Introduction
Skype says that tens
of millions of people around
the world
now use its software to make and take no-cost or low-cost
phone
calls over the internet. Most do so
with no additional PC hardware other than a
microphone
headset. Yet there are alternatives that let you use a
conventional phone or, better still, a DECT walkabout
phone.
Bob Crabtree goes cable-free investigating D-Link's
highly-affordable Skype USB Phone Adapter, the DPH-50U, but is
none too impressed.
[Please note that
the original conclusions of this review have updated and
appear on the last page - Final
final thoughts - Aug 3 update]
At the tail-end of June, Skype brought together over a dozen of its
hardware partner in London's West End for a product showcase of
new kit. Our
report
highlighted the UK debut of Netgear's SPH101 - the world's
first Skype WiFi phone.
However, as we said at the time, although the Netgear was the
most
revolutionary piece of kit at the show - and the undoubted star - it
wasn't the only product to shine. A number of companies
had notables, including US Robotics, Philips
and D-Link,
each with an alternative - and far cheaper way than
Netgear's
- of delivering cable-free Skyping.
Unlike the Netgear, which connects wirelessly to a network
router, these work only via PCs to which their bridge
boxes connect
by USB. Even so, they're not expensive and, when paired with a
DECT walkabout phone, one of
these boxes lets you make
and take Skype calls away from the PC. But, unlike the Netgear Skype
WiFi phone, the
computer does need to be running all the while.
Some USB adaptors are also intended to work with conventional
landline phones but, from our perspective, that rather misses the
point.
There's not a huge amount of difference between using a
microphone headphone set and a conventional wired phone - each ties you
down. And the same is true if opting to use a
dedicate Skype telephone handset that connects by USB
- you're
still tied to the PC.
The beauty of a DECT phone is that you can
use it anywhere within its wireless range. That will be
especially welcome by people who spend most of their working
lives in front of a PC and use phone calls as the excuse
for take screen-breaks
(yes, like yours truly).
The product we're looking at here is one such product that was
showcased last
month, D-Link's Skype USB Phone Adapter, the
DPH-50U.
At well under £40, the D-Link is by far the cheapest
of the three adaptors at the showcase - the USRobotics is somewhere
under £60 and the Philips, which comes with a DECT phone,
is nudging £80.
The best price we
found for the D-Link on the net was an all-up £35.66,
including VAT and
delivery, from
RL
Supplies.
There were various prices above that - some
considerably more once delivery charges had been factored in
- but we would be tempted to pay the extra couple of quid
being asked by one reseller -
eXpansys
- simply because it has an
online
support forum
for the product.
Tempted, rather than convinced, however, is our
current perspective because the forum's not particularly busy and,
therefore, not terribly helpful.
Why the idea of extra support appeals is because
we've had a number
of problems with the D-Link box - problems we could envisage
end-users having and which didn't all go away! D-Link does provide tech
support for all its product
but end-users won't necessarily receive quite
the keen
personal attention that D-Link provided to us, unless they, too, are
reviewing product.
We'll go into detail about those problems a bit later. If you know all
about Skype, dive straight over to page 3 because, right now, we're
going to talk about the features and benefits that it offers...
printer friendly layout 
discuss in the forums 
email to a friend
IE7 Search
Firefox 2 Search