Linksys Wireless-G IP Phone review

Skype is the most common VoIP service for travellers, as its range of phones and clients makes it easy to carry wherever you go.

If you primarily use a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) service such as Vonage or Freedom2surf, though, Linksys's Wireless-G IP Phone might be the product you're looking for.

The phone connects to any standard 802.11g wireless access point and your SIP account, so you can use your telephone service wherever you have a wireless network. Unlike the wireless Skype phones we've reviewed, the Wireless-G IP Phone has a full web browser. This means you can use it with hotspots, such as those provided in hotels and cafes, which require browser authentication.

The 240x320 screen has a high resolution for a handset. It's still not large enough to fit an entire webpage, but there are scroll bars so you can move around the page. It's no good if you're planning to surf the web, but good enough to log on to a hotspot. There's also an option to add a webcam's address into the phone, so you can quickly monitor a remote location. It's a neat feature if you want to watch your house while you're away.

Configuration is a little trickier than with a Skype phone, as you have to enter all the SIP settings manually, including proxy address, phone number, username and password. Once you've done that, though, every time the phone connects to a wireless network it will automatically connect your SIP account.

Call quality depends on the strength of the wireless network, but with a good signal you'll get decent quality from it. Sound quality isn't as good as a landline or a DECT-phone, but it's close. There's little voice processing and the sound is natural.

The Wireless-G IP Phone is quite expensive, even compared to WiFi Skype phones, which cost around £110. If you have a SIP account that you want to carry around, this is a good way of doing it. If you're looking for a VoIP service to travel with, Skype is more flexible and has a wider and cheaper range of handsets.

Author: David Ludlow