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Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype

[December 18, 2008]

Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype

Originally posted on VoIP & Gadgets Blog, here: http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/skype/belkin-desktop-internet-phone-for-skype.asp.

I was doing some Christmas shopping on Amazon when I was curious what sort of VoIP phones were available on Amazon. I came across the Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype (News - Alert), which I never heard of.

The Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype is a standalone Skype phone with no PC running Skype requirement. All that is required is a wired connection to your LAN with Internet access. Because it's a standalone Skype phone it's much more suitable as a landline phone replacement in your house than some of the USB-based Skype phones.

The Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype sports a 1.8-inch color LCD display and a phonebook that supports over 500 sets of phone numbers. Importantly, it supports all key Skype features including Skype-to-Skype calling, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Voicemail, Skype search directory, Skype contact list, Skype Presence, call waiting, conference call (guest only), call history, and user profiles. (Note: The SkypeIn capability is critical if you want to replace your landline phone.)

Belkin espouses the fact that unlike many other Skype phones that use a WiFi (News - Alert) connection and require additional SSID or security-key input, the Belkin Desktop Internet Phone is a plug-and-play device that connects automatically to the Internet & Skype at boot up. While no wireless SSID keys to fuss with is certainly a plus, the fact that this phone is completely "wired" without even a wireless handset, may make this a deal breaker for some. The only time I use a "wired" phone is at work and even then I have a DECT (News - Alert) 6.0 wireless headset I can use if need be. The phone does have a speakerphone for ahands-free experience, but that doesn't make up for no roaming around capabilities.

Still, if you want to have a standalone Skype phone and make this a landline replacement for cheaper calls, it certainly has some nice capabilities. Other features include phone-book dialing, mute, redial, hold, and a call-timer display.

Available on Amazon for $79.99

p.s. You should also check out my Philips VoIP841 review, which sports a DECT cordless phone and is also a standalone Skype phone.

Tags: belkin, Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype, landline, phone, skype, voip