IP800

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The Oricom IP800 is a cordless phone for both Skype and ordinary telephone calls. The IP800 connects to your PC via a standard USB connection, as well as your regular telephone line.

Pros

  • Ease of setup, design, can make a Skype and landline call in the same home,

Cons

  • Requires connection to a PC, no handset locator button on charging cradle, keypad not backlit, only compatible with Skype.

Bottom Line

The IP800 is definitely an option worth considering if you are an avid Skype user.

Would you buy this?

  • Price

    $ 109.00 (AUD)

Special Offers

The IP800 consists of three main parts; a phone, a charging cradle and a base station. The base station has two inputs on its rear, one connecting AC power, and the other a standard RJ-11 telephone line jack. The design of the IP800 is separated to allow users to put the base station next to their PC and the phone and cradle where they would normally have a standard cordless telephone.

Setup is as simple as connecting all the appropriate cords and plugging both the base station and the charging cradle into AC power. Oricom recommends charging the handset for up to 14 hours before initial use. Users simply then log into their Skype account, and most of its features, such as contacts lists and status, are be displayed on the phone itself.

In-call quality was quite good for both Skype and landline calls. Keep in mind that the quality of a Skype call depends on a number of factors, including the quality and reliability of your Internet connection. Our test calls did experience some unwanted echo and background hissing, and some of our callers complained of our voice not being loud enough. For most part though, the IP800 performed as expected.

The IP800 supports both SkypeOut and SkypeIn calls and the phone itself is quite easy to grasp. All the functions are accessed by pressing the menu key and scrolling through lists using the up/down buttons below the screen. Calling another Skype user on your contact list is as easy as pressing the Skype key on the phone, selecting the name in the list and pressing talk. Similarly, dialling a phone number and pressing the call button makes a regular landline call. The IP800 also has a hands-free speakerphone, nine distinctive ring tones, and a 50-name and number phone book for landline calls. Up to five handsets can be connected and two calls can be made at the same time; a VoIP call on one handset and a landline call on the other.

The user interface is solid, with a bright orange backlight and large text combining to make the display easily readable. The main screen of the phone provides various status indicators, including a reception indicator, battery life indicator, and a number of notifications including missed calls, voicemail, keypad lock and silent mode. The main display also shows your Skype online status and the current time. In the menu, users can change their Skype online status, set the time, check their call history, search for other Skype users, access the phonebook and check their Skype credit.

The design of the IP800 is much like a standard cordless telephone, with the exception of the Skype button in the bottom left hand corner. Oricom has included dedicated keys for menu, redial/mute, answer/end call, speakerphone and intercom, and all the buttons provide solid tactile feedback. Our only complaint with the design is that the keys aren't backlit, so making a call at night may be a hit and miss affair. Also, the "locate handset" button is only on the base station and not the charging cradle, which seems a little strange. The IP800 runs off two AAA, rechargeable batteries and these are included in the sales package.

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