Olympia have delivered just what the doctor ordered, the quite normal looking Dect handset plugs into your phone line much as any other phone and the base station not only links the handset to the phone line but also recharges the unit when docked. However have a good look at the back of the base unit and you'll see a USB socket, slide a lead between the base unit and you PC and install the software and this Dect phone can receive and make Skype calls.

VOIP is booming in Britain with over 5 million broadband users now signed up, a voice over IP call is as good if not better than your standard line and best of all its free between other Skype users and you still have the ability to dial off network on BT's normal numbers. Skype has the Skype out feature which enables you to dial BT or in fact any normal telephone number at an additional cost, in reality its cheaper to use the standard BT line and dial normally, the Dect handset is excellent for this with its true dual capability and simple icons to show you which method you are using.

The Olympia Dect Skype handset offers the best of both worlds a simple selection allows you to dial on either BT or Skype, the Skype calls are made via username rather than number and the Dect handset can see which of your Skype contacts are online right now. Although the basic pack comes with a single handset you can register up to 4 handsets with the Cordless DUAL phone base.

During our brief tests the range and quality of audio reception and transmission proved excellent and the phones menu system is simple to use if a bit limited by the small screen, there is a good and loud ring signal although you are limited to just 5 ring tones with no option to add more. Its easy to choose which mode you want to dial out on as there are 2 green "dial" keys

Battery life is a claimed 6 hours talk time and 100 hours standby without sitting the Dect phone back in its base which should be good for all but the most demanding users, sadly its currently for windows only with Windows XP/2000/2003 server being the only supported operating systems.

Overall this is a compelling product for those who have taken the dive with Skype and perhaps a good introduction for those who are dabbling with VOIP, priced at £89.99 it's not much more than a standard Dect unit and apart from lacking an ansaphone it is a worthy buy for the standard features alone.

Published - 13/04/2005

More DECT Phone Reviews-

[ 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 ] [ nXZEN VOIP ] [ Linksys WIP330 Review ] [ Belkin Skype Phone ] [ Netgear Skype Phone ] [ Actiontec Chatterbox VOIP ]