It seems that the chaps at Ipevo have been listening when they produced the Ipevo SOLO Skype desktop phone which we have had for review. It is a fairly normal looking phone although the handset being white while the rest of the phone is black is a strange choice.

Above the main keypad is a large bright screen which is essential for the Ipevo to handle the largely visual Skype UI, on this they have managed to deliver a very similar interface to the PC based version, the same Icons etc. The screen starts by asking for some set-up details to localise your phone and if needed to set some IP details, if you have a DHCP running then it can get its own IP address. Then you can login using your standard Skype ID and password, soon your list of contacts appears exactly as it would on the PC version. You can see who's online and who's busy, away or on mobile, all the features you expect of Skype.

Making a call is simple enough, use the 4 way pad under the screen to highlight the contact then press the large green button or the green handset key to start the call, all of the sounds are the same as on skype and you will soon be connected to your caller. You can use the handset which is very comfortable to hold being light without feeling cheap or you can opt for the speaker phone which while a great idea is a bit to feeble for regular use which was a big disappointment to us.

We had hoped to use the Skype phone for the regular press briefings we attend as many are now on skype and we have to rely on having the laptop all ready and a USB headset attached. Disappointment aside the call quality using the handset is good although a little quiet, it could do with another 20% more volume to make it directly comparable to the PC version. To take an incoming call you just lift the handset or press the speakerphone button, there are a few ring tones to choose from all of them the same as on the PC version, it would be nice to add some more but there is no external drive or method of downloading at present, although the USB port could provide a way should Ipevo decide to play ball.

If you want to fiddle with settings then there is a control panel style interface which uses the correct Skype symbols, most things are customisable but all within the bounds of the standard skype config as this is a Skype certified device.

Now there are a few bits we need to say are missing, the first is the lack of Skype chat, it is so common to use Skype chat while on a call that its like having an arm cut off to lose it again. Also you can't get files sent to you or fire up a webcam (because there isn't one), so for the next version we'd like a qwerty mini keypad and an inbuilt webcam.

Even without these features the Ipevo SOLO Desktop skype phone is a great bit of kit, we used it regularly with 100% success rate on calls and with rather good call quality too. Only once did it have a kind of freeze after being unused for a week this was solved with a simple power down / up. Perhaps the weird 80's Styling takes a little getting used to but we loved the 2.4" lcd screen and the simplicity of use. Best of all we now have a fixed line Skype phone that's always on even when every PC is the office is off!

Retailing for around £100 its great value for money and we'd strongly recommend it over a WiFi version or anything that plugs into a PC via USB for obvious reasons. So it's an 8/10 for Ipevo the SOLO is good but the lack of Skype chat and the poor hands free are the only let down.

Published - 05/08/2008

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