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I purchased this phone a itsy-bitsy over two months ago. Overall I'm quite overjoyed with it, though I do wish I had waited until the designate dropped and saved some $$! I've read many of the reviews and agree with many of the obedient ones, and can empathize with many of the not-so-good ones.
First of all, I reflect everyone assumes someone looking to seize this phone already knows about Skype, which I'm certain is usually suitable, BUT if you're irregular with Skype, be positive you visit www.skype.com first to catch out exactly what it is, and what it is going to cost you (if anything) to join and utilize the system. Different plans are offered such as talking to only other people on Skype. . . . Making calls to people on "regular" phones (fee based, but really cheap) . . . . and if you want to have your possess phone number so that anyone can call you (fees interested) . After reading a lot of reviews, I didn't view where anyone mentioned about what Skype actually is, so I wanted to acquire that out of the plot. This phone works with Skype, but you tranquil have to sign-up and capture what conception you would like, and that's where there could be fees. Also, you must have high-speed internet access to exercise this phone. . . BUT you can expend the phone without your computer being turned on, which is one of the main reasons for purchasing this phone. Now for the review. . . .
When I first got this phone, I had both a land line and Skype. I have since dropped the land line because I'm more than contented with the Skype service, especially due to how mighty $$ it's saving me (a ton, by the intention) . As Skype will inform you, they recommend you retain a land line, because Skype does not work with 911. I have a cell phone which works with 911, so I'm less unnerved about that and I live in a condo with lots of people around me. If 911 service is of a disaster, then you might want to hold the land line. When you position 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 mild 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 conception that Skype was not as splendid 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 gargantuan that the phone will update when you add unique 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 expansive feature.
As for the phone itself. . . well. . . yes, it is sleek, unique, etc. . . but I agree with someone else who said that it's kind of a harm because it's not like a "regular" phone receiver where you can acquire it against your shoulder and ear. Yes, you can spend a headset, and yes there is a speakerphone which I come by works quite well. But if you're not using either of those, it can be a bit of a harm holding the phone all the time. FYI, there is no volume control, and I really disapprove that. If you're the slightest bit hard-of-hearing, I would not recommend this phone. Though it's not difficult to utilize, it is more like using a cell phone. If you have Skype announce 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 accept one that you'll be glad with. Oh. . . I don't know if this is composed 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 steal a peruse at the owners manual before you steal, unprejudiced so you know all of the details and what features this phone offers, which are quite a few. Once you come by to the Philips website, impartial do a search for VOIP8411B/37.
If you disapprove paying the phone company a ton of money for calls you probably aren't going to invent, Skype is a spacious service. You can perform unlimited phone calls within the U.S. and Canada for honest under $30. Out of country calls are extremely cheap. For example, I can call the U.K. for a bit over 2 cents per tiny.
So having a telephone you can count on to gain reasonably grand calls is principal. The Philips VOIP841 is not a perfect solution. The sound quality is somewhere between a cell phone and a land line. It's a bit better than the broken-down and not nearly as generous as the latter.
But for making and receiving calls from family and friends, it's gargantuan. And it will pay for itself hastily and do you a ton of money on your phone bill.
I even exercise mine for business calls overseas and many times within the U.S.
With Skype, you can accomplish conference calls. So business users will collect this of interest.
Although the phone allows you to form Skype or land line calls, the land line is no better or worse than the Skype line. In fact, I contain the Skype calls may be somewhat better on this phone.
I do procure there is a cramped amount of static on my Skype to land line calls at times. Not enough to acquire the calls abominable. But you'll behold it. And it's not always there. Calls are dependent on your connection and the traffic.
In addition, the phone is not especially comfortable in your hand. At least I don't believe so. It's too microscopic and not shaped well. You have to maintain it a definite arrangement to hear well.
The speaker works quite well. I can hear the other person very well on the speaker. The other person says it's not as reliable on their kill. But it's a advantageous feature to have. The tranquil feature is also apt to have.
So if you're looking for a just land line replacement, this is not it. Of course, Skype will shriek you that you can't invent 911 calls. So most people want this for a second line anyway.
I like to notice my costs. And one set you can expend device too distinguished money is with the phone company. So I gash my land line service to the bare bones (I like having 911 and the option to have determined calls) and I have a great cell phone idea. Added to that this phone and Skype and I establish a ton of money. I signed up with Total International for long distance on my land line. So for me, that combination works enormous.
The phone is feature rich. It does have some bugs. And I found that customer service doesn't know mighty more about the phone than I do. They're of very runt benefit. And the documentation is awful. They do have a decent FAQ on their Web area and you can accept some answers. Plus, Skype has an active forum with lots of folks who employ this phone. So there's abet there too.
But having said all that, I recommend this phone for people who expend or idea to employ Skype for a lot of long distance or PC to PC calls. I query within a few years someone will approach out with a phone that is a just solution. Until then, I'm joyful I bought this phone and I really delight in the savings it provides me with.
I doubt you'll acquire a better Skype phone at this time and this one enjoys high ratings from most reviewers who review for a living.
Update: July 21, 2007
After using this phone for several weeks, I can allege you I'm blissful I made the take. It's worry-free and very actual. Making Skypeout calls are quite positive, regardless of where you call. The landline, however, is not too obliging. So I don't utilize it for a landline at all.
I've never had any dropped calls or any problems and I've former the phone a lot. I pay Skype less than $30 per year for unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada and sustain a itsy-bitsy in my sage for overseas calls. I talked to London for five or six minutes and it only cost me a nickel.
I ordered a Skype desk phone for my office to employ along with this one. But it's not portable. I also read in The Wall Street Journal that there is a unique type of VOIP calling coming out in September, called Ooma, which may demonstrate to be a better deal. I'll be checking into that and buying the unit.
So, in summary, I've been very tickled with this phone and it's worth the mark. I continue to highly recommend it.
The phone is pleasing in high gloss dismal ... puts Belkin and Linksys offerings to shame, but finger prints remove a lot of inconvenience to seize. Fit and effect are suitable and it's nice that Philips included all the valuable cables (ethernet and regular phone) . Yes there is a mini jack that accepts a headset (my Panasonic works) and here is volume output that is finally loud enough for me. For some reason, the jack plot is about 1/8" too rude for the headset to remain plugged in when you return the phone to the charging cradle. I can't screech if this is deliberate or a do oversight. Handset batteries are a pair of standard AAA NiMH--good because replacements are cheap and easy to win, but I can't attend but reflect the talk time would be more with a custom battery. We'll glimpse.
Navigation is decent--no confusion if you know your plot around a cell phone. The cloak is easy to read but, like a cell phone, the contact list is only about 11 characters wide so long names are truncated. Philips makes the selected contact name scroll like a ticker, but it would be nice to objective to eye more of the name to start with. Setup for me into a Linksys router was effortless.
I was a Skype user before I bought this phone so the first thing I miss is the ability to conference several contacts in to a single call I am hosting. I'm finding that Skype on my Mac detached works (login with same username) so I can enter contacts on my keyboard and they update the handset a couple of minutes later. However, I do peruse that sometimes my active contacts are grayed out on my Mac, possibly because the handset was off hook recently and has not released control. Sound quality is a petite tinny compared to Skype on a Mac with a hard wired USB headset, but smooth splendid.
If I had one wish, that would be a menu option to originate all the land line features travel. As it stands, I can dial the number to a regular phone but have to bewitch SkypeOut or land line when I residence the call. Since I don't have a land line, this is an extra step for me each time (This doesn't apply to numbers already entered into my Skype contact list) .
All in all I am very delighted. The phone looks awesome and belongs in the MoMA, and I am saving a top-notch chunk of change by terminating my land line. BTW, since I have a cell phone that gets me 911, I doesn't bother me that Skype doesn't provide this.
