I'm getting wireless internet in my rented house in a few weeks, and after looking at Skypes website, im thinking they might be a cheaper alternative to getting a BT home phone too.

Skype Pro offers free calls to landlines etc, and gives you a number for people to call you. Im just wondering what the signal quality is like? For example if im constantly near the wireless router, will the quality be excellent?

Also, how much am i looking at for a cordless phone, one i can use without my laptop being on?

I am right is assuming that you are in a cable area? If so then VOIP is the way to go, and I would suggest sipgate as they supply a free geographical number, and although they are cheaper than skype, I would use another provider to make calls

If you're using the VoIP for business you might want to look at another BT alternative, Maintel (Their VoIP page)

I really don't understand this love affair with Skype, they charge you for an inbound phone number, you generally must leave your computer on all the time to make/receive calls, and their call rates to landlines isn't as competitive as some providers.

Either get a router with inbuilt VOIP and use a normal phone plugged into this, or an ATA if you already have a router to connect a normal phone, or use a router and a dedicated VOIP phone instead. You then don't need to leave your computer on, and unlike Skype equipment you can use the VOIP equipment on any SIP-based VOIP provider, so you're not locked down to one company.

Yeah, there are a few VoIP options available now that doesn't mean your PC is on all the time (although to be honest mine usually is)

I think once someone makes an easy to use version, it'll all take off and everyone will have it. Local rate numbers to international places is too tempting to pass up.

Look at Sipgate though, they sell cheap equipment pre-configured, can't be much easier than that, so that really blows the statement about an easy to use version out the water.