Skype Phone !

[Tysonator]

Hi, I am thinking of getting a skype phone, so the wife can phone her sister in Australia.
Would it be better to have one that can plug into a router so I can still use the PC while she is on the phone ?

What are your thoughts please :)

[Feek]

A guy at work had a Netgear one with him today to show off. It's quite clever, if a little scary.
When you turn it on, it simply scans for the strongest unsecured wi-fi it can find and connects to it. You can of course configure it to talk to your own router but it's a little concerning that it just hunts and connects to whatever it can find.

Seemed to work well enough in actual use.

[Mark]

The Netgear phones do look good from what demonstrations i've seen of them. It's certainly nice to have an IP phone that doesn't rely on the PC (my router has built-in VoIP, so I can just plug any old phone in - though in my case it's a rather good 'any old phone').

If you can justify the cost, then they do seem like a good idea. Not sure how well they work with non-free wi-fi hotspots though.

[Tysonator]

A guy at work had a Netgear one with him today to show off. It's quite clever, if a little scary.
When you turn it on, it simply scans for the strongest unsecured wi-fi it can find and connects to it. You can of course configure it to talk to your own router but it's a little concerning that it just hunts and connects to whatever it can find.

Seemed to work well enough in actual use.

Do you know what model the phone was, as that phone seems to be damn good !
Yes I agree a little bit of a concern that it will auto connect to WiFi Hot Spot.
Though if you use it alot trying to connect to another Hot spot may not work when need to make that call, or receive one.
The fact that it is cable free is good.
I may buy a router to use a Netgear Viop phone.
Cheers

[Tysonator]

The Netgear phones do look good from what demonstrations i've seen of them. It's certainly nice to have an IP phone that doesn't rely on the PC (my router has built-in VoIP, so I can just plug any old phone in - though in my case it's a rather good 'any old phone').

If you can justify the cost, then they do seem like a good idea. Not sure how well they work with non-free wi-fi hotspots though.

What type of router do I need ?
As there are some many difference speeds and formats out there now ?
many thanks

[Mark]

Any router/access point that supports 802.11g will do. Doesn't have to be Netgear.

[Feek]

Do you know what model the phone was, as that phone seems to be damn good !

This one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-SPH101-Compatible-Internet-Telephone/dp/B000GOBN4M)

[Tysonator]

This one (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-SPH101-Compatible-Internet-Telephone/dp/B000GOBN4M)

That does look like a great little phone !:cool: