I have been looking at getting a usb desktop phone and not a hardphone for my sip account,

http://www.cordless-phones.uk.com/sk...usb-desk-phone

or


http://www.discandink.co.uk/acatalog/skype_p4k.php

any suggestions?

Yes, best suggestion is neither of those.

You're looking at phones for VOIP, but the ones you have linked to are really just a microphone and speaker, with a keypad meaning you don't need your monitor switched on to dial a number. That's pretty much it - you still need to leave your computer on, doing this 24/7 is expensive if you're looking at using the phone as a 'proper' phone, and once you've brought it, it's locked into the Skype hype. There is no way you could use it with any other VOIP service since Skype is proprietary.

A phone like this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Thomson-SpeedT...QQcmdZViewItem from ebay isn't hugely more expensive than what you're looking at. It connects straight to your router if you have one.

If you don't already have a router, the best thing I can suggest is spend that bit more money on a combined router and VOIP adapter, then you can share your internet connection and connect any standard telephone you like.

well i usually keep pc on all day and have voipfone as sip provider which is why i wasnt bothered about a pc-less phone. i do have a router.

If you have a router then an IP phone is a no-brainer for me. If not you're spending money on a phone that will tie you into Skype, and I haven't looked a great deal into IP phones as I use a VOIP router, but for one that costs £15 more than what you're looking at now for a proper SIP based service it does make sense.

Unless you work from home, hope you don't mind me asking but do you just leave your PC on for nothing? You could save a small fortune on your electricity bills.

Both the USB desk phones you pointed out are identical actually, they're just rebadged Yealink USB-P4Ks. They're not restricted to Skype and are compatible with most softphones, see here for helper software: http://www.yealink.com/en/otherdown.asp

However, I agree with CitySlicker that a proper standalone SIP phone (or an ATA) would be better and still compatible with voipfone. No software conflicts and no need to leave a PC on (~5W power consumption for the phone vs 50-100W for a PC, even at idle).

yes i do work from home. i bought a phone with skype used it for while, but i got rid of skype kept the phone on with xlite 3 and works fine.

well ive been looking at a grandstream budgettone 101 voip phone would this be ok?

Yes, one of my friends had that as their first phone before they decided to go all in for a VOIP router. They ordered theirs from Sipgate, who pre-configured it for them, but it's easily configured if you buy it elsewhere or wish to use it on another SIP based network. I remember them being pleased with it at the time, and I often spoke to them on that phone, the call quality is very good.

well can i use this phone with xlite as im going to be on voipfone soon? ir does it work separately?

Yes you can have as many devices as you like set up, they will all activate on an incoming call but whichever device picks up first is the one that gets the call.