skype phone for os x

I'm using an IPEVO free.1 phone for Skype on OS X Mac. nifty, but first a bit of history.

I've been though a couple of headsets - wired and bluetooth. The wired headset was a Plantronics boom microphone assembly with a PC style serial port to usb connection box. Lots of wires to tangle, uncomfortable to wear and, after careful inspection by at least two of our ferrets, poor audio out.

The next toy was a Motorola HS820 Bluetooth headset. Another set of batteries to recharge and iffy range (ok if you are within 3 or 4 meters of your PC). Sound quality was fine, but I felt stupid wearing it and was constantly attending to batteries. The ferrets haven't found it yet, but I suspect it would lose badly in an encounter.

What I really want is something that is telephone-like. It would be nice if it had better audio, but a corded or (better yet) cordless phone with buttons for Skype-out, the ability to change volume, not having to worry about directing sound ... etc. This sort of phone has been around for some time in the Windows world. Some of them are good and some are awful.

A few weeks ago IPEVO announced an OS X driver for their new free.1 phone. Thirty bucks seemed reasonable and mine arrived today.

The software is in beta and must run along with Skype to use the phone (it would be nice to have this integrated within the Skype program), but seems to accomplish the basic tasks.

Once it is running, you push the skype button and Skype comes up. Skypeout works well, it is isolated from normal audio - in short it is a wired phone attached to your PC. A little jog button lets you navigate you calling list without touching the computer, volume and ringing patterns can be set ... in short, pretty much what you want in a simple device.

I prefer old style large/heavy headsets - this is much more on the scale of a mobile phone. Most people will prefer that. Sound quality was OK on the few calls (PC to PC) that I made. Skyout and Skyin have quality problems and this won't fix that, but it won't hurt it either (Skype to regular telephone calls always strike me as mobile phone quality).

So if you use Skype and OS X and can deal with a usb thin cable, you probably need this. I haven't tried it, but it will probably also work with iChat calls and may be a way to deal with echo.

Comments

[jeff]

The Simple Way to Set Up VoIP on Mac OS X
December 2005

http://www.stretta.com/~matthew/resources/skype/

[steve]

a few more comments ... I've used the phone a dozen times today for computer to computer as well as skypein and skypeout. The quality is probably about the same as the bluetooth headset I have used. For computer to computer use it sounds better than a mobile phone.

I ran some tests where I played various pitches through the phone - I don't think it will do wideband telephony. At something over 3.5 KHz the sound drops off rapidly. Perhaps this is a good toy for hacking - a better microphone and speaker for wideband.

[geokker]

I'd buy an app that allowed me to use my bluetooth mobile phone headset with Skype. The joy of using Skype and phone without swapping stuff. The Free.1 seems like a leap into the past - having to hold it to your head? I get annoyed if I have to speak for more than a couple of minutes, souring my mood and offending the person I'm sniping at.

[Jess Have]

I'm have ordered the RJ11 to USB Phone Adaptor from CUPhone. Haven't received it yet, but the Skype forums have been positive about it. Best solution is one that connects to your normal phone (wireless or not).
Has anyone here tried this adaptor?

[chuck]

I just found out about this phone and it definitely looks like the better way to go then a headset. However I'd be really interested in finding out if it works with other chat apps. I recognize it likely wouldn't be full-featured, but simply as a headset replacement (ie- earphone and mic work). Personally I run Gizmo instead of Skype. The interface and built-in options are far superior I find. It's also open source...

Any info on the ipevo would be appreciated.