I did a thread about skype and ebay. but i was looking on skype website and that u can get special phones to plug into pc, are these good does anyone know?

They're great if you want to use Skype but prefer the feel of a "traditional" phone handset.

http://www.dabs.com/ProductList.aspx...lectedId=11209

I use this one, which looks very similar but not identical to this one). You plug it in and use it like a normal phone, and you actually sounds on the other end as if you were using a normal phone. I've got a pretty low voice, normal PC microphones won't clip so the other party hears a lot of low components. I think the trick with my "Skype Phone" might be that the microphone is sufficiently bad, or maybe they actually implement a high pass - no matter what, the sound quality is excellent.

so is it worth getting one do you think?

Skype is one way into Voice Over IP - that is telephone calls over the internet. But the downside of Skype is that they use proprietary protocols so it's great to call another Skype user or to use their "Skype Out" facility to call from your PC to a land line anywhere in the world. But you can't easily connect to users on other VOIP networks and you get no choice but to pay Skype's own "Skype out" rates. If, on the oter hand, you use the same sort of hardware but the software you use is SIP/RTP compatible, these are open internet protocols for VOIP and any suppliers using them should be compatible with your hardware and software. So you get to choose from lots of different SIP providers and if you want to call an Aunt in Australia or a brother in Hong Kong you can use one SIP supplier for one call and another for the other call and just cherry pick the best rates available.

So, while "Skype" may be "king of the hill" today (not least because Ebay bought them!) they are going to have to do something pretty soon about inter-operability and SIP/RTP conformance or they risk being left behind now that all the big telcos like BT, Telefonica, France Telecom, Belgacom, et al. are starting to roll out their big SIP/RTP networks and (quite importantly) offer guaranteed end-t-end QOS (quality of service - to guarantee crackle free calling!)

Cliff
(who kind of does this stuff for a living)

calls made to mobiles and landlines can be as expensive as your bt or mobile
but for for 1to1 on skype its great and works fine with a web cam with built in mic or a headset
top ups are bought like pay as you go from argos (check out the latest catologue for prices )
and it has a im service so you dont have to chat if you dont want to
small download worth getting imo

If you want to use Skype, a USB phone-like contraption is in my experience superior to any alternative. I tried regular headsets, bluetooth headset, desk microphones and clip-on ones - this is the best optin IMO.

CJL is certainly right with regards to the future of the Skype product. At $40 a piece I am personally not worried about my investment.

For me, Skype offers the best feature set and call quality. They might be using a different protocol in future, or I might be using a different VOIP provided. That doesn't really change my present position re/ Skype and USB phones.

Skype is a great product. Easy to configure, no subscriptions to sign up to (unlike VOIP providers). I have never experienced the call quality to be anything less than excellent (far superior to a POTS). And best of all, skype to skype is free. You can say that a full VOIP service is a "better solution" but to be better IMHO the first thing it has to be is free. And it isn't.

Skype-out is so cheap it's ridiculous (1p/min to USA landlines AND mobiles!).

I don't think that Skype and "proper" VOIP will ever converge as Skype is based on p2p technology and is actually nothing like VOIP really. But as Brush Master says - for a minimal outlay (or none - if you use mic and speakers) you can try Skype for yourself with no commitment to a subscription. If you find out it's not for you then you can then investigate the VOIP alternatves.

well i think im gonna get a skype phone and treat it as a "business" number away from my home phone. I know i will need a SkypeIN number and to pay sub for it but i think it will be worth it.

thanks for your help so far but..............


ive been looking at skype for most of the evening, and it seems to good to be true..

im planning to get a skype fone, and get skypein and out services too. but calls seems to be too cheap!! i know you have to pay £7 for 3 months or 20 for the year for skype in servce and to phone out u need credit, which i understand.....but.....

whats the catch?

I think that the best thing about Skype is their conference call. To have upto 5 people all on the same conversation with excellent call quality is amazing.

I prefer Sipgate to Skype Hype.

But then I also use www.voipstunt.com, makes Skype Hype look expensive.

whats skype hype

well ive been testing skype out, and its seems very good, and testing out the forwarding to another number......hope to have operation up and running by beginning of march....

They are just rhyming the word Hype with Skype for sarcastic effect.

well little bit miffed that even tho call forwarding is free.....i sent calls to be forwarded to mobile when not on skype, and they seem to charge you as tho ur making a call to mobile!!

well little bit miffed that even tho call forwarding is free.....i sent calls to be forwarded to mobile when not on skype, and they seem to charge you as tho ur making a call to mobile!! i tested this using my landline number

Yes, that is how call forwarding works!

i mean i tested it with my landline, rang my skype number which i have, and it went to my mobile, but they charged my account...they gave impression call forwarding is free!

The option is free, but it is costing them the price of the phone call to divert the call, this you have to pay for, otherwise they would be losing money hand over fist, and everyone would setup an 01 or 02 number to forward to their mobile, so people could call them cheap or free.

i see, i didnt realise that, as never used it before, so best bet is to send calls when not on skype to voicemail...

See third phone down here


I use the £30 at work. Ordered at lunchtime and got it next morning. Have no connection with the company and am not very techno-literate.

I use it for Skype to Skype calls and Skype out calls. Also use the Skype IM with suppliers and customers and overall for just £30 investment am very happy.