Product Description

Belkin Skype Wi-Fi Handset Black

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11334 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: Belkin
• Model: F1PP000GNukSK
• Released on: 2006-10-23
• Dimensions: .79 pounds

Features

• Belkin Skype Wi-Fi Handset Black

Manufacturer's Description
The Belkin Wi-Fi Phone for Skype doesn't require a PC and will work anywhere in the world where you have secured or open access to a WiFi network.

Any home, office, cafe, or municipal wireless access point that does not require browser-based authentication will do.

Ready to go.

Pre-loaded with Skype software and featuring the same Skype interface, the Belkin Wi-Fi Phone is ready to use with any wireless network.

Easy to use.

To make a call, simply use the intuitive on-screen color menu to locate your contact and view their online availability-exactly like you use Skype today.

Skype CertifiedThe Wi-Fi Phone is Skype-certified, which means that it adheres to all Skype's requirements to ensure that your Wi-Fi Phone experience is just like it is on your PC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to turn on my PC or laptop to use the phone?

No, Belkin's Skype Wifi Phone provides all functionality required to make and receive calls without the need or hassle of turning on your computer.

How do I download Skype to the WiFi Phone?

Belkin's Skype WiFi Phone comes pre-loaded with Skype and is ready to make calls out of the box as long as you have a wifi network and a Skype ID.

Where can I use the Wifi phone?

The WiFi phone will work anywhere in the world a user has a secured or open access to a WiFi network - in any home, office, public hotspot, or municipal wireless access point that does not require browser-based authentication. The Skype WiFi phone does not contain a web browser and therefore cannot access hotspots, which require web-based login or authentication.

Do I have to already be a registered Skype user to use the phone?

No, the Belkin Wifi phone allows you to register for a free Skype account on the phone. You can also use your Skype Name that you have previously registered in any other Skype version (Skype for Windows/Linux/Mac OS X).

What languages do Skype Wifi Phones come in?

Currently, the phone is available in English, Chinese, and Korean. We will be adding more languages later on. Stay tuned.

How do I get my contact list on my Skype Wifi Phone?

Belkin's Skype WiFi Phone comes pre-loaded with Skype and is ready to make calls out of the box as long as you have a wifi network and a Skype ID. All of your contacts associated with your Skype ID will be loaded onto your Skype phone when you sign into your Skype phone. Because contacts are now stored centrally on Skypeís servers, the contacts will be automatically added to your Skype Wifi Phone.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

This is an early review, and I plan to write a second one in about 2 weeks
Firstly by an oversight, (totally my fault), I am now the proud owner of (not one but) two Belkin WiFi phones.

Out of the box, it is reccommended that the owner leaves it turned off for three hours while it charges. Obviously I didn't wait the full three hours.

When you turn on the phone it quickly searches for and connects to, (in this case), my home WiFi network. You sign in exactly like on a PC/MAC, but obviously using just the keypad. Of course next time I turn on the phone, this stages takes care of itself.

I decided to purchase a £20 (per year), SkypeIn Credit, which gives me a telephone number and Voicemail service. Also I purchased £10 worth of SkypeOut Credit, which as a bonus gives me 6 months FREE landline calls in the UK.

The phone retieves all my contacts from my laptop's Skype account, also because this is internet based all my contacts are always sync-ed.

The calls seem fine, although when I rang a friends Mobile he commented that there was a slight echo. I will research this further and report back.

Given that I now have 2 phones, my partner has claimed the other. I plan to call via my works WiFi network to my partner at home on the home network.

Two suggested improvements.

1. It would be helpful if the user was given the option of listing contacts by "Most recently called", rather than scrolling down the list alphabetically each time I want to call my partner.

2. Given that Skype know that I am based in the UK, (via my skypeout account, for example), it is a bit tiresome typing +44 before UK numbers.

Good idea but beware battery life
I've had one of these for a week now and was hoping it would prove to be a semi-replacement for my mobile. I followed the instructions and charged the battery for 3 hours before doing anything else. The phone works well, although the squelchy ring tones are annoying after a while. The main problem is the battery. This discharges overnight in about 7 hours when the phone is idle. Out and about when the phone is being used this reduces to about 30 minutes - so take the charger with you.

Very good, but not perfect
I was impressed with the look and feel, but the screen was a bit disappointing. Seems as though the phone processor battles to render the skype logo (bit concerning).

Most importantly, the voice quality is fine. Nothing like crystal satellite BT to other countries, but pretty good for free calls.

I had no problems connecting to both mine and a friends router (both WPA-PSK Nedgeat and D-Link)

I would have liked more of the newer Skype features - messaging and SMS.

Of course to be truly great, it would need a webcam for Skype video calls, but the screen and cpu would need hugh upgrade for that.

Over all I am quite pleased, although without a charging base to store it, I think it will need constant monitoring / management (unlike the trusty DECT phone).