Netgear phone says bye bye PSTN, hello VoIP

Stan Beer
Sunday, 25 November 2007 15:40

Opinion and Analysis

I've been having a play with a review unit of a Netgear SPH200D cordless DECT phone with Skype and after just one weekend I have come to the conclusion that I only need half of what this phone can do. The other half, making phone calls using an expensive landline, I may as well simply switch off.

The fact is that the quality and reliability of VoIP services has now reached a level where they are comparable with fixed line services and they can be had for a fraction of the price. Phones like the SPH200D merely serve to highlight that anyone who has a broadband connection is simply pouring money down the drain if they persist with a PSTN service.

As a phone to look at, the Netgear SPH200D is nothing special. It's a little brick-like and bulky compared to the sleek mobile phones available today and its color screen, though clear enough, is relatively tiny. It also has a poor selection of ringtones. However, its controls are intuitive and the really important things in a cordless phone, such as call quality, range and hands free operation - are there.

However, the thing that won me over with this style of phone was the versatility of the device. Yes, it's a combination PSTN and Skype dualphone but you don't need to run it through your computer and, after using it for a few days, for many it will become clear that you don't need the PSTN.

The SPH200D DECT basestation plugs directly into a broadband modem or wireless networking router - that part enables your Skype calls. The SPH200D basestation can also simultaneously be plugged into your standard PSTN RJ11 wall jack. What you end up with is a system that can run up to four phones which can send and receive calls in both modes and are totally independent of telephone wall sockets and a computer.

The SPH200D phones can also communicate with each other via an intercom button, which is a very handy feature in a small office situation.

The biggest impact that this phone system will have for most users, however, will be felt in their hip pocket. CONTINUED