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Belkin Wireless Skype Handset | 
 enlarge | Brand: Belkin
Category: CE
Buy New: £105.32
Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 21048
Media: Electronics
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.7 x 2.8
MPN: F1PP000GNukSK
Model: F1PP000GNukSK
UPC: 722868604267
EAN: 0722868604267
ASIN: B000JXOW3O
Release Date: October 23, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Make or receive phonecalls when you are in WLAN network coverage | | • | Complies with the IEEE 802.11b/g networking standard | | • | Hassle-free installation and account start up | | • | No need to have your PC turned on | | • | Shows a full list of available networks and their signal strength |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Once you power up you can easily configure the Belkin Skype WiFi phone to connect to an access point of your choosing. The auto-connect feature allows the phone to connect to the first available access point. Supports WPA and WPA2 encryption for secure connection.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 19 more reviews...
 Two months of constant problems August 31, 2008
B. Hamut (UK)
Do not buy this phone. Its horribly unreliable, there have been constant problems connecting to my network, but the newest problem is that the keypad will not function correctly at all. Every keypress results in multiple entries.
Now the phone is unusable as it has forgotten my network password, and its impossible to re-enter it due to the keypad problems. NOT RECOMMENDED AT ALL.
 ** A GOOD STARTING POINT ITEM *** July 31, 2008
stevena2000uk (Scotland)
I wont rant on about this item, suffice to say that its basically a WiFi product with Skype software on it. With regards to battery life, I didnt expect it to be great, WiFi is an energy eater. If you switch on WiFi on your mobile or PDA then you'll also notice the battery draining very quickly so this is par for the course for the time being with these items.
Also remember that these are prototype 1st Gen products so they dont quite live up to their selling points nor their price either which is why I rated it a generous 4 stars. These phones are simply a plastic casing, a WiFi connection and Skype software and dont have a great high resolution screen of lightening fast software either so please remember this.
Is it worth the purchase? Hmmmm...on price? definitely not. If I'm going to pay upwards of 100 for one of these then I want at least clear call quality with no echos or irritations etc. I'm sure I seen these phones not too long ago for around 40 and this is more of a realistic price range for these items.
I've evaluated the SMC version and this Belkin version their pretty much the same in physical design and also the software installed. I bought mines on eBay for 55 which I thought was reasonable and also the cheapest I'd seen it anywhere on the net. Even at 55 I didnt think it was worth it as I also use my Bluetooth headset with the Skype software installed on my PC and that cost me next to nothing, and I get a slightly better quality of call, but not much.
The call quality I'd say largely depends on the route of the data to the receiver, and whether you're making a Skype-to-Skype call or a Skype-Out call to a landline number. I made a call to my sister, who lives 2 doors down from me, less than 100 feet, however the call wasnt brilliant. As this was a Skype-Out call the call would have to have been routed via the Skype Servers (whereever they maybe, UK or USA? not sure) but then routed to my local exchange and ported into the main phone network for my sister to receive the call. So I'd say the quality is definitely degraded in this process.
Ease of use? You cant really go wrong with setting it up. The first thing you do is check for available networks in range, then connect to one! its that easy, once you are connected to the network then you are next presented with the option to sign in to your skype account or register with Skype so its fairly straighforward in this department.
Once you sign in to your Skype account, then your contacts are then downloaded to the phone for you to view and you can then change some settings, e.g ringtones, volume etc.
I really like the concept of these phones however I would recommend to anyone wishing to purchase one to make sure that it meets your needs first. It does have great potential but you may find that there are other cheaper, convenient and better quality options out there. As far as I'm concerned this is an excellent concept to build on and improve.
Skype itself its very much worth the value indeed but I think that someones first exposure to Skype via one of these phones will be very much distorted. I purchased an annual membership usage for Skype and for 12 months, I get a local number i.e it begins with 01- so people can call me on my skype phone or PC via this number from their home phone or mobile. I can also use Skype via my PC, WiFi phone and Mobile to call unlimited landlines anywhere in the UK...and all this for less than 20 per YEAR!
Overall, I've rated this a 4-Star item and thats being very generous. I downed it 1 star for being very expensive and overpriced. This combined with the expectations that it projects to customers, is a bit over-hyped and doesnt fully deliver for the price its being sold at. I would recommend someone buy this item however I would caveat that with them scrutinising their needs for the product before buying. Happy Skyping people!
Works straight from the box ... June 30, 2008
timperley39 (Manchester, UK)
Having read all the reviews for Skype phones on the Amazon site and the internet generally, it was with some trepidation that I ordered the Belkin Skype phone. I need not have worried ... be assured that, in my case anyway, the phone worked directly from the box and the set up was complete and operational within five minutes.
The quality of call is perfectly adequate in the vast majority of cases, and where it is not adequate it can generally be put down to the quality of the internet connection often at an overseas end .. this has always been resolved immediately by a quick re-dial.
The only slight downside is the battery life ... I find that I can operate on standby for 48 hours easily, and for 24 hours with the occasional call. I find the battery life slightly annoying but not an issue. This is the only factor that reduces this phone from a 5* to a 4* product.
Belkin Skype Phone unreliable April 21, 2008
Mr. Rupert S. Brun
Looks great but the battery life is poor and the phone keeps dropping the connection to the WiFi network despite having an apparently strong signal to the Belkin router and both having the latest firmware. It also keeps forgetting the security code for the WiFi network and occaisionally the password for the Skype account. I get burbling and echos on calls. There are 4 wireless Windows laptops and an iBook used here from time to time and they all work fine with the wireless network and Skype so it's not the setup here or the ISP. Site survey shows no other networks in range within 3 channels so not interference. I wish I hadn't bought it.
Not bad for early model January 29, 2008
xmland (UK)
I have been using the belkin for approximately 10 months on and off. The sound quality is good but it doesn't pick up wifi as well as my laptop. I will continue to use it as it can be handy and cost enough.
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