The EZ-I phone as Waitec brand it is a small yet well formed USB handset, its build quality is somewhere between a standard mobile and a Tomy my first handset. It doesn't feel cheap but you do realise its built to a price. That said it has all you need with a reasonable LCD display which while not backlit is readable in most lighting conditions.

The USB handset connect to any PC via a USB 2.0 connection and the basic phone functions do not require any drivers to be loaded, our XP ultra portable laptop just recognised it straight off and we could then assign it as the preferred USB audio device. However this is only half the functionality, in order to make it really work well with Skype you need to load up the supplied Skypelink software. This application makes the Waitec buttons directly operate the Skype functions so that dialling a number appears in Skype and you can place and answer calls.

You can also select volume levels and microphone sensitivity settings and that all important ringtones (a choice of 10), but this all a bit of a sideshow it's not until you start using the USB skypephone or EZ-I phone that you see the real benefits. Just hook up the handset with its long extendable cable to your laptop and anywhere with an internet connection becomes a mobile office. Using Skype at around 2p per minute that expensive call on your mobile from the airport becomes a thing of the past and Skype gives you a landline number making your callers think you are in the office!

The Waitec USB phone makes using Skype seem natural rather than feeling like you are on stage with Madonna and the audio quality isn't at all bad. Skype audio quality isn't exactly high fidelity so the Waitec's speaker is clear enough and the microphone seems to work well with callers hearing us ok and not noticing any difference between it and a standard mobile call.

We've saved the best till last adding this easy to use and effective USB handset to your laptop costs under £30 and also saves you the embarrassment of being identified as a lost member of the call centre boy band. If you thought Skype was good then try using a handset that makes it feel that bit more professional.

Published - 06/11/2005

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