wi fi hot spot Phone

David Morton · 27th February 2007, 05:36 PM

Has any body had any experience of these phones - the type where you don't need a computer to connect on voip (skype?), just use it in a wi-fi hot spot like in an airport or office block or cafe? Here is a link to one such:
http://www.clickshop.com/productinfo.php?pid=591
Dave M

The Baron · 28th February 2007, 10:58 AM

David, quite coincidentally, there's a 20 page supplement in the Times today (I kid you not) wholly devoted to just this technology....

I read it whilst waiting in the customer lounge having breakfast at Mercedes Winchester....I certainly couldn't afford it.
(The Times that is....)

So now I'm an expert....

David Morton · 28th February 2007, 11:17 AM

So - is it or isn't it ? The blurb sounds promising but so did the Sinclair C5.
It's only about £90 so it may be worth a try anyway.
Must get my wife to pick up a Times - free in the lounge at LHR !!!

The Baron · 28th February 2007, 11:53 AM

The tech looks OK and the idea is sound but, it's spookily like Hutchinson Telecom Rabbit phone (you remember that disaster?).

You've got to be in a certain area to use it.....and if you're at home you can use your own PC anyway with a £10 phone.

But,

Given the number of high perf wireless networks available free in the public domain now, (Just sit in any McDonalds car park and get 10 mb connection all day!) it might be worth a punt as long as your mates are hooked up as well...

I always like to wait a while to let things develop organically (actually, as a born cheapskate, if you hang on they always seem to drop in price - but I'm still hanging on for IPODS to plummet

)

Anthony · 28th February 2007, 12:25 PM

Need to be careful with hotspot access. Most of them if not all of them 'hijack' your first use of internet explorer with the vendors home page to log in with your account or choose a partner account login (like using a BT account on a t-Mobile hotspot).

Now this is fine for Web Browsing, for email only it can be a pain, have to get a browser session working first then you can use a mail client, i have this issue with my PDA in hotspots.

My point being this, with a Wifi/skype type phone, how will you be able to convince your hotspot that you can use it. You can probably set your wifi credentials on the Phone but the trouble will be trying to use these credentials on a partner hotspot, eg BT login on Tmobile.

So i suppose it will work but probably only for one vendor of hotspot, BT openzone in all MacDonalds, T mobile i think is Starbucks.....

I don't profess to know the answer but thought i would offer what i know from using them, Travel Inns are a 8itch cos they use some funny Swiss based vendor with no partner to anybody useful!!!!!!!!!

I would love to know if it works though as i do VOIP for a living.....NERD!!!!

David Morton · 28th February 2007, 08:02 PM

I've got one of the Belkin phones arriving today so I'll give it a try for a week or so and report back.

David Morton · 5th March 2007, 08:54 PM

Belkin Skype phone is OK but limitations are it takes a while to down load your skype contacts when you log into a new wifi network. Battery time seems quite good. Speech is the usual Skype quality. There is a download site that came with the phone - about 5 pages of a4 - and it's split into towns with each wifi 'declared' zone. Generally OK with some limitations.
I will take it with me on my travels and see how it performs then.

Ross Nicol · 6th March 2007, 12:06 AM

David I'm going to go wildly off topic to congratulate you for placing a photo of your esteemed self as your avatar.What a difference it makes to be able to put a face to a name. I have been recognised from mine and I believe it should be made mandatory for this forum that if you want to join you use your proper name and a photo.I find it hard to respond to a silly made up name. So how about it guys we're known as the friendly forum why don't you all come out.
Ross (flame proof) Nicol

Gary Kadrmas · 6th March 2007, 12:25 AM

Ross,

Tell us Rookies what a member needs to do to post a photo as an avatar?.....or at least point me in the right direction.

I agree with your thoughts about using real names........

David Morton · 6th March 2007, 03:23 AM

Gary,
Try 'User CP' at the top in the menu's then select 'Edit Avatar' and it opens up a window . Have a photo you want to use on your PC or accessible to it and then select it via the 'browse' window. Just follow the directions from there.
Ross, I followed your example !
Dave M

Pete McCluskey. · 6th March 2007, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ross nicol

David I'm going to go wildly off topic to congratulate you for placing a photo of your esteemed self as your avatar.What a difference it makes to be able to put a face to a name. I have been recognised from mine and I believe it should be made mandatory for this forum that if you want to join you use your proper name and a photo.I find it hard to respond to a silly made up name. So how about it guys we're known as the friendly forum why don't you all come out.
Ross (flame proof) Nicol

I totally agree Ross, there I go being nice to you again, thats at least two rounds you owe me in Pete's bar!

The Baron · 6th March 2007, 06:44 AM

It's difficult enough as it is to get people to talk to me without putting my photo up as well....

And, as for the silly name.......never trust a man called Keith.

Malcolm · 6th March 2007, 10:59 AM

Interesting thread diversion. Pete has all angles covered by sitting in his car for his avatar. However, I get more recognition from my car than my face. Clearly my car has acheived more in its life than I have! Totally agree on real names.

The Baron · 6th March 2007, 11:04 AM

I often wondered why racing drivers keep their helmets on long after it's practical so I reckon you're a bit of a shrinking violet Malcolm...

As for my picture, that's straight from HM file system....

And you can take that anyway you like....

Sorry for thread drift. Phone me on your Belkin Skype phone and we'll discuss it. There you go, back on...