which I'm sure is usually true, BUT if you're unfamiliar with Skype, be sure you visit www.skype.com first to find out exactly what it is, and what it is going to cost you (if anything) to join and use the system.Different plans are offered such as talking to only other people on Skype. . . . Making calls to people on "regular" phones (fee based, but really cheap). . . . and if you want to have your own phone number so that anyone can call you (fees involved).After reading a lot of reviews, I didn't see where anyone mentioned about what Skype actually is, so I wanted to get that out of the way.This phone works with Skype, but you still have to sign-up and select what plan you would like, and that's where there could be fees.Also, you must have high-speed internet access to use this phone. . . BUT you can use the phone without your computer being turned on, which is one of the main reasons for purchasing this phone. Now for the review. .. .

When I first got this phone, I had both a land line and Skype.I have since dropped the land line because I'm more than happy with the Skype service, especially due to how much $$ it's saving me (a ton, by the way).As Skype will tell you, they recommend you keep a land line, because Skype does not work with 911.I have a cell phone which works with 911,so I'm less worried about that and I live in a condo with lots of people around me.If 911 service is of a concern, then you might want to keep the land line.When you place a call the phone will ask you if you want it to go through the land line or Skype.FYI, someone wrote that they were still asked that even though they didn't have a land line, but I was able to change the settings and now the phone always uses Skype.

I agree with someone else who said that they thought that Skype was not as good as a land line, but better than a cell phone.Sometimes the quality is better than others with Skype, but again, I can live with that because of the cost savings.

I have Skype on my computer as well, and it's great that the phone will update when you add new contacts to your computer and vice-versa.You can load all of the phone numbers from Outlook into Skype, and then it will load onto your phone.Really great feature.

As for the phone itself. . . well. . . yes, it is sleek, modern, etc. . . but I agree with someone else who said that it's kind of a pain because it's not like a "regular" phone receiver where you can hold it against your shoulder and ear.Yes, you can use a headset, and yes there is a speakerphone which I find works quite well.But if you're not using either of those, it can be a bit of a pain holding the phone all the time.FYI, there is no volume control, and I really hate that.If you're the slightest bit hard-of-hearing, I would not recommend this phone.Though it's not difficult to use, it is more like using a cell phone.If you have Skype voice mail (fee-based feature) there is an icon on the phone to let you know that you have a message so that you can listen to it.The phone keeps a detailed log of all of the calls which came in, and also that you made.Someone mentioned that the phone does not have the best ring tone options, which I would agree with, but surely you can find one that you'll be satisfied with.Oh. . . I don't know if this is still the case, but my phone came only with a disc with the instructions.There wasn't a printed manual.I found one at the Philips website though.I HIGHLY recommend that you go to the Philips website and take a look at the owners manual before you purchase, just so you know all of the details and what features this phone offers, which are quite a few.Once you get to the Philips website, just do a search for VOIP8411B/37.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips VOIP841 PC-Free DECT 6.0 Wireless IP Phone

Product Description:
The Philips VOIP841 Wireless IP Phone offers:

    The ability to make Skype calls without a computer.
    It can be used as a landline telephone and an Internet phone.
    A full-color display for clear and easy navigation.
    Memory for up to 500 phonebook entries.
The Philips VOIP841 is the first completely independent DECT cordless phone that lets you make Skype calls without a PC. And with the added flexibility of letting you connect your land line, this phone can take care of all your calling needs.



Use the VOIP841 to make free Skype calls to anywhere in the world without a computer. View larger. Quick Installation and Convenience
The Philips VOIP841 is a self-contained unit that requires no installation of software or connection to a computer; simply plug the base into any power outlet in your house, connect it to your broadband connection, and you can start making free Skype telephone calls right away. (To make Skype calls, you must open a Skype account. A Skype account is not included with this phone.)
And by simply plugging your home telephone line into the VOIP841, this phone can double as your everyday landline, giving you the ultimate in convenience.
Easy to Use
If you've used a cell phone or cordless phone, you'll quickly be able to take advantage of all the features the VOIP841 offers. For easy readability, the phone features a 128x128 full-color display, and a 4-way directional pad provides you with easy navigation through the intuitive interface. The handset has enough memory for up to 500 Skype phonebook entries, giving you quick access to your contact list.
You can choose from up to 15 ring tones (5 standard, 10 polyphonic), and the phone allows you to set your ring tone by call type, distinguishing between landline and Internet calls. A speakerphone mode allows for hands-free operation, so you can take notes during the call or share the call with others. There is also a jack connector on the handset for connecting a headset.
DECT Frequency for Security and Extended Battery Life
By using the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) frequency at 1.8GHz, the VOIP841 offers you enhanced security features and a longer battery life than other frequencies. On battery power, the VOIP841 offers talk time of up to 12 hours and a standby time of up to 120 hours.
Each base station can accommodate up to four handsets, and up to four base stations can be used together for a total of 16 handsets. For office or home use, the intercom mode allows you to use one handset to call another handset located in a different room.


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11/15/2011

Philips VOIP 321 Skype Dual Phone Single Handset ( VOIP3211G/37 ) Review

Philips VOIP 321 Skype Dual Phone Single Handset
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Great sound quality and even better range this phone works much better than I imagined. The phone has a feel of quality. I agree with the comments made by grn4jd and I should add that grn4jd's comments made me realize how to dial directly from the handset.The fault that people are making about dialing directly is because of the bad documentation, also Philips tech support is not great about how to configure the phone not to disable the computer speakers. I actually found the fix to this at Philips online Knowledge base. I won't go in the details but it has something to do with going into Control Panel>Sounds and also you need to go into Skype>tools>options>sound devices and choose "Audio in, Audio out & Windows default device" then reboot.As far as dialing out directly from the phone, it's simple, dial the prefix 001 then the 10 digit number then press the red Skype button.The only thing wrong with this phone is that the computer needs to be on for it to run Skype and there are phones out there than run independent of the computer but their not for me because they make Skype the default connection over the landline phone.
EDIT: I am editing my review to add a comment. The reviews of this phone are interesting, this phone seems to get either 5 stars or 1 star and I chalk that up to people figuring out how to dial directly out and also to those that didn't figure out how to fix any conflict with the phone and sound cards.Definitely this phone easily dials out using Skype directly. I posted my solution to dial the prefix 001 and the reviewer Matt B. posted another solution that looks even easier than my solution. Also with some aggravation, I believe the sound card conflict can always be solved. The solution lies within ControlPanel>Sounds and the Skype Toolbar.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Philips VOIP 321 Skype Dual Phone Single Handset ( VOIP3211G/37 )

Product Description:
Philips VOIP3211G/37 DECT 6.0 VOIP PHONE SYSTEM (1-PHONE BUNDLE) 1-PHONE BUNDLE; MAKES & RECEIVES SKYPE VOIP CALLS; MAKES INTERNET OR STANDARD PHONE CALLS; 50-CONTACT ADDRESS BOOK; AMBER DISPLAY & BACKLIGHTING; SPEAKERPHONE; UP TO 100-HOUR STANDBY TIME & 10-HOUR TALK TIME; ACCESS TO YOUR SKYPE CONTACT LIST FROM ANYWHERE IN THE HOME; CALL MANAGEMENT FEATURES INCLUDE CALL WAITING CALLER ID, CALL ON HOLD, MESSAGE WAITING & CALL TRANSFER;HANDSET KEYS INCLUDE LINE, DIALING KEYPAD, PHONEBOOK, CALL LOG, REDIAL, SKYPE & LOUDSPEAKER;AMBER BACKLIT;10-CALLS REDIAL LIST CAPACITY;10 MELODY RINGERS WITH LANDLINE OR INTERNET CALL DISTINCTION

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10/25/2011

Dual Line PC Internet Phone w/ Review

Dual Line PC Internet Phone w/
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I just bought this USB 7100 Vtech phone and have been very impressed with the ease of use and ability to switch back and forth between skype and regular line calls. The only problem I have found so far is they should include a longer USB cable and I wish the phoen would work easily across other VOIP services.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Dual Line PC Internet Phone w/

Product Description:
Vtech USB/Skype phone - Box dimensions: 8.5"L x 6"W x 5.25"H

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9/23/2011

Cisco PAP2T Internet Phone Adapter with 2 Ports for Voice-over-IP Review

Cisco PAP2T Internet Phone Adapter with 2 Ports for Voice-over-IP
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
You need to know what you're doing to really get the most out of this device, but really, this device works fine. I own several of them and use them for my business and home.

To get it to work, you need to sign up for a SIP account with a VOIP provider, like Voip.ms, Voicepulse, Vitelity, or Callcentric.

I suggest updating the firmware as soon as you receive it, as there are frequent useful firmware updates.To respond to some of the one star reviews:

Of course the device doesn't work with Vonage, it's not supposed to! Vonage doesn't use SIP!

Of course the device died when you plugged the wrong power adapter into it - it fried the circuit board. You could make that same comment about hundreds of devices.

UPDATE: While I still think this device is good, I now recommend purchasing a Linksys SPA-2102 instead, due to a new firmware update from Linksys. It's worth the extra $[...] or $[...] bucks for the ability to tweak DTMF detection.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cisco PAP2T Internet Phone Adapter with 2 Ports for Voice-over-IP

Product Description:
Subject to customer authorization by Linksys.
The Linksys PAP2T Internet Phone Adapter enables high-quality feature-rich VoIP (voice over IP) service through your broadband Internet connection. Just plug it into your home Router or Gateway and use the two standard telephone ports to connect analogue phones or use one of the ports for a fax machine.

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9/01/2011

Sennheiser PC 131 Binaural Headset with Volume Control and Microphone Mute Review

Sennheiser  PC 131 Binaural Headset with Volume Control and Microphone Mute
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
Highs: B+
Mids: B+
Bass: B
Skype: A

These headsets are not all that great for music or gaming. They have good overall sound reproduction, very clear across all frequencies but they lack punch. They do just fine when used for TV shows, some movies and casual music.

The main reason I got them is for Skype, since they have a great mic. There is no way a person on the other end can tell it is a VOIP call.

The other issue being, they feel like they are pressing against your ears and you will start adjusting them again and again after a while and that becomes irritating.

For: Skype, TV Shows, Casual Music

Not For: Bass, Serious music lovers & gamers

Click Here to see more reviews about: Sennheiser PC 131 Binaural Headset with Volume Control and Microphone Mute

Product Description:
Comfortable over the head design for gamers or chat line users. Headset uses noise cancelling mic and adjustable boom

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7/14/2011

USB Phone Adapter for Skype, MSN, Yahoo, USB VOIP Interface connects your home phone to network Review

USB Phone Adapter for Skype, MSN, Yahoo, USB VOIP Interface connects your home phone to network
Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)
I wanted an extra Skype phone near my easy chair where I do a lot of my work and where I have a laptop. But I didn't want to buy another Skype phone as I have two already. So I thought I'd try this cheap adapter.

I was blown away! I didn't hook it to the land line as I have a land line phone nearby. I also didn't want to take a chance on making LD calls on the land line.

So I hooked up a phone I bought at a garage sale for a quarter. I set the Skypemate software to recognize the USB port first, not the land line, which is the default.

It worked like a dream. I can make regular calls or use the software. When I pick up the phone, Skype pops up. Really neat. I haven't received a call on it yet so don't know how that will work. But I mostly use it to call out anyway.

The really "great" news is that when I made a call to a regular phone, the sound was above par --- better than a regular call. Unlike another reviewer, I found the quality of the call far superior to a cell phone and equal to or better than a regular land line call. Whether that was due to my Internet connection or PC or phone, I don't know. I do know I tried two phones before I used this one. The first phone didn't give good quality. So it could be you'll need to try a couple phones. This one I'm using is just a cheap old regular phone.

I highly recommend this adapter to anyone who uses Skype or any VOIP that it will work with.

I bought the phone from Cable4Less and I recommend you do the same. Their prices are the best and I can tell you from experience their help is above average and "very" fast. Customer support is an area I really rate on and if it's bad, I'll tell the world. There's no excuse for bad customer support. But if you buy from Cable4Less, you'll be happy. They'll do right by you. (I have no financial interest in Cable4Less.)

I highly recommend this product.

Update: I've not been able to get the adapter to work with both Skype and the Land Line as advertised. As a Skype phone only, it's perfect. But, at least in my case using a standard, basic telephone (not cordless) the landline won't work along with Skype. It may be my unit is defective. But that's my experience thus far.

Update: I switched phones to try and get the adapter to work on both the land line and Skype. Instead of using my trusty SW Bell desk phone, I used the quarter phone and hooked both up to it. And, it works fine.

So my conclusion is that the adapter is somewhat particular in the telephone you use. That said, I'm looking forward to really enjoying this. By the way, it's easy to tell which line you're on.

Click Here to see more reviews about: USB Phone Adapter for Skype, MSN, Yahoo, USB VOIP Interface connects your home phone to network

Product Description:
Now you can use your regular home phone for Skype or any VOIP interface! When your regular phone is connected with this adapter, you can dial and receive calls via Skype/VOIP without the need to buyer a SKYPE phone. This adapter allows any desktop/cordless phone to operate as a dialer and speakerphone for Skype!

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