The DUALPhone 3088 is the world’s first Skype phone which doesn’t need a PC. That’s right, the Skype client is in the handset itself. It’s DECT wireless and comes complete with a full colour Skype-ified interface and all that stuff. So you just plug it into your landline for ordinary calls and into your broadband connection for Skype calls and switch between the two at will. Priced from around £99.00.
The phone also allows the user to decide whether to make a free call via the Internet between Skype users, or to use the regular landline connection. As well as freeing users from the PC, the DUALphone has a simple Skype user interface and possesses nearly all Skype voice features for which Skype software is known. The cordless aspect of the product is provided by DECT, a wireless technology well known for high reliability, low cost and no interference problems. The phone base station connects easily to the broadband router and the phone line. The new DUALphone 3088 has a colour display and an operating time of more than 10 hours of talk time as well as up to 140 hours at standby.
It’s not the first. SMC WSKP100 is the first and I can buy it here in Romania from almost 2 months ago.
But this one plugs into your landline and lets you make a Skype call or normal land line call without the PC or Mac being switched on.
It's the first one I've seen that does that!
SMC WSKP100 connects by Wi-Fi to any hotspot. You cannot want more wireless than that. Who needs landline? We’re in XXI’st century!
Claudiu, I hear what you’re saying, but the fact is that most of the world does not have WiFi at home, which makes a DECT handset a much easier and more useful sell to the huge numbers of people that don’t yet use Skype at home. The WiFi implementation outside is also apparently not that good (unless you’re signed up to The Cloud) which makes the SMC handset even less useful.
This new Dualphone, however, looks to be a step in the right direction for Mom and Pop user! :-)
You’re right about mom & pop exclusive use. I don’t know about you, but here in Bucharest, Wi-Fi works pretty good on the streets and in homes with a wireless range expander made from tin. Also there is a contact list like in a usual DECT phone. There is a easy setup so mom & pop could use it too. Then again MY mom & pop are too old to even understand mobile phone so… depends on which mom&pop are you using for your experiment :)
Anyway, all I wanted to say is that DUALPhone 3088 is NOT the first phone in the world which connects to skype without a PC, like ferrets (whom I personally love) wrote.
It’s the first dual-phone . First both voip/pstn connected directly to router. So IS the first phone to support such an issue.
Thanks Claudiu :-) I think we’ll just say that it’s the first dual mode phone without wires as Redrum says. I apologise for any confusion. :-)
:-)
I’m a happy person again. Thanks Red :)
Oh my GOD! The’ve killed Kenny!