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13 January 2007, 16:03
Skype offers phones for Web and conventional calls...
Skype, which has popularized Web telephone calling, on Monday marked progress in extending its low-cost calling services beyond computers to new types of phones.
 Netgear today introduced a new cordless phone that combines plain-old telephone service and Skype calling in one handset. It's not a new concept (Linksys is already doing it, for example), but the new Dual-Mode Cordless Phone with Skype SPH200D is a handsome little package. And it looks easy to use. The handset LCD shows you the option of selecting a SkypeOut or landline connection, and your can scroll through your Skype contact list. The wireless functions use the DECT standard, so reception should be good even if you have lots of other wireless devices flooding the hosue. It's available now for $200.
The base station supports up to 4 handsets, but we're not sure how useful that is. You can only make one phone call at a time. And the clueless Netgear flaks didn't even know if you can use two handsets at the same time (say your two kids want to get on the phone with grandma at the same time.) We can't imagine the phone not supporting that. (But then, neither can we imagine Netgear's top marketing people not knowing how their own products work).
 Unlike many existing Skype-ready phones that need to be tethered to a personal computer, the new model requires only the phone and broadband cable connection.
The Philips VOIP841 uses the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) frequency, an 1.8GHz band that was set aside to allow both security and better battery life than other cordless frequencies. The base-station allows you to plug in a normal land-line connection as well as your ethernet broadband connection. This means you're able to make calls on both Skype and your traditional house phone. However, the Philips doesn't require a PC at all, making it truly standalone
The only problem, if there is one, with this unit is that it uses DECT instead of WiFi, which means you can't take it to wireless hot-spots like you can with the Belkin WiFi Skype phone. It would be fine as a home phone, but not one you can travel with.
 In addition, Skype said it was working with Nokia, IPevo, a Silicon Valley-based unit of major Taiwanese Internet service provider PChome Online, Philips Electronics NV of the Netherlands and Topcom NV, which is based in Belgium and Hong Kong.
Interestingly, the VOIP841 runs an embedded version of Linux, so it’s going to be qute interesting what hacks people come up with in the future. Personally, I really like the idea of this phone but without WiFi I won’t be buying it. But it is encouraging to see major manufacturers like Philips embracing VoIP and making it more accessible.
Combine your cordless phone and Skype calls, all in one.
• Connect the base station to your phone line and router
• Use the cordless phone to make phone calls or Skype calls
• Crystal clear voice quality and longer range with DECT cordless technology
• Talk for free to Skype users anywhere, without a PC*
• Call any phone worldwide for pennies a minute using SkypeOut ASUS's AiGuru S2 connects to a computer through a USB cable connection and comes with both Apple Computer Inc. iTunes and Microsoft Corp. Windows Media Player for listening to music anywhere around a house with a wireless radio connection.
 Other products include a speakerphone that connects to a computer using a USB cable from IPevo and a Philips USB handset aimed at travelers using laptop computers.
How it works
Simply plug the Dual-mode Cordless Phone Station into your Internet router (Ethernet port) to enjoy making Skype calls. In addition, you can plug the base station into your phone line (PSTN) wall jack to make land line calls—from the same cordless phone. Up to 3 additional phones can be added—so you can replace your current cordless phones throughout your home with NETGEAR’s Dual-mode Cordless Phone with Skype. By expanding to offer a growing variety of phone models including cordless, computer-connected and dual-mode Wi-Fi/mobile phones, Skype is making it easier for consumers to spend more of their calling time using the company's services.
• Manage your contact list and see who’s available to talk to
• Use premium services like SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Voicemail (additional fees apply)
• Supports up to 4 handsets per household (additional handsets sold separately)
• DECT Cordless–ideal for long range and clear voice quality
• Multiple Languages Supported Calls made to other Skype users are free, while calls placed to non-Skype users worldwide incur charges that are typically lower than standard telephone company calling plans. Skype counted 136 million registered users of its phone services worldwide at the end of September.
 The shares of eBay dropped $1.08, or 3.5 percent, to close$29.70, while Netgear gained $1.13, or 4 percent, to $29.60. Both trade on Nasdaq. Nokia dropped 1.01 percent, or 20 cents, to $19.64 in New York Stock Exchange trading, echoing a similar decline in Helsinki market trading.
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