SMC Wi-Fi Phone for Skype review

Skype's main limitation was the fact that you had to turn on your PC to use it.

With SMC's Wi-Fi Phone for Skype, this is no longer the case. The sleek white handset has WiFi and the Skype client built in, so you can make phone calls over your wireless network.

You configure the W-Fi Phone through the handset, so there's no need to install anything on your PC. First, it scours the airwaves in search of wireless networks. Simply select the network you want to use and enter the encryption details. The phone supports WEP and WPA, so it should work with all networks.

The Wi-Fi Phone won't work with hotspots that use browser authentication, as it has no built-in web browser, so you have no way of logging on to these networks. However, SMC has done a deal with hotspot provider The Cloud so that the Wi-Fi Phone can access its network. The service is currently being trialled, and there will be a fixed monthly charge in the future, although final pricing has yet to be announced.

Once you've successfully connected to a suitable wireless network, you have the option to log on to an existing Skype account or create a new one. After logging on, you have access to all your contacts and can see whether they're online or not. The colour screen isn't great, but it's clear enough for its purpose.

As well as dialling existing Skype clients, you can use the phone's keypad to dial standard telephone numbers using SkypeOut. Unfortunately, you can't use the Wi-Fi Phone to purchase new credits. If you run out, you'll need access to a standard PC.

Call quality largely depends on the quality of your internet connection, but we found it to be pretty good. Voices were a little distorted but, in practice, it would be hard to tell the difference between the Wi-Fi Phone and a standard telephone.

The main question you have to ask yourself when considering the Wi-Fi Phone is where will you use it? The lack of browser authentication means that it's not a practical choice if you travel a lot. While the deal with The Cloud will enable you to use the phone in many places, there are still lots of hotspots and hotel rooms where you won't be able to access a wireless connection. In these situations a notebook or Windows Mobile telephone are better choices.

That said, if you want to use Skype at home as your main telephone, the WiFi phone is an elegant way of doing it. And you can carry your Skype phone to friends' houses and The Cloud hotspots on those occasions where you need to receive calls while you're out.

The Wi-Fi Phone is a great idea, but it's quite expensive and not as flexible as we'd hoped.

Author: David Ludlow