The 4 main types of Skype phone...or, a beginner's guide to buying a Skype phone

By Stephen Pinches on April 20, 2007 in Belkin, Bluetooth Phones, Bluetooth headsets, Cordless phones, Futiro, GE, Ipevo, Linksys, Philips, Plug-in handsets, Polycom, RTX, Skype hardware tips, Skype phones, Speakerphones, USB Phones, Wifi phones.

Have you seen how many different phones there are to make Skype calls now?! This year has seen an explosion in different new models, so I thought it was time for a quick Skypegear overview on the different phones you can use to make calls via Skype.

Cost-wise Skype phones run from around £10 right up to hundreds of pounds, so it's important when you're choosing a phone that you pick one based not just on your budget, but more importantly on your needs. I've divided them up into four categories:

Phones that you need to have your PC on to use
Phones that can be used without a PC
Speakerphones
Headsets.

Of course there are other ways to make calls such as by plugging in a phone adaptor to your regular phone, or by using the in-built mic in your webcam, but these really are 4 main ways of improving your Skype audio calls with hardware.

There's also a great interactive guide to choosing a phone in the Skype store, but read on for more info...

1) Phones which will work without a PC

If you don't want to have to have your PC on to make and receive Skype calls, then you should consider either a Wifi Skype phone, which will connect directly to your wifi router, and can also be used outside of your house at any wifi hotspot which doesn't use browser-based authentication, or a cordless dual mode Skype phone.

These cordless phones are like regular cordless phones, and because you can plug them into your landline and straight into your router, they can really replace your normal home phone so you can make all your calls from one phone.

Phones to consider:

Wifi: You really have 4 choices - the Belkin wifi phone, the SMC WSKP100, Linksys WIP320 (US-only I believe) or the Netgear SPH101 phone.

Cordless dual mode: There are quite a few now, such as the DUALPhone 3088, the Netgear SPH200D, or Philips VoIP 841. There's also the Linksys CIT400 or GE DECT Skype phone (which are both available in the US only at time of press I believe).

2) Phones which plug into your PC

If you're totally fine with having to have your PC on to make calls, then you might want to consider one of these. They come in two basic flavours: corded and cordless, with the cordless ones typically having some kind of dongle or transmitter which plugs into the computer to communicate with the phone.

Cordless handsets: Typically these have a basestation which plugs into your PC. They often have some kind of LCD display on the handset so you can place calls and scroll through your contacts. Recently a few more advanced ones have come out such as the Topcom Butler 4872 USB which allows you to do Skype text chat via the handset, and the Think Xtra Xtender Dual DECT phone which also allows you to use it as a landline.

Other examples of cordless handsets would be the Philips VoIP 321, US Robotics Cordless Dual Phone, or the original Cordless DUALphone.

Plug-in handsets are simply phones that plug straight into your PC, typically via the USB connection. They usually provide an enhanced audio experience to your computer's speakers, as well as an easier way to make calls. Often they will have a normal phone-style keypad which will allow you to dial numbers, as well as choose contacts to call. Some, such as the US Robotics USB Internet phone, have a digital display as well.

There are loads of these on the market now. Recent additions have included the sleek lines of Futiro's Solo, Luna and Terra, as well as Philips' highly-regarded VoIP080. For those of you who fancy something a little different, check out Hulger's old-school P*Phone handset. Cute.

3) Speaker phones

Ideal for businesses, the majority of these simply plug into the USB on your computer to offer a superior calling experience. These really range in price, with the top-end Polycom Voicestation 500 offering an inrivalled call quality, and pairing with your PC either via Bluetooth or cable, meaning that you can connect to it wirelessly.

Other more simple speakerphones include the stylish Ipevo Xing, or US Robotics USB Internet Speakerphone. Also consider Polycom's portable speakerphone, the Polycom Communicator.

4) Headsets

These are great for anyone who uses Skype for considerable amounts of time, especially in a business context. Quite a few Skype phones also include a basic corded headset as well, but if you're serious about using the headset a lot, consider a standalone one. They come in two flavours: corded and cordless, with the cordless ones usually communicating back to the PC via Bluetooth. You also can often choose between versions which plug into the USB vs the audio jacks on your PC.

Examples of corded headsets would be the Logitech Premium USB Headset 350 or the Plantronics .Audio 500USB. As you would expect, headset veterans Sennheiser also do a neat corded headset, the PC130.

There aren't too many cordless headsets for Skype out there, but in the US the Motorola Wireless Skype Calling Kit is definitely worth a look. Also look out for the Plantronics .audio 910 headset, which will allow you to easily switch between calls from Skype and from your mobile at the touch of a button.

Hopefully this gives you an idea; feel free to drop me a comment below if you'd like clarification on anything!

Here's the chart from the Skype store showing the different features of each type of phone:

Technorati tags: Skype phones, cordless phones, wifi phones, internet telephony, internet calling, VoIP, corded headsets, cordless headsets, speakerphones, Philips VOIP841, SMC WSKP100, Logitech Premium USB Headset 350, Plantronics .Audio 500USB, .audio 910

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Comments

Great simple article on the different types of phone, thanks. I think the following questions if not answered elswhere would be useful to other Skype users.

What about adding additional handsets to a setup?

I already have numerous standard DECT handsets.

Would they work with a Dualphone 3088 or Philips VOIP841 installed at the router?

If so would they only work on the PSTN side of things or could you use them to make Skype out/in calls?

If not what are the options for adding additional handsets to a Dualphone 3088 or Philips VOIP841 type setup?

Thanks in advance.

Martin

FAXING? I am using a usb telebox to use my landline phone on skype. I can make calls eay enough but it dosn't seem to be able to fax. Skype once connected to a call dosn't seem to recognize me pressing the start button on my fax machine. Any suggestions?

Can and phones initiate skype conference calls? I've seen a few that aparently can be invited to a conference - but I need to be able to be the one who "gets everyone together" - not just an invitee.

I have VoIP service from another provider, but I'm thinking of switching. I have used Skype in the past and am quite pleased with the service. One thing that concerned me, though, was the need to have my computer running in order to make and receive calls. The article mentions phones such as the Netgear SPH200D that allow using Skype without requiring the computer running. The article says that the phone connects to both the landline and the ethernet router. Does this mean that Skype calls are routed via the router over the Internet and landline calls go over the PSTN line? My broadband service is DSL, so I still require the landline even if I use VoIP. If I were to use the Netgear SPH200D, I imagine I would make outgoing calls using Skype and the SkypeOut service and incoming calls would come in on the PSTN landline. Would the Netgear SPH200D be suitable for that application? Thanks in advance.

ZoomSwitch

If use a wireless headset at work, like a Plantronics CS55 or CS70N, and you want to add USB VoIP functionality to that headset, there's a new product called ZoomSwitch USB Headset Switch that adds USB functionality to your existing office headset or handset. The ZoomSwitch lets you use one headset for Skype calls and deskphone calls by pressing a simple button. It has an LED that turns red for USB and green for phone. There is more information at www.ZoomSwitch.com for anyone who is interested.

You mention phone adapters early in your article. I have a lynksys voip adapter. Can I use this device to access my Skype in capability? If so, how can I find the config details?

"Skype once connected to a call dosn't seem to recognize me pressing the start button on my fax machine. Any suggestions?"

Keoni I had the same problem when I used another company with an orange logo as my VOIP provider. The response I got from them was that fax machines are not compatible with VOIP as VOIP reduces the quality of the call and misses out some bits (especially the high frequency bits), where as we wouldn't really notice it as a fax machine relies on distinct 1's and 0's and mainly uses high pitched tones to send this it does notice it, this is also the same with modems, and quite a few alarm systems too.

Be aware that since Skype Version 3.8.0.188 and all later versions (including Skype 4 Betas) the software Phillips supply no longer works with Skype and the VOIP321 phone.

The latest VOIP321 driver from their website suffers the same issue, even though it states "The VOIP321 USB Phone Driver V 3.8.3 which can be downloaded from Philips web site is compatible with Skype software version from V2.0.0.x until V3.8.0.x". This is plainly no longer correct with the latest stable release of Skype, V3.8.0.188.

Skype developers are unable to do anything about it and Phillips wont update their driver (Quote "... no more development/fixes are being incorporated into the VOIP321.EXE file"). Phillips would probably rather sell you a newer bit of hardware.

Don't waste your time on Phillips Skype phone devices, as their driver support is lacking when Skype is updated, so you buy a product for a few hundred dollars and it becomes useless 12 months later.

Another reason to not purchase the Phillips Skype phones is that it is Windows Only. No Mac or Linux support or drivers offered.

hi there, my question is if i have skype phone can i call other skype phone for free?like im in Australia and my friend is in Sweden.we both have skype phone.does it gonna cost any money if we talk on skype phones?

i ll appreciate if i get my answer ASAP.
thanks

I wonder if you can help. I have seen all the equipment offered in Skype Shop, however I cannot find what I am looking for. Other Voip providers offer what is called a "Telephone Adapter" a.k.a "Phone Adapter" or "ATA". This is basically a device connected to your router which allows you to connect any analog phone to it and you can make Voip calls without the need of a computer. I love the Skype service but I want to use it with a permanent phone number and without the need of having to use my computer to make the calls. My question is, would a Linksys PAP-2NA Phone Adapter (this is a universal type of phone adapter) work with the Skype service? if so, how can I get the configuration parameters to program it correctly?
Thanking you very much in advance,
Alejandro Szita
Los Angeles, USA.

Any chance of an update to this list? I'm looking for a standalone Skype phone for home, but having a hard time finding something worthwhile. My wife and I are considering dumping our landline for cell + Skype, but if there isn't enough quality hardware to support it -- and we don't want to be attached to our computers 24/7 just to talk on the phone -- it may not be worth the effort.

Thanks!

I have a Uniden VG100 Voip Gateway for Skype ..It works on Skype with the echo 123 test..I do hear
the skype dial tone...I use my Telstra land line phone hooked up the the
VG 100 ...I hear the numbers being dialed BUT nothing happens??? The call does
not go through and as I do it I see nothing happening on Skype ..
Is there something I am Missing...... Thankyou for your help in advance
(I dial the numbers exactly as if I were using a landline with telstra)
Robbiedob2

Hi, Thanks for this nice introduction. I was thinking of buying Belkin WiFi phone to use it for my online number, but I had a few questions regarding the cost. Suppose I'm in the US and already have a valid subscription for Skype Online number, and need to talk to my parents in another country where online number is not currently supported. how much does it cost for them to call my online number from their 1) landline phone 2) skype account, and how much fee do I need to pay to receive such calls?

Thanks, Mastaneh

In relation to the Uniden VG-100 post from robbiedob2, I've got the same device and have discovered that you have to dial the entire Vg-100 plus international dialling sequence [such as ##0061 2 XXXX XXXX* for (02) XXXX XXXX in Australia] to get the phone at the other end to ring.

However, I've got a different problem. The non-Skype phone I'm calling rings fine but hangs up immediately. No opportunity to talk. I connected my Uniden VG-100 following the company's instructions. If I set Skype's Audio settings for Uniden IVR Virtual Audio Device, the microphone bar on the Audio Settings page shows a constant loud noise. When I set Skype Audio settings to Uniden VG-100 Voip Gateway, everything looks good on the Audio Settings page.

I'm using a fairly powerful computer running Windox XP SP2 and going out over a Bigpond ADSL2 line. My PSTN service is Telstra. I have signed up for Skype-out for one country, Australia, which is where I live.

I can get incoming Skype calls just fine by picking up the phone and pressing ##. There is a different ring tone for Skype compared to an incoming Telstra call, which is very good as it cues me to answer with the ##.

When I dial an outgoing Skype call to either a Skype number or a non-Skype number, including a call to echo123, the phone at the other end rings once and then hangs up. If I call my own mobile, I get the Telstra missed call message a couple of seconds after that one ring.

Does anyone have any suggestions about what is wrong and how to make the VG-100 work right?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I'm wanting to buy a cordless phone that will support skype calls, normal landline calls with jack for a headset. I'm running a laptop but I don't suppose that makes any difference. Which phone would you recommend and what type of headset? The less complicated, the better! The ISS Think Xtra Xtender at £46.41 seemed to have everything I need. What's PSTN??

Thanks in advance
Glenne

I have recently purchased a Skype starter kit ...I can find where to plug the headphones in (to the front of my right speaker) but can't find where to plug the other bit (cord with same style plug on) in...please can you help (it has a microphone symbol on it). I have a packard bell monitor and modem. Thanks

Is there a way to use a polycom video conferencing unit as the "webcam" and "computer monitor display" for Skype, or to use it as both the video and the audio components for Skype? We have a remote contact who wants to use Skype to interact with us, and we have an existing Polycom unit in our office

I see the question, where are the answers??????