Pros & Cons
-
- No PC needed.
- Dual phone.
- Supports multiple Skype features.
- Color screen.
-
- Fairly expensive.
Philips VOIP841 Specs
| Color Screen: | Yes |
| Mac Compatible: | N/A |
| Number of AC adapters for system: | 2 |
| Number of additonal handsets system can support: | 3 |
| Service Provider: | Skype |
| Type: | Dual phone (analog & VoIP) |
| Type: | No PC required |
The Philips VOIP841, which lets you place and receive calls over both
The VOIP841 can make Skype calls without a PC because it does the call processing internally. In its base station you'll find a 168-MHz ARM9 CPU running Linux that processes your calls so your PC doesn't have to. You plug the base station's Ethernet port directly into your router or modem. An RJ11 port lets you connect to a standard phone line.
Assuming you want to make calls over the Internet and also share your broadband connection with your home network, you'll need a router, unless your cable or DSL modem has a built-in multiport switch or additional Ethernet ports. After the base station powers up and connects wirelessly with its handset, it heads out on the Internet and connects with Skype automatically.—
Quick Installation
I was impressed with how easy setup was for this phone—no surprise, since the procedure was virtually identical to that of the two similar phones I'd reviewed earlier, and this model's base station not only included the same ports but looked much like those of the other models. So while the documentation is good, I didn't need it. And since any necessary program code already resides as firmware in the phone's built-in memory, you don't even need to load software. A CD does come with it, but it contains just PDF versions of the user manual and other reference documentation.
The entire installation process took under 5 minutes. But 14 hours prior to powering up the base station, you have to insert the provided batteries (two NiMH AAAs) into the handset and charge it overnight in its cradle. After that, you connect one end of the included Ethernet cable to the router and connect the other end and the power adapter (and, if you want, a standard telephone line), to the base station. When the base station comes up, you'll briefly see a yellow and blue LED flash, and you'll hear some melodic beeping as it connects with its cordless handset.
From that point, if you already have a Skype account, you just enter your user name and password to log in to the service (you can set up the phone to do this for you, too). If you need to sign up, you can register from the phone's interface using its keypad, but you'll find the process easier and quicker using a keyboard and PC. The landline connection requires no setup; plug the phone in and you can start using it, assuming you have service.
The intuitive Skype-like interface lists the menu items for all Skype features you'd get with a standard PC except, of course, video. You'll have no trouble finding your contacts and making calls through Skype. And shifting between VoIP and standard calls is easy.
When the handset isn't in use, by default its backlight turns off after one minute to conserve the battery. Within another minute or two, the handset will go into sleep mode until you receive a call, hit a button, or return it to its cradle. From the settings menu, you can set the backlight to stay on for up to five minutes. You can also set your preferred method of calling (under Settings, Call Settings, Preferred Line) so you don't have to navigate through the menu for every call by choosing among three checkboxes (SkypeOut, Landline, or Always Ask).—
Performance and features
I experienced no interference between the phone and my wireless 802.11b/g network. Calls made through Skype and my AT&T CallVantage VoIP service over my home Time Warner RoadRunner cable connection sounded quite clear on both ends. The quality was generally on a par with that of a good cell-phone connection—not always as crystal-clear as a call placed over a landline, but generally good enough. The system proved equally adept when used on a traditional analog line and paired with Speakeasy DSL service during additional testing at PC Magazine Labs.
Those familiar with Skype's peer-to-peer architecture might wonder whether this system will be processing calls for other nearby users of the service—something we all agree to when downloading the application. The system sticks to its own call processing, though. It doesn't store a copy of the Skype Global Access List, either. Instead, it accesses this key facet of the service directly from Skype's servers or via a nearby Supernode.
The handset fully supports Skype's many premium services, so you can use the phone to set up your voice mail, get additional ringtones, and receive calls via SkypeIn or make them via SkypeOut, for example—if you've signed up for those extras. Buttons on the phone, along with simple menus, let you adjust volume, display brightness, and the intercom. A speakerphone built into the handset delivers fairly good sound quality. At $150 (street), the phone doesn't come cheap, but that's really my only criticism.
If you've already got your own home network, have Skype or want to use it, and like the idea of being able to access the service without turning on your PC and logging in, you'll probably really like the Philips VOIP841 or its competitors from Linksys or Netgear. In the end, choosing among the three really comes down to your taste in design.
More VoIP reviews:
Final Thoughts
Philips VOIP841
An attractive phone system that will fit in with your home decor and lets you make Skype and traditional landline calls without a computer.