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Choosing A VoIP Phone

There are now so many VoIP phones appearing on the market it can be overwhelming. For those who are considering acquiring a VoIP handset check if the handset that you are looking at has the following features:

• Can it combine traditional landline calling with VoIP capability? It is practical to look for a handset that can do more than just send and receive calls from Skype. Choosing a model like the KXTG 9150 DECT cordless phone with Skype adapter is a practical choice.
• Does it have a speakerphone? Can it use a headset if you prefer? There may be times the owner will need both hands free and having another option for keeping the line open is useful.
• Also, check if the following features caller ID, three way calling, call transfer between handsets. These are simple but really practical tools that are standard for traditional landline phones - whether it is a cordless phone or corded model.
• Lastly, check if there is an option to assign different ring tones to distinguish between landline and VoIP calls. It’s always good to know whether the call coming in is a local one or from farther away without even having to look at the LCD.

The most practical choice will be the model that can offer the most number of features and has very clear sound at a fair price.

Skype Phones On Cloud

Skype is greatly responsible for the global popularity of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). The ability to call anyone anywhere in the world on their PC, and for free sparked a major change in telecommunications. The development of Skype phones has simply added to its popularity.

In Europe Skype has gained even more ground. An agreement has been reached between Skype and the Cloud Wi-Fi Network. With a Skype enabled phone from SMC Networks and a minimal fee of 6.99 pounds ($13) calls can now be made through any of their wi-fi hotspots. “This marks the start of a real low cost alternative to traditional telecom services”, says Niall Murphy, the Clouds Chief Technology Officer.

The service will be launched in the UK this month. It will then be spread to the other European countries by the end of 2006. Cloud has extensive coverage, operating over 8,500 hot spots across Europe. The Cloud has wi-fi hotspots available at retail outlets, hotels and airports. They’ve also begun adding outdoor wi-fi hot spots in nine cities across the United Kingdom.
Currently the only handset confirmed to be ready for use with this service is the SMCWSKP100 but a representative from Cloud confirms that they are actively working with manufacturers and providers of handsets and other wi-fi devices to come up with products that will work well with the public wi-fi environment. Hopefully soon there will be more Skype phones available for use with their network.

Cordless Phones Are In

It is amazing how many people love the mobility that their cellular phone gives them yet can’t be persuaded to have the same mobility in their homes. They still insist on keeping their corded phones. So when the doorbell rings they have to keep whoever they were talking with waiting while they run and open the door.

Cordless phones have come along way from the original heavy and clunky objects first created. There is no need to fear that any toes will be broken if you accidentally drop one on your toe (hopefully no one drops it though). They are smaller, slimmer and are quite comfortable to use. The batteries last longer and the range is much wider than before, especially now that DECT (Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication) cordless phones have begun to be adopted as the standard.

DECT cordless phones work using the 1.9 GHz frequency, a portion of the spectrum that only they use which means less interference from other wireless devices. These phones were also created to be adaptable and versatile. Unlike the original cordless phone the DECT cordless phones are expandable. It is quite easy to add as many as 6 handsets to the system. It would serve as an intercom as well so that is one less expense you need to make.

Selecting a cordless phone like the Panasonic KX-TG 9120 provides you with a unit that can do more than just make calls. It has a built in answering machine as well. Add a Skype adapter and you can start making VoIP calls anywhere in your home. Purchase the KXTG 914 wireless camera and you’ll turn your phone into a security system as well.

It’s way past time to get into cordless phones. They are practical and truly handy. Just have one corded phone for emergencies. You never know when there will be a power outage and those are sure to work during those times.

VoIP and Business

Businesses are usually slow to adopt new technology. This is mainly due to the cost of adopting these changes in terms of equipment, manpower and actually farming it out to the various offices of the company. It is only recently that VoIP has struck companies as a truly useful, practical and easy piece of technology to use.

Companies need to be accessible and on top of communications. Email and faxes just aren’t sufficient to meet that need. Telecommunication costs can soar the more widespread their business is. This is where VoIP services comes in.
Unfortunately, it isn’t just as simple as having a VoIP phone. Unlike individual users who can simply download a softphone like Skype and use a wireless headset or VoIP phone to get started, companies have a more complex system in place. Most businesses would require that their VoIP would have only one access number and merge with their existing PBX system. This allows clients to have easy access (with only one number to memorize). The company would also have an easier time tracking their business expenses this way as well as have the ability to easily transfer calls to other employees as needed. Having a single account would also negate the problem of reloading credit to multiple accounts which can indeed be a big drain on the budget and is inefficient.
Thankfully, there are some very clever people working to resolve the various concerns that have been raised by these companies. For companies that want to use Skype, it is now possible to setup a gateway with a company’s PBX in about an hour. This will allow up to 8 Skype accounts to be handled at a time. It works with the regular desktop phones so there will be no need for the company to go out and spend more money on buying VoIP handsets, though they may want to consider osme of the new cordless phones or audio conferencing units once they’ve seen them.
Of course Skype isn’t the only VoIP service available in the market. There are quite a number of excellent VoIP vendors who may provide exactly what your company needs at a good rate. Definitely though, VoIP is shaping up to be a necessary tool for businesses today.

Panasonic KXTG-9120

DECT (Digitally Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) phones are growing in popularity. These cordless phones are so versatile that more people have begun replacing their corded phones with these wonderful tools.

Panasonic’s KX-TG 9120 is a great choice for anyone interested in getting more than just mobility when they buy a cordless phone. Aside from the fact that it is only weighs 140 gms, it has a 1.5 inch LCD that uses 65,000 colors for clear images. Navigation of the phone’s graphic menu or the 200 number directory is easy with the centrally placed 5-direction joystick. The keypad has a backlight to make it easy to operate even in the dark. This is a practical feature for when you’re sending or receiving SMS or text messages on your handset.
The handset has a built in speakerphone as well as a socket for use with a headset. It also comes with a built in answering machine that can digitally record 40 minutes worth of calls.
The phone has 16 polyphonic ring tones pre-stored but it is easy to add more songs for use as the ringer. Owners can simply upload their favorite MP3 song to serve as their personal ring tone though it will be transformed to bell like sounds.

One of the advantages of getting a DECT cordless phone, it can expand. The KXTG 9120 can have as many as 6 handsets registered with the unit. This transforms this phone into an intercom system that is useful for any home or office with many rooms.

This model has two variants to match the needs of the users more closely. The point of having a digital phone is to be able to integrate more functions with your handset.

One variant of this phone allows your phone to serve as a security system as well. The package tagged as the KX-TG 9140  contains the KXTG 9120 (DECT cordless phone) and the KXTG 914 which is cord lot camera that can turn your DECT phone into a security system for your home as well.

The wireless transmitter camera can be placed outside the front door which is useful for knowing what’s happening outside your porch. It can also be used as a monitoring tool for any room. It’s especially useful for keeping track of your baby. The image is transmitted by the camera to the 1.5 inch colored LCD on the handset. Since the handset can be carried around, you’ll be able to see what’s going on where the camera is even if you’re at the back of the house.

The other option is to acquire the KXTG 915 Skype Adapter with the KXTG 9120 DECT cordless phone. This package is tagged as the KX-TG 9150. It turns this handset into a handy VoIP phone as well. Users will be able to see their contact list from the screen on the handset and they won’t need to be in front of the PC to chat with their family and friends. This can really help you cut down on your expenses, specifically by using Skype for your international calls.

Panasonic KX-TG 7160

Since Alexander Graham Bell first invented the telephone, it has gone through many evolutions. He would probably be amazed at how much his invention has changed. Manufacturers like Panasonic have gone out of their way to create phones that are more than just basic communication tools.

One of the brand new models of Panasonic is catching the eye of many people. The KX-TG 7160 is a DECT cordless phone with big buttons. This feature makes it excellent for those who have poor eye sight. They are also comfortable to dial; no wrong numbers dialed because the buttons were so small the wrong one got pressed. There is also a backlight built in so that the numbers are easy to read at al times, even in the middle of the night.

The main purpose of telephones is for having a conversation. That can be difficult for those who are hard of hearing. This model of Panasonic addresses that concern. It uses bone conduction to deliver sound which is great for people with outer ear or middle ear problems. Instead of an ordinary speaker, it has a vibrator that transmits vibrations directly to the inner ear which it then interprets as sound. It also works as an intercom system which is useful for calling for help when needed without having to get out of one’s room.

Skype Goes Conferencing

For businesses, audio conferencing has become a standard business practice. It is more practical than flying one’s various executives in from various parts of the country when you need them running the business where they are. Still, there are some times when it audio conferencing isn’t enough.

Skype has included among its upgrades the ability to conference call. There are quite a few who were skeptical about this feature and who can blame them? There are more tried and tested conference-friendly solutions out in the market.

The simple truth is, while there are other existing options such as WebEx and Microsft Live Communications Servers, Skype allows the companies to save on their phone charges. At the same time they get to share their documents and presentations. All any Skype user needs is the Unyte plug-in. Once installed, users can start a Unyte session from Skype chat or even from the system tray.

Starting a session is as simple as sending your chosen participants the Unyte URL spawned for the session you open. The recipients simply click on the URL to join the session. The basic Unyte service can have as many as four participants in a session.

If you have more than four participants, WebDialog maker of Unyte, has their Meeting Central web conferencing service as an option. It can hold as many as 500 participants and has polling, audiocasting and recording amongst its services.

Discovering DECT

There are many reasons to give up your old analog cordless phones and switch over to DECT. Not the least of which is the fact that you get clearer sound using a DECT phone.

The old cordless phones use the 2.4 GHz frequency. That is the same frequency used by Bluetooth and other wireless devices. That makes for more gadgets competing for space on the spectrum and more noise while you try to have a decent conversation. DECT phones, on the other hand, almost exclusively uses the 1.9 GHz band which means less interference.

Analog phones are also susceptible to eavesdropping. If you are a person who values your privacy, investing in a DECT phone is a very small price to pay. You never know when you just may be a target and this can help keep you safe.

DECT isn’t new technology. It has been around for years. It is used widely in Europe and Asia, and recently, North America has followed suit. The versatility of the DECT phones is attracting more and more people to give up their existing handsets and switch over.

DECT manufacturers like BT, Philips, Panasonic and Siemens are leading the pack in creating new technology, ways of making these units more than just phones without wires. These phones can now be used to make VoIP calls without a computer and integrated with your security system such as your doorbell and door lock. Some even have SMS (Short Messaging System), which has mainly been a feature of mobile phones, included among its features to allow text messages to be sent from the landline to another landline as well as to a mobile handset.

It is also easy to expand from having only one DECT handset to owning a network of about six units. It is easy to do and doesn’t even require that any wiring be done or any jacks be plugged in. The charging stations simply plug into the mains and once the base station is in place, calls can be made.

DECT is by no means perfect yet. More features are being added everyday as new discoveries are made. Definitely at this point in time, it is the top of the line in integrated telecommunications.

It is a great way to develop an intercom system at home. Some models can even have more than one handset working at a time (e.g. one making a land line call, another making a VoIP call and two working as an intercom all at the same time).

Panasonic’s New DECT Phones

Panasonic recently held their trade show which included their new DECT phones. Among the most interesting are the KX-TG9120 and the KX-TG7170.

The KX-TG 9120 DECT cordless phone will be sold in two variants. The first variant is the KX-TG9140 bundle. This model includes a mains-powered wireless transmitter camera which transmits to the handset’s 1.5 inch colored LCD. It can be used as a security device for the front door. It can also work as a tool for baby watching.

The second variant is the KX-TG9150. It has a built in VoIP module that allows users to make VoIP calls away from the PC.

The KX-TG7170 is more of a specialized phone. It is a phone meant for those with outer-ear/middle-ear caused hearing difficulties. It uses bone conduction to let the users hear incoming calls. Instead of a standard speaker, it has a vibrator that transmits sound directly to the inner ear as it is placed against the head bypassing the problem of the those with the specified difficulty. It also has large buttons that are backlit which is useful as well for the elderly.
Anyone who is interested in purchasing these products will just have to wait a little longer. Panasonic will not begin to make these phones available until later this month.

Doro BM40 Video Baby Monitor

Every parent is anxious to ensure that their child is safe and well at all times, especially when they are babies. They are so fragile and dependent on adult care that parents need some tools to help keep track of what’s happening with their child. This is where one of Doro’s cordless phone products is useful. The Doro BM40 Video Baby Monitor with its camera and video monitor are excellent tools for this purpose.

Unlike the conventional baby monitors which rely only on audio, the BM40 has a camera mounted on the baby monitor. The image is then transmitted to the 1.5 inch monitor of the parent’s unit. The image is seen in 24-bit true color which allows mommy or daddy to see exactly what baby is doing at all times. It has a video outlet so that the image can be seen on the TV screen instead of just on the small screen.

The portable unit can be carried around using the belt clip. It has a range of 100 meters and also comes with an out of range alert to keep mommy or daddy from going too far. Thanks to the sound activation feature of the baby monitor, the batteries can last longer. The rechargeable batteries can last as long as 10.5 hours with this feature instead of the 3 hours of continuous use.

The Doro BM40 Video Baby Monitor is easy and simple to use. Parents can begin using it immediately once the batteries are charged and be reassured at all times of their child’s safety.