The 11.5 x 8.5 x 2.5 cm unit connects via USB 2.0 to a PC running Skype and to your phone line via an RJ11 port, this in effect bridges the online VOIP world and your BT connection (or other phone provider). Once hooked up your fixed line phone can either forward Skype incoming calls or place outgoing one via the Vosky Callcentre, this is actually quite a simple process. Firstly with the call centre connected an incoming call via Skype will make your fixed handset (home phone) ring as if it were a normal call, thus removing the need to hear the call via the PC speakers or wear daft Madonna style headsets. To be fair the Actiontec chatterbox we tested over Christmas also does this. But when you get a call and you are not in there is the choice of forwarding calls to another number, maybe another fixed line or even a mobile. The Call Centre unit will dial you pre selected number and place the Skype call.

Better still it works in reverse allowing you to call the VoSky system from another number and then enter a passcode and use the touchtone system and voice prompts to dial a Skype contact and place a call via VOIP, it will even let you know if your Skype contacts are online or not.

In our tests over a month of use the Actiontec call centre performed admirably bringing our main Skype calls to a fixed line or forwarded to a mobile, this side of the system works well and is a useful feature, at least until Skype set-up call forwarding. The outgoing call placement was less successful with the voice prompt menu and keypad pushing becoming a bit of a grind, so that unless we were calling Nigeria and desperate to pay Skype rates and not BT we gave up and just made a normal call.

Out of around 25 tests we managed to complete around 80% of calls placed through the VoSky system, the others either failed to connect or dropped mid call. Audio quality is significantly below what we've come to expect of Skype but this is more to do with the quality of your average analogue telephone handset than the Call Centre unit.

Priced at £55 the VoSky Call Centre is well priced for its best function of call forwarding from Skype VOIP to fixed landlines and mobiles, plus it lets you use your ordinary handset rather than headsets or your PC's speakers to make calls. However we do feel that the products life would be severely curtailed if and indeed when Skype and other VOIP clients allow both call forwarding and placement via a local call number.

Published - 05/03/2006

More VOIP Gadgets-

[ Up ] [ Waitec USB Skype Phone ] [ Dect Skype Phone ] [ Linksys CIT200 Skype Phone ] [ ActionTec Internet Phone Wizard ] [ IPEVO Free-1 ] [ Sony VN-CX1 VOIP Mouse ] [ Actiontec Vosky Call Centre ] [ Logitech Premium Notebook Headset ] [ Ipevo SOLO Review ] [ nXZEN VOIP ] [ Linksys WIP330 Review ] [ Belkin Skype Phone ] [ Netgear Skype Phone ] [ Actiontec Chatterbox VOIP ]