I was doing some Christmas shopping on Amazon when I was curious what sort of VoIP phones were available on Amazon. I came across the Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype, which I never heard of.The Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype is a standalone Skype phone with no PC running Skype requirement. All that is required is a wired connection to your LAN with Internet access. Because it's a standalone Skype phone it's much more suitable as a landline phone replacement in your house than some of the USB-based Skype phones.
The Belkin Desktop Internet Phone for Skype sports a 1.8-inch color LCD display and a phonebook that supports over 500 sets of phone numbers. Importantly, it supports all key Skype features including Skype-to-Skype calling, SkypeIn, SkypeOut, Skype Voicemail, Skype search directory, Skype contact list, Skype Presence, call waiting, conference call (guest only), call history, and user profiles. (Note: The SkypeIn capability is critical if you want to replace your landline phone.)
Belkin espouses the fact that unlike many other Skype phones that use a WiFi connection and require additional SSID or security-key input, the Belkin Desktop Internet Phone is a plug-and-play device that connects automatically to the Internet & Skype at boot up. While no wireless SSID keys to fuss with is certainly a plus, the fact that this phone is completely "wired" without even a wireless handset, may make this a deal breaker for some. The only time I use a "wired" phone is at work and even then I have a DECT 6.0 wireless headset I can use if need be. The phone does have a speakerphone for a hands-free experience, but that doesn't make up for no roaming around capabilities.
Still, if you want to have a standalone Skype phone and make this a landline replacement for cheaper calls, it certainly has some nice capabilities. Other features include phone-book dialing, mute, redial, hold, and a call-timer display.
Available on Amazon for $79.99
p.s. You should also check out my Philips VoIP841 review, which sports a DECT cordless phone and is also a standalone Skype phone.
