| Linksys iPhone Review | Today's Top Stories | ||||||||||||
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(Review) - While we wait for the real iPhone to show up, we thought it would be interesting to warm up for the real iPhone with Linksys’ iPhone. Yes, it’s the same iPhone from the Apple vs. Cisco legal dispute, so it’s only fair to see what makes Linksys’ iPhone so special that warranted both companies to go against each other. Was it really necessary for Cisco to go after Apple for the iPhone? We shall see. Linksys’ iPhone is part of the Dual-Mode Telephony Kit for Skype, and it obviously doesn’t have anything to do with the handset iPhone. Simply put, the iPhone from Linksys is a portable handset for Skype users. Considering the number of companies that are jumping to support Skype, the defacto standard for VoIP telephony, we are not surprised to see such a device from Linksys (and Cisco). It’s an average looking handset with 128x128 resolution (65k color support) and a candy bar design that replicates your average cell phone. In fact, if anything, the Linksys iPhone is maybe a little too average for our taste. In addition to the overt "averageness" of the iPhone, the device is also lightweight and flimsy, which doesn’t speak wonders for its quality. With that said, we did drop the device on a hardwood floor a few times, and it worked fine after that. The phone is packaged with a hub station that requires a broadband connection to work and connect with your Skype account. You will also need to make room for a power adapter that recharges the AAA rechargeable batteries in the handset. Once you have connected the hub to your modem, router or switch (i.e., your broadband line), you are all set to use the device. Before we discuss that process, it’s also important to know that you can use the Linksys iPhone to make traditional landline calls like you would with your other phone. The RJ-11 port is integrated in the hub to make it easier for you to work with. Back to Skype… Now that you have connected the device, it’s only a matter of turning on the handset and inputting your account information to login (username and password). You can have the handset remember the account information or you can input it every time; it’s up to you. Once you have logged in, you are ready to go, as the handset pulls your Contacts list from the server. One vital point to remember is that if you update your Contacts list on your PC, you will have to reset the phone by removing the battery before it will pull the updated list to the handset. That was a rather painful experience. And of course, if you reset the handset, you will have to pair the hub and the handset again by pushing the Page button. You can also pick and choose from a variety of ringtones to help you find the handset quickly in case you misplace it. The call quality was clear, at least as clear as VoIP could get, and we didn’t drop the signal. That obviously depends on your connection. We would also recommend that you have enough bandwidth during the call or you will face some random issues that are natural for VoIP services. That means no online gaming and downloading when making calls. Another thing to note is that even though you can make Skype and standard calls from the same handset, you can’t switch between the two if you happen to be on a call and another one comes in. For instance, if you are on a Skype call and a traditional line call comes in and you try to switch between the two, it will drop the Skype call (and vice versa). With that said, you could put the first call on hold, mute it and attend the second call with a mere push of a button. Naturally, when you are talking on Skype, it’s free to make Skype-to-Skype phone calls, but you will have to pay for certain privileges. The handset will automatically deduct from your balance as you make calls from the handset. It also has a speakerphone and a limit of up to 500 Skype Contacts. Unfortunately, you can only connect a single handset to the hub, though Linksys could issue a firmware to make an update to this feature in the future. For the price of $129.99 (maybe even cheaper at other stores), the Linksys’ iPhone is a more economic version of the most VoIP phones that doesn’t require a PC to stay in touch with your Skype contacts. At this price point, this device is a good product with certain limitations that Linksys could fix with a firmware upgrade. And no, the legal dispute between the two companies was unwarranted. We seriously doubt anybody would confuse this iPhone from that iPhone. |
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