Belkin F1PP010EN-SK Desktop Internet Phone for Skype (Black)

List Price: $79.99 Discount Price: $79.99

Features:

• Desktop phone lets you make Skype calls without a computer
• 1.8-inch full-color display provides detailed information
• Features phone-book dialing, mute, redial, hold, a call-timer display, and a speakerphone
• Plug-and-play installation doesn't require SSID or security-key input
• Supports all key Skype features

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Skype Phone [Posted on 2008-08-06]
Even though I have a Netgear SPH200W WiFi Phone with Skype, I really wanted a desktop for business calls. I also wanted to connect my Plantronics S12 headset. The quality of the sound is incredibly clear. The only time I experienced drop off was with a friend in Kailua, Hawaii who uses a Netgear SPH200W. I would recommend this to a friend who is looking for a wired IP Phone.

Hey, it works! [Posted on 2008-08-14]
I have used this phone for a couple of days now and it works. Easy to set up. Easy to use.

My only complaint so far is, it doesn't have a default country code that you can set up. So every time you want to call someone, you have to enter +1 then the area code. They should have a feature that defaults to a country code if one isn't entered. Small oversight and hopefully something that can be fixed with a software update.

Overall, very happy with this phone. It gets me that much needed second line into the house without costing an arm and a leg.

Just a short time [Posted on 2008-08-20]
I received this unit and hooked it up quickly and with no reading of the instructions. The on-screen walkthrough was intuitive and quick. I found the entire process very simple. The only complaint about setup was that the password letters were covered by * and it was difficult to see if one made a mistake. This was especially problematic for upper case characters.

In operation the phone was very straightforward. Sound quality for listening was very good. No one complained about the transmission so I think that it was fine.

I would certainly recommend this phone to anyone wanting a good unit to use with Skype.

Bad user interface [Posted on 2008-08-21]
It is small and stylish and although it feels very light, it doesn't look as "cheap" as some others have described it, at least in my opinion.
Voice quality overall is good, but speakerphone microphone is very bad.

My main complaint is the interface (Belkin could fix this with a simple software update, but they don't even seem to support this phone on their own website).
I use the phone mostly for SkypeOut. Every number (even local calls) must be prefaced with country code: +1 ... Other phones, like the Philips, are smarter in this regard and recognize when a local number is dialed.
Also, phone numbers containing 2 subsequent zeros must be dialed very slowly. If one presses '00' too fast, the system will interpret it as a "+".

Overall acceptable for Skype calls, barely usable for Skype-Out.

Does the job, but could be a lot better. [Posted on 2008-08-22]
Skype has become my landline, it's 1/10th the cost of the phone company and 1/5 the cost of the cable phone service or Vonage. The technology is still new so the Skype phones available are few and not without bugs.

The Belkin phone isn't bad. You can plug it directly into your Ethernet port and after it's set up you have a working desktop phone that, by using Skype's service, is super cheap and good quality. The unit has a clear speakerphone, a decent color display and works reliably.

Still, there are drawbacks to the design of this phone. As others have commented, the phone is very light and uses cheap plastic, etc. The handset (besides not being very ergonomic) doesn't firmly sit in the cradle very well, the slightest bump and it will pop out. Other drawbacks are missing features as compared to using Skype through your computer such as the inability to make a conference call (although this may change through possible future software upgrades).

The manual is sparse and doesn't clearly explain features. The initial setup and login requires entering letters on a strictly numeric keyboard with no obvious input method. It took a while for me to figure it out and is cumbersome. Another annoying aspect is it's requirement to dial "00" before the "1" on any call, even domestic- plus, if you dial the two zero's too quickly- it's recognized it as a different symbol and you have to start over again. Thus, for every call you are unable to dial quickly- a very annoying thing in the 21st century. Overall the interface is not the most user friendly.

To sum up, for the price it's a decent device to make Skype calls without having to use your computer. At the same time, my guess is future Skype phones will be much more robust, comfortable and practical in their interface and design (at which point the local, nickel and diming phone companies will have a big problem on their hands :).

Click here for more details and discount information...