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Philips VOIP841 PC-Free DECT 6.0 Wireless IP Phone
Product Description
The Philips VOIP841 is a self-contained unit that requires no installation of software or connection to a computer; simply plug the base into any power outlet in your house, connect it to your broadband connection, and you can start making free Skype telephone calls right away. (To make Skype calls, you must open a Skype account. A Skype account is not included with this phone.) And by simply plugging your home telephone line into the VOIP841, this phone can double as your everyday landline, giving you the ultimate in convenience. Easy to Use If you've used a cell phone or cordless phone, you'll quickly be able to take advantage of all the features the VOIP841 offers. For easy readability, the phone features a 128x128 full-color display, and a 4-way directional pad provides you with easy navigation through the intuitive interface. The handset has enough memory for up to 500 Skype phonebook entries, giving you quick access to your contact list. You can choose from up to 15 ring tones (5 standard, 10 polyphonic), and the phone allows you to set your ring tone by call type, distinguishing between landline and Internet calls. A speakerphone mode allows for hands-free operation, so you can take notes during the call or share the call with others. There is also a jack connector on the handset for connecting a headset. DECT Frequency for Security and Extended Battery Life By using the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) frequency at 1.8GHz, the VOIP841 offers you enhanced security features and a longer battery life than other frequencies. On battery power, the VOIP841 offers talk time of up to 12 hours and a standby time of up to 120 hours. Each base station can accommodate up to four handsets, and up to four base stations can be used together for a total of 16 handsets. For office or home use, the intercom mode allows you to use one handset to call another handset located in a different room. Product Description VOIP841 series is the first DECT cordless phone with Skype that works without a PC, offering consumers total flexibility and independence from the PC. A full-color graphic display and outstanding sound clarity bring the emotion back to calls. Use your VOIP phone to call via Skype wherever you are. With Skype you can enjoy making free calls all over the world to any other Skype users. Skype, SkypeOut are trademarks of Skype Limited. As your dual phone is connected to both the standard PSTN line AND to the Internet line, you can establish or receive landline and Internet calls on the same handset. Handsfree mode uses a built-in loud speaker to amplify the voice of the caller, allowing you to speak and listen during a call without holding the phone to your ear. This is especially useful if you want to share the call with others or take notes during a call. Reader Reviews If you hate paying the phone company a ton of money for calls you probably aren't going to make, Skype is a great service. You can make unlimited phone calls within the U.S. and Canada for just under $30. Out of country calls are extremely cheap. For example, I can call the U.K. for a bit over 2 cents per minute. So having a telephone you can count on to make reasonably good calls is critical. The Philips VOIP841 is not a perfect solution. The sound quality is somewhere between a cell phone and a land line. It's a bit better than the former and not nearly as good as the latter. But for making and receiving calls from family and friends, it's great. And it will pay for itself quickly and save you a ton of money on your phone bill. I even use mine for business calls overseas and many times within the U.S. With Skype, you can make conference calls. So business users will find this of interest. Although the phone allows you to make Skype or land line calls, the land line is no better or worse than the Skype line. In fact, I believe the Skype calls may be somewhat better on this phone. I do find there is a small amount of static on my Skype to land line calls at times. Not enough to make the calls bad. But you'll notice it. And it's not always there. Calls are dependent on your connection and the traffic. In addition, the phone is not especially comfortable in your hand. At least I don't think so. It's too small and not shaped well. You have to hold it a certain way to hear well. The speaker works quite well. I can hear the other person very well on the speaker. The other person says it's not as good on their end. But it's a good feature to have. The mute feature is also good to have. So if you're looking for a true land line replacement, this is not it. Of course, Skype will tell you that you can't make 911 calls. So most people want this for a second line anyway. I like to watch my costs. And one place you can spend way too much money is with the phone company. So I cut my land line service to the bare bones (I like having 911 and the option to have clear calls) and I have a good cell phone plan. Added to that this phone and Skype and I save a ton of money. I signed up with Total International for long distance on my land line. So for me, that combination works great. The phone is feature rich. It does have some bugs. And I found that customer service doesn't know much more about the phone than I do. They're of very little help. And the documentation is poor. They do have a decent FAQ on their Web site and you can find some answers. Plus, Skype has an active forum with lots of folks who use this phone. So there's help there too. But having said all that, I recommend this phone for people who use or plan to use Skype for a lot of long distance or PC to PC calls. I expect within a few years someone will come out with a phone that is a true solution. Until then, I'm glad I bought this phone and I really enjoy the savings it provides me with. I doubt you'll find a better Skype phone at this time and this one enjoys high ratings from most reviewers who review for a living. Update: July 21, 2007 After using this phone for several weeks, I can tell you I'm glad I made the purchase. It's worry-free and very dependable. Making Skypeout calls are quite clear, regardless of where you call. The landline, however, is not too good. So I don't use it for a landline at all. I've never had any dropped calls or any problems and I've used the phone a lot. I pay Skype less than $30 per year for unlimited calls in the U.S. and Canada and keep a little in my account for overseas calls. I talked to London for five or six minutes and it only cost me a nickel. I ordered a Skype desk phone for my office to use along with this one. But it's not portable. I also read in The Wall Street Journal that there is a new type of VOIP calling coming out in September, called Ooma, which may prove to be a better deal. I'll be checking into that and buying the unit. So, in summary, I've been very happy with this phone and it's worth the price. I continue to highly recommend it. Comments (3) | Permalink | (Report this)
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