BIOS: Technology Means Business

The USR9630 Cordless Phone from USRobotics is an interesting proposition. The silver device looks like a regular household DECT phone, but connects to both a traditional phone line and an available USB port on a Windows PC running Skype. Thus, it allows you to make and receive Skype calls in addition to regular telephone calls (low-cost calls with non-Skype users is available via SkypeIn and SkypeOut services). It also allows up to four cordless handsets to be connected to the same telephone line.

This type of phone is ideal for families and businesses where Skype calls are becoming as common as ordinary landline calls, because Skype calls can be placed and answered freely throughout the home or office - no longer requiring you to be within reach of a computer. The integration of Internet calling with traditional local and long distance calling provides a relatively complete voice communications solution.

Compatible with USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports, the USR9630 (£60/$119) sports DECT 6.0 technology so it does not interfere with 802.11a/b/g wireless networks, Bluetooth devices, and other home appliances. It has an indoor operating range of 50 metres and outdoor range around 300 metres, although we found these figures very optimistic. There’s an integrated speakerphone in handset for hands-free calling - although this is impractically located at the rear of the handset - backlit graphical LCD display, as well as integrated echo cancellation and noise reduction technology for improved conversation quality.

The handset’s LCD is a little dated in appearance, but provides convenient and easy-to-read access to Skype contacts and personal phonebook entries through dedicated keys, and the battery level indicator and ‘Out of Range’ warning tone are useful additions. It supports Skype Caller ID and telephone company Caller ID, and full-duplex operation eliminates conversation clipping.

Installing and configuring the handset is a snap - even your parents could do it! All that you need to do is install the provided software onto your Windows PC (this allows the phone to interface with Skype), plug the matching USB base unit into a spare USB socket on your computer, and then charge up the handset (the base acts as a charger). The handset and base unit detect each other automatically so there’s no further configuration required.

Finally, you need to plug in a landline connection to the base unit to get analogue calls as well (all cables provided). Once everything’s set up, you can make and receive calls on both Skype and your landline from one receiver. The downside is that the wired USB base unit needs to be near both your computer and phone line, which may be impractical in most home/office setups (it was in ours!).

Call quality in our tests was very good, although occasionally there was a little static. And unlike some other Skype handsets, all the Skype processing is done on your PC, so as a result the call quality and battery life are improved. The only downside is that you can’t take the phone anywhere you go, but it’s good for an office or home phone. The phone is comfortable to use, easy to use, and does its job well. It’s perhaps a little clunky looking for fashion geeks, but the ability to quickly search Skype and regular contacts separately is a neat time-saving feature.

The only downsides are that you need two power outlets (handset and USB base both need power), and the base needs to be near your computer and phone line. Oh, and you can’t use Skype and landline at the same time. If these aren’t issues, the USR9630 is a great deal if you’re looking for a Skype phone that also does analogue calling. [7]

[Best VoIP Pricing UK]
[Best VoIP Pricing US]