Skype WiFi Phone Buyers' Guide : eBay Guides

While most computer literate people are familiar with the Skype VOIP service on a computer, many are not aware that there are cell phone-like devices that are capable of connecting directly to a wireless router that can also utilize Skype. Those devices are redefining the usefulness of VOIP service.

Skype is popular because it is much more economical than either cell phones or traditional phone service. Skype is actually free for users who only communicate PC to PC, but most users use Skype subscription services so they can also communicate with traditional telephones. Skype subscription services are segregated into outgoing service, SkypeOut, and incoming service, SkypeIn.

SkypeOut allows subscribers to make unlimited outgoing calls to telephone numbers in the USA and Canada for only $2.95 per month or $29.50 per year. Depending in telephone usage habits, the unlimited long distance feature can represent huge savings compared to traditional telephone service. Of course $2.95 represents only a small fraction of even the most modest cell phone program.

SkypeIn allows subscribers to select a telephone number from area codes across the USA, and even in some foreign countries. The SkypeIn number is a regular phone number that any telephone can call. SkypeIn service is currently $30 per year. There are no per-minute charges for using SkypeIn.

The Skype WiFi phones work the same way that Skype on a PC works, but right now they lack a few features, such as Skype chat. However, as far as voice conversation is concerned the capabilities are pretty much the same. The difference is in portability, since a computer is not required to make calls and the WiFi phone is small enough to fit into a shirt pocket. The drawback is the requirement that a wireless networking signal has to be available to make calls. Fortunately that's getting easier all the time.

So what equipment is available? Skype WiFi phones are of limited variety right now, but that should be changing soon. There are basically two phones to choose from, either Netgear phones or the rest. The rest include Belkin, SMC, and EdgeCore. That's because the Belkin, SMC, and EdgeCore phones are all made by EdgeCore, and they're all identical except for branding and minor cosmetic differences. In other words, internally the Belkin, SMC, and EdgeCore are all the same thing.

Functionally there really is no difference between the Netgear and EdgeCore models. The real difference is in the battery. The EdgeCore models take a standard NP60 digital camera battery, which is available at eBay for as little as $5. The Netgear battery is proprietary. Worse than that, Netgear has decided to not support the battery. What that means is that if you get a Netgear phone and the battery goes bad on you, you've got yourself an expensive doorstop.

There is no reason that I am aware of to believe that the Netgear battery is inferior to the NP60 battery, but it makes me uncomfortable to know that the phone will only be useful for as long as the battery lasts. Besides, battery life is short for WiFi phones, about 2 hours talk or 50 hours standby. It is nice to have spare NP60 batteries and an external charger, which are both readily available at eBay to use in the EdgeCore models.

Functionally, WiFi phones are pretty basic right now. No texting, no games, and no custom ring tones. That should change before long though. It's an evolving technology that could conceivably overtake cell phones eventually. Certainly the financial incentive is there.