Comments on: Skype/Netgear introduces Wi-Fi VOIP phone http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/ General interest observations and true web-log. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:07:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Eideard http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-138593 Eideard Wed, 03 May 2006 18:51:02 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-138593 1. I had to get rid of the land line. We used to call our phone company "US Worst" and then they were sold -- and got worse. 2. The prime reason -- still -- for Skype for me -- is audio quality. I've been experimenting with VOIP for years and Skype is qualitatively better audio. I haven't used Skype-in or their voice mail; so, I can't comment. And I'm keeping a weather eye on T-Mobile since they're promising something to tie cell and voip together before the year is out. 1. I had to get rid of the land line. We used to call our phone company “US Worst” and then they were sold — and got worse.

2. The prime reason — still — for Skype for me — is audio quality. I’ve been experimenting with VOIP for years and Skype is qualitatively better audio.

I haven’t used Skype-in or their voice mail; so, I can’t comment. And I’m keeping a weather eye on T-Mobile since they’re promising something to tie cell and voip together before the year is out.

]]> By: Awake http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-138210 Awake Wed, 03 May 2006 06:35:14 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-138210 The biggest advantage of Vonage, well worth the money all by itself, is that it forwards all your voicemails to your email as an attachment, so you never have to check your answering machine. You get to pick your area code, for example I live outside of San Francisco but have a San Francisco area code, and I also have an additional number with a New York area code for $5 more. They both ring on the same phone. Try getting a second number in a different area code from your POTS vendor and see how far you get. The biggest advantage of Vonage, well worth the money all by itself, is that it forwards all your voicemails to your email as an attachment, so you never have to check your answering machine.
You get to pick your area code, for example I live outside of San Francisco but have a San Francisco area code, and I also have an additional number with a New York area code for $5 more. They both ring on the same phone. Try getting a second number in a different area code from your POTS vendor and see how far you get.

]]> By: GregAllen http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-138201 GregAllen Wed, 03 May 2006 06:17:53 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-138201 NOT fully international... in my country they've effectively blocked VOIP that has a land-line link, even if you're using it computer-to-computer. NOT fully international… in my country they’ve effectively blocked VOIP that has a land-line link, even if you’re using it computer-to-computer.

]]> By: doug http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-138117 doug Wed, 03 May 2006 03:02:04 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-138117 actually, we need Congress into the fray to ensure that ISPs with their own VOIP services (like Comcast) do not throttle or cut off other VOIP services like Skype. network neutrality now, network neutrality forever! We also need Congress to override or preempt statutes enacted by ISP-bribed state legistatures that ban municipal wi-fi. Unfortunately, since governments everywhere are, by in large, on the telcos' payroll, none of the above will likely happen ... actually, we need Congress into the fray to ensure that ISPs with their own VOIP services (like Comcast) do not throttle or cut off other VOIP services like Skype. network neutrality now, network neutrality forever!

We also need Congress to override or preempt statutes enacted by ISP-bribed state legistatures that ban municipal wi-fi.

Unfortunately, since governments everywhere are, by in large, on the telcos’ payroll, none of the above will likely happen …

]]> By: Greg Albright http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137949 Greg Albright Tue, 02 May 2006 22:17:52 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137949 why would you use something like Skype over FWD, and the standards based voip services? why would you use something like Skype over FWD, and the standards based voip services?

]]> By: Eideard http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137926 Eideard Tue, 02 May 2006 21:09:56 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137926 James -- the Linksys only works with THEIR base station. We gave a couple as Winter Solstice presents and would have tried one for our home/office to use as a cordless around the house -- but it only worked with Windows. Haven't been able to get confirmation from Netgear, today -- their unit sounds like it's portable and OS-independent with software/firmware for Skype onboard. James — the Linksys only works with THEIR base station. We gave a couple as Winter Solstice presents and would have tried one for our home/office to use as a cordless around the house — but it only worked with Windows.

Haven’t been able to get confirmation from Netgear, today — their unit sounds like it’s portable and OS-independent with software/firmware for Skype onboard.

]]> By: James http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137922 James Tue, 02 May 2006 21:01:18 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137922 Best Buy carries a similar product already out on the shelves and online by Linksys. Linksys Cordless Internet Telephony Kit for Skype VoIP Model: CIT200 Price: $129.99 Link for the phone: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7546195&type=product&id=1128337581925 Best Buy carries a similar product already out on the shelves and online by Linksys.

Linksys Cordless Internet Telephony Kit for Skype VoIP
Model: CIT200
Price: $129.99

Link for the phone: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7546195&type=product&id=1128337581925

]]> By: Milo http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137915 Milo Tue, 02 May 2006 20:52:36 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137915 There was a lot of phony hype about VOIP being a threat because it never was a threat. Now Wifi/max is a threat and you hear very little by comparison. If it wasn't for blogs and podcasts I wouldn't get any real news, just stuff they call news that tries to get me to buy things I don't need. You can't retire John, I won't let you. There was a lot of phony hype about VOIP being a threat because it never was a threat. Now Wifi/max is a threat and you hear very little by comparison. If it wasn’t for blogs and podcasts I wouldn’t get any real news, just stuff they call news that tries to get me to buy things I don’t need.

You can’t retire John, I won’t let you.

]]> By: Don http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137905 Don Tue, 02 May 2006 20:41:45 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137905 But Andres, with the Vonage I can call anybody that has a telephone, not just Skype users. And it's cheap. Since going with VoIP for ALL my phone service I've been saving at least $50 a month over my old ATT land line. Now I can afford to drink premium beer. But Andres, with the Vonage I can call anybody that has a telephone, not just Skype users. And it’s cheap. Since going with VoIP for ALL my phone service I’ve been saving at least $50 a month over my old ATT land line. Now I can afford to drink premium beer.

]]> By: Peter Rodwell http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137855 Peter Rodwell Tue, 02 May 2006 19:48:37 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137855 My cordless Siemens phone does normal phone calls and Skype, through a USB gizmo. I can check if my Skype contacts are online and call them without going near the computer. When they call me, the phone rings just as though it was receiving a normal call. Cost about €180 (I think). My cordless Siemens phone does normal phone calls and Skype, through a USB gizmo. I can check if my Skype contacts are online and call them without going near the computer. When they call me, the phone rings just as though it was receiving a normal call. Cost about €180 (I think).

]]> By: Andres GM http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137849 Andres GM Tue, 02 May 2006 19:45:19 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137849 The problem with the Vonage phone is that you have to pay the monthly fee which will quickly add to more that what you saved on the phone. On the other hand, if you are only using the this one to talk with people who are on Skype it will be 'free'. I'm sure the prices on this things will go down eventually. Hopefully they'll come up with something to use a Nintendo DS for VOIP. Anyone? The problem with the Vonage phone is that you have to pay the monthly fee which will quickly add to more that what you saved on the phone. On the other hand, if you are only using the this one to talk with people who are on Skype it will be ‘free’.

I’m sure the prices on this things will go down eventually. Hopefully they’ll come up with something to use a Nintendo DS for VOIP. Anyone?

]]> By: AB CD http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2006/05/02/skype-introduces-wi-fi-voip-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-137784 AB CD Tue, 02 May 2006 18:47:34 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=5217#comment-137784 Vonage has a Wi-Fi VOIP phone for $80. http://vonage.com/device.php?type=F1000 Vonage has a Wi-Fi VOIP phone for $80.

http://vonage.com/device.php?type=F1000

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