A USB Phone Review by David Morgan:

Yamamoto 1025 SB Phone review

Use Skype to make Free Video Calls:

• www.VideoCall4Free.com

Feb 11, 2005

Author: Michael Gough

As I use Skype almost daily and host this website and several others, I get lots of information about various equipment that can be used with Skype, VoIP and Video Calls.  One area in particular is USB Phones.  A USB Phone plugs into your computer via a USB port and allow you to use a corded phone like device in place of a microphone or headset.

Now at first this may seem like a good idea, but as I have used Skype for well over a year now, I think I was one of the first 100,000 users in the Beta, I have come to the conclusion that a USB phone has minimal uses.

I use Skype as a part of a Video Call solution to talk with my daughter, family and friends, whether at home or while traveling.  So I make Video Calls on average several times a week, using a combination of Skype and MSN Messenger or SightSpeed.  Not to mention I test many other products in the Video Call space.  You can read more on this on our sister site:

• http://www.VideoCall4Free.com

As I use Skype and other solutions often several times a day, I wanted the ability to free myself from having to run into my office to answer a computer call from Skype or any other solution.  I wanted to use my Cordless phone and have the ability to answer a call anywhere in my home, patio, garage or while taking out the trash.  The biggest improvement I found was a USB to RJ11 Gateway product (ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard) that allows me to connect a standard Cordless phone to my computer.  My cordless phone has multiple units so they are all over my home.  I can now pick up any call from Skype or any other solution anywhere in my home just as if it was a regular phone call.  Of course I can make Skype and SkypeOut calls as well, just as if it was a regular phone.  Read my review on what I use for my Cordless phone gateway:

• http://www.skypetips.internetvisitation.org/web_pages/ratings_hw.html

So Why a USB Phone ???

I get emails from people asking for advice what to use for their given situation.  I am often told "I don't like headsets", or "I want a speaker phone".  I can see if you are in an office and don't really have a need to roam as the typical home user might, so a stationary phone that is directly connected to the computer that even has speaker phone features might be a good solution.

For me, I have a Logitech Noise Canceling Microphone, a Plantronics A90 Headset and my cordless phone all hooked up to my computer.  I use a switch from Radio Shack to switch between my headset and speakers when needed and I can plug in my Noise canceling microphone when I want to use it in place of my headset.  Now I am not a big fan of noise canceling headsets as they pick up too much background noise and sounds hallow and it takes a little getting used to someone using one.  I have found one trick worth mentioning, I mounted my noise canceling microphone to my FlexStand (image on the left column) so it is much closer to my mouth than placing it on the desk as most people do and that seems to improve the sound quality significantly from the feedback people I talk to.

So using my microphone and computer speakers - I basically have a speaker phone, my cordless phone also has a speaker phone on each unit.  My headset provides me the best possible sound quality and my Cordless Phone gives me flexibility to roam my home and NOT be imprisoned to my computer for VoIP or Video Call communication.  My cordless phone also give me an answering machine for Skype.

Is a USB Phone cost effective ???

Cost is always a factor for people.  My USB to RJ11 gateway was only around $50 US.  Most USB phones are more than $50 US.  So with my Logitech microphone and my headset, I have everything a USB Phone gives you and MUCH MUCH MORE...  I have freedom to take calls anywhere and use a regular Cordless Telephone to do it and you can leave me a message as well.  Let's not mention my Wireless PocketPC that runs Skype that allows me roaming anywhere there is a 802.11b network...  You can read that article at:

• http://www.videocall.internetvisitation.org/web_pages/pocket_pc.html

Though I know everyone is different and in an office environment we don't really need to roam, and when we do, we have cell phones.  So there must be a reason a USB Phone makes sense, it has a short cord and must always be connected to your computer, but I am sure several people will read this article and send me an email that they love their USB phone...  I just think if they tried what I have, they would find the USB phone is limited.

Conclusion

The reason Skype is so successful is the flexibility and the products available for it.  This is why other VoIP solutions have grown slowly where Skype has exploded.  Skype runs on every major operating system and can be used on every type of hardware and more being all the time.  So Skype can act just like your regular phone - which is what USB phones are intended to do...

But haven't we all thrown away our corded phones and replaced them with Cordless versions or Cell phones?   I think USB phones will go the way of the corded home telephone.  Besides, the USB to RJ11 Gateways are cheaper and just as functional and makes Skype as flexible as regular old telephone.

send me your comments:  

MG