Netgear SPH101 Skype Wi-Fi Phone

The Netgear Skype Wi-Fi phone feels great in the hand. And it looks good, too. View larger.

Fortunately, Skype can also call out to domestic and international land-lines and cell phones, a service called "SkypeOut". While this service is not free, the rates are incredibly low for international calls. Domestic SkypeOut calls are free until the end of 2006. If you're in a business that requires extensive overseas communication, or you're trekking the globe, Skype is a service you'll want to consider.

Netgear Skype Wi-Fi Phone Design
At about the same dimensions and weight of an average open-faced cell phone, the Netgear easily passes the transportability test. In fact, the design is eerily reminiscent of the venerable Sony Ericsson T630. The phone features a durable silver and white shell, and a bright screen that offers a soft blue and white background with crisp black text. While adequate in low-light or office conditions, the screen doesn't fare well in bright sunshine, but it's still readable. Because the phone is only intended to be used for calls, it does not include any advanced media options. This interface is designed simply to get you connected to your Skype account. An easy-to-use center control toggle makes it a snap to navigate through the phone menu, and the number pad is similar in size to a cell phone. A USB charging port is provided on the bottom of the phone, and there's a headphone jack on the left side, just above a volume control rocker. The other side of the phone sports a button for activating the handsfree speakerphone--a welcome addition. Overall, it's a straightforward design, without any bells or whistles, that gets the job done.

How it Works
Although you initially need a computer to sign up for a Skype account, the Netgear only needs an open 802.11 b/g-compatible wireless access point to get you connected.

In addition to call hold and switching features, the phone supports Skype-to-Skype text-based chats.

Once you're connected, the phone will sign you into your Skype account, and you'll be ready to talk. Your "contacts" folder will give you direct access to all of your Skype contacts. Simply navigate to the person you want to call, and if they're signed in, you can be talking to them within seconds. If you want to call a land line, you use the key pad to dial the number the old fashioned way. And while you lose some of the Skype features with the Netgear that you otherwise have with your computer, such as the ability to initiate conference calls, you gain the freedom of being able to roam within the range of any accessible wireless network as you talk. The phone does support text-based chats with Skype contacts, though--a handy feature that SMS-lovers will enjoy. You can also hold and switch between active calls.

Connection Quality and Convenience
We tested the phone by calling land lines and cell phones in the continental United States, and by calling overseas to other Skype subscribers. While the quality of the connections within the U.S. to non-Skype users varied, the voice clarity was generally adequate on our end with some slight static at times. Also, in some cases there was slight, but perceivable, lag in the conversation that was intrusive at times. However, we would normally not use Skype to make SkypeOut calls within the U.S. With more than 80 percent of its subscribers outside of the U.S., Skype is ideal for international calls, and it's truly optimized for Skype-to-Skype calling.

In our third set of tests, we called fellow Skype subscribers in Europe and the U.S.. Without exception, the quality of our overseas and domestic Skype-to-Skype calls was as clear as any land line we'd ever used. There were no lags in the conversation, and nothing resembling static.

The only real problems we encountered with the phone involved software glitches, the most glaring of which was the phone's standby mode. After 30 seconds of inactivity, the screen goes completely dark and the phone appears to be shut down. Changing the screen's "time out" settings had no effect on this. This would not be an issue if the phone had a feature such as a continuous time display or screen saver that indicated that the phone was still powered up. As it stands, however, it's too easy to assume the phone is shut down when the screen is black, and it's therefore easy to inadvertently drain the battery. The only other glitch we found was an obnoxious notification sound that played at full volume when the phone connected to the network or disconnected from calls. The sound cannot be disabled in any menu, nor can it be turned down. The device we tested was a beta model, and we can only hope that this will be rectified in production models.

Pros

• Durable, compact design
• Exceptional clarity with Skype-to-Skype calls
• Eliminates the need for a computer while making Skype calls

• Inconsistent quality of non-Skype calls
• Regulating the power-down mode is problematic

The Skype phone allows you to call other Skype users for free, or call any number for just pennies per minute from anywhere in the world. See larger.

The handset is easy to use, with a color screen and simple menu system for logging into your account and selecting features.

Wireless technology allows you to use the phone anywhere there's an available Wi-Fi signal.

It's pre-loaded with Skype’s software and ready to use out of the box with your wireless network. Just turn on the phone and enter your Skype username and password. The Skype software pulls up your full contact list, displays the connection status on the phone screen, and allows you to connect to any other Skype user for free. If you want to call non-Skype users, it costs just pennies per minute with the optional SkypeOut option.

Frequently Asked Questions on Netgear’s Skype WiFi Phone

Q: What is the Skype WiFi Phone?
A: The Skype Wi-Fi phone is wireless mobile phone that allows you to make free Internet calls to anyone who also has Skype, anytime you have a Wi-Fi wireless Internet connection.

Q: Isn’t Skype designed to just work on PCs and laptops?
A: Not anymore. Now you can walk around within a WiFi network to which you have access and talk to other Skype users anywhere in the world.

Q: On a PC, Skype shows when my contacts are online. How does that work on Skype Wi-Fi Phone?
A: An intuitive on-screen menu lets you see who is online and available to talk, similar to what you see on a PC.

Q: Can I use it to talk with non-Skype users?
A: For a pennies a minute and no monthly fee, you can use SkypeOut minutes to call any phone. The SkypeIn option receives calls from non-Skype users. Skype Voicemail takes your calls when you’re busy or offline. See www.skype.com for rates.

Q: How do I download Skype to the Wi-Fi Phone?
A: Netgear’s Skype WiFi Phone is pre-loaded and ready to use with a wireless network, out of the box.
Q: Can I use the Netgear Skype Wi-Fi phone at any Wi-Fi hotspot?
A: The Skype Wi-Fi phone does not contain a Web browser, so it cannot access hotspots, which require web-based logins or authentications.