How to choose the right Skype phone

In a recent feature, I took a second look at the Skype software and discovered that it boasted many improvements since the last time I had tried it — especially in the area of business-oriented features. But when I did that review, I still wasn't getting the best VoIP experience with Skype because I was using a regular computer microphone and speakers for calls or, alternatively, a computer headset/microphone, neither of which suited my needs. The former setup made me feel a bit like a radio presenter, leaning over my desk to talk into the microphone; the latter reminded me of my brief stint as a PBX operator one summer.

When I talk on the phone, I want to talk on a phone. I don't even like the hands-free headset for my mobile. This lack of "phone-ness" was always one of my main problems with the Skype experience. So I decided to explore my options.

Using a low-cost USB phone
First, I decided to check out one of the inexpensive USB phones advertised to work with Skype. I was a little sceptical that a $21 device would give me a high-quality VoIP experience, but I picked up a little Xact iVo phone (model number XVP640) right off the shelves. I already had Skype installed on the computer, so — in typical IT pro fashion — I first tried just plugging it in without bothering to read any instructions or install any software. (Hey, sometimes that even works.)

Windows XP detected the device, but that was all. I couldn't do anything with it. Not surprisingly, my next step was to try installing the Skypemate program from the CD that came with the phone. The software installed easily, but it did require a reboot. Skype launched automatically when Windows restarted.

As a security measure, Skype asks you if you want to allow the other program to access Skype. You need to allow this in order to use the phone.

Once it's installed, the USB phone works transparently. Pick up the phone and dial a number, and your Skype interface pops up on the monitor. There are two lights on the front of the phone. The green one indicates that you have power; the red one tells you that the phone is connected.

To make a call after entering the number or to answer an incoming call, just press the OK button. Disconnect or clear info you've entered with the C key. There's also a key to scroll through your Skype address book.

The sound quality from this cheap phone was surprising good. It's a full duplex device, so there's no annoying "walkie-talkie" effect — both parties can talk and hear at the same time. There was no echo or breakup; I might as well have been talking on my landline. And it's compact enough to tuck into your laptop bag, making your portable computer with Skype a very usable internet phone.

I only had one problem: with the phone plugged into my computer's USB port, when I played any audio (for example, on a web page or through Windows Media Player), the sound came from my phone speaker instead of the computer speakers. But it didn't take long to discover that the software had changed my default audio device to USB Audio Device — that is, the phone.

To fix that, I opened the Sounds And Audio Devices applet of Control Panel, clicked the Audio tab, and changed the default device back to my sound card under Sound Playback. If you do any recording through a microphone attached to your sound card, you'll also want to change back the setting for the Sound Recording Default Device.

All in all, while pleased with the performance of this low-cost USB phone, I didn't particularly like being tethered to the computer by its cable. So I decided to check out a more expensive, cordless Skype phone.

Cutting the cord
On the web, I found cordless phone models ranging from about $80 (£40.82) to more than $200 (£102.05). I found several models for less than $100 (£51.02) that work a lot like regular cordless phones. There's a base station that plugs into your computer via USB and transmits to the cordless handset. Some of these let you expand the system by adding more handsets to connect to the same base station. And, as with a traditional cordless, you can roam pretty freely within the typical house and even outside in the garden.

The one that I found more interesting, though, was a Netgear Wi-Fi phone that doesn't even require a PC. You can use Skype wherever…