Philips VOIP 321 Skype Dual Phone Single Handset VOIP3211G 37
Philips VOIP 321 Skype Dual Phone Single Handset VOIP3211G 37
Make and take calls on both networks from one single handset and you can see who is on-line without going to the PC. SkypeOut is a low cost way to make calls from Skype to friends who still use a traditional landline or mobile phone. With Skype you can enjoy making free calls all over the world to any other Skype users. With a single press on the Skype key, you can directly access your Skype contacts list. The list of the users currently logged on to Skype is displayed and you can see their online status. This Skype key also enables you to take the line (once the contact selected) and to make a Skype call (Skype & SkypeOut). This dualphone enables you to make calls via Internet or/and via a normal landline with the mobility, voice quality & ease of use of a cordless phone. Enjoy making free calls over the Internet without sitting in front of your computer. You can see your Skype contacts list directly on your handset. Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call on Hold, Message Waiting, Call Transfer Line, Dialing keypad, Phonebook, Call log, Redial, Skype, Loudspeaker Amber Backlit keypad Headphone jack Speakerphone-Talk handsfree Call log entries – 15 missed & 5 missed Redial List Capacity – 10 calls Name & number phonebook – 50 names and numbers Handset Volume Control – 5-level earpiece and loudspeaker volume control Display contacts list status Edit user status on the phone Direct call from contacts list Fully Integrated with Skype USB Full Speed – Full 12Mbps Power LED indicator – Green 2 AAA NiMH Battery type Up to 10 Hours Talk time Standby time – More than 100 hours Radio RF power – Less than 250mW System Requirements – Free USB port, Pentium-based PC with 400 MHz CPU or better, 128 MB RAM memory, 30MB or more Hard disk space, Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Windows 2000 Operating System, 33.6 kbps or faster Internet connection (Broadband preferred), CD-ROM or DVD-ROM Drive
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars phone not registered with base and it’s not compatible with vista only xp
OK I BOUGHT THE PHONE FOR A REASON TO USE IT AS A HOUSE PHONE WITH SKYPE I HAVE AND XP AND A VISTA FIRST I CONNECT IT WITH VISTA AND IT DID NOT WORK FOR SHRIMP NOT EVEN AFTER I DOWNLOADED THE LATEST DRIVER FOR VISTA OK SO THEN I WENT WITH MY XP AND IT WORKED PERFECTLY WITH NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 2 AND HALF WEEKS LATER THE PHONE STARTED SAYING PHONE NOT REGISTERED SO I TRY TO CONNECT IT AND IT SAYS SEARCHING FOR BASE FAIL AND IM STILL WITH NO PHONE
SO I RECOMMEND YOU NOT TO BUY THIS PHONE AND IF YOU BUY ONE THEN GOOD LUCK WITH IT. BUT FOR ME I’M DONE PHILLIPS NEVER BEEN SO DISAPPOINTED…:(
HOPE THIS HELPS
4 Stars It DOES work with Vista
I have been an Amazon customer for many many years, but I have not written a review until now largely because there are some misconceptions from other reviewers about this device’s compatibility with Vista that I think are negatively affecting the reviews.
I purchased this phone primarily for use with Skype because I was tired of having to sit at my desk with a headset. I don’t have a traditional phone line, so I cannot comment on any issues the phone might have with dual modes. I don’t know how it compares with other VOIP phones and I purchased it used at a very attractive price and I use it strictly for making calls through Skype. Also, I work with computers so I am comfortable installing components and drivers.
I was aware before buying the phone that it uses a USB connection and requires the computer to turned on always and for Skype to be running. I was also aware of some compatibility issues with Vista but after reading through the forums on Skype and saw that many users were running it on Vista without problems, I felt sure I could get it to work.
Misconception 1 – Does not work with Vista
The phone in fact DOES work with Vista and I have mine running on Vista Business right now using the V3.8.3 drivers from Philips and Skype V.4.0.0.206. In all fairness, it is not a simple plug-n-play installation for most users.
After downloading the latest Vista drivers from the Philips website (V3.8.3 released September 2007) and installing it, like most people I noticed that in my Device Manager the phone showed up with a yellow exclamation point and an error message “Device Cannot Start (Code 10)”. If you google that error you will soon find that it is a generic error that affects many different products running in Vista. After many hours of research, I found on the Skype forum that the best way to get the phone to work is to use a USB port with a VIA chipset. In short the USB ports on most motherboards are not VIA chipset so you need to install a new PCI USB controller with a VIA chipset VT6212L for the phone. I puchased one off eBay and installed it in a few minutes. Here is the same one I got – VIA VT6212L 4+1 Port USB 2.0 PCI Controller Card. Once Vista recognized the device and installed the drivers, I plugged the Philips phone into it and voila, the error was gone and the phone is now working problem free.
Misconception 2 – Disables Sound
When Vista installs the new phone, it recognizes that it has a mic and speakers and changes the DEFAULT sound options to the phone. This is why sound begins to play through the phone instead of through the computer speakers for some users. This has nothing to do with the phone at all. All you have to do is open your sound options in Windows and change it back to your computer speakers and mic and the problem is fixed. In Skype, make sure it is set to use the phone and not the computer speakers and mic.
Misconception 3 – Need Skype Contacts to make a Skype call
I had a problem with this myself until I read D. Cascketta’s review from June 14, 2008 and San Kool’s review from August 1, 2007 and Matt B.’s review from December 31, 2006 (thank you!). This misconception is probably due to poor documentation. You simply need to dial the number you wish to call and hit the “S” Skype button instead of “Talk” to call that number. I usually prefix the numbers with a “+”
I have had no problems with interference or sound quality since I’ve been using it. I particularly like that I can also listen to my Skype voicemail from the phone. I purchased it used and I’ve used it for a month now without any problems so I don’t expect to see any other hardware issues. I has met all my expectations and I don’t regret buying it.
I hope this information is helpful.
1 Star Phone is great if you’re a software engineer
All of the other gripes aside, I only have ONE.
Philips refuses to support the driver.
New versions of Skype cause the phone driver to hang.
Which means that it will stop working in a couple weeks.
Don’t waste your time or your money.
1 Star Drivers can’t keep up with Skype upgrades
I purchased this phone in summer of 2008 to take advantage of Skype and VOIP while working with people all around the world, unfortunately shortly after I installed the phone, Skype upgraded their software and since then Phillips hasn’t done a thing to make their drivers work with the latest versions of Skype, so I have to use my webcam microphone and speakers to do calls. Also doesn’t allow me to use the landline option for POTS calls.
would not recommend you buy this phone if you intend to use w. Skype. I’ll probably have to junk mine since it doesn’t have any functionality without working w. Skype.
4 Stars Seems to work well
While the device a few annoying/ limiting features, it works well, and seems to deliver good call quality even when simultaneously streaming video over the same DSL line. Battery life is 2-3 days and installation is easy.
