Philips drops another cordless Skype phone

While it's not quite as exciting as those computer-free and base station-free WiFi Skype phones that have been cropping up of late, Philips' new VoIP841 phone at least can do its thing without a computer -- and does it in style. The new phone bests its VoIP321 predecessor with a color screen and a whole lot more sexy. Of course, we expect this phone to trump the former on price as well, so you'll have to ask yourself if those pretty little notification icons are really worth the extra green. All you need to make calls with the VoIP841 is a broadband connection to hook the base into, after that the DECT protocol takes over and you can roam your house in freedom, with cute little Skype graphics to keep you company. The phone should be available for the 2006 holiday season.

[Technology Slice @ Aug 31st 2006 11:17PM]

Looks stylish but a little too chunky for my liking.

[Q @ Aug 31st 2006 11:41PM]

the first VoIP cordless I've seen that looks like they spent some time on it

[DarkFader @ Sep 1st 2006 12:55AM]

Grr... the word "drop" again.

[Billy Zane @ Sep 1st 2006 2:57AM]

The 2006 holiday season? That's right now, isn't it?

[Perrey Z. @ Sep 1st 2006 8:59AM]

Now that's sexy. A good incentive to switch from the regular land line to VoIP.

[john @ Sep 1st 2006 10:29AM]

Does it have a direct line to the bank

[teo @ Sep 1st 2006 10:42AM]

You guys are clueless and harsh. Here are the 3 OTHER cordless skpe handsets that were added in the last week, announced on this site. Get a life and do your homework before you blab through your pie hole.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/29/logitecs-lan-wsph01wh-skype-phone/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/29/logitecs-lan-wsph01wh-skype-phone/
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/30/usrobotics-announces-new-skype-base-station-handset/

[teo @ Sep 1st 2006 10:43AM]

http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/28/keyspan-cordless-voip-phone-soon-to-be-chattin-for-79/

[SLVRMUSTANG @ Sep 1st 2006 2:32PM]

Price??? i want 1 but i need to see if it is worth it yet.

[BrooklynFool @ Sep 1st 2006 10:02PM]

Nice, but with the prices of these couldnt one just buy a new or slightly used pocketPC for more functionality? I dont see any of these being successful until they drop ~$100

[Tek @ Sep 1st 2006 10:18PM]

@SLVRMUSTANG:
It might be worth it. I live in the US now and pay about $50 with my cellphone provider per month for 600 minutes and some text messaging.
If these phones cost about $300, that is roughly 6 months with my cellphone provider. If you get this beta SkypeZone business, you are spending $36 USD/year. That is $336 for your first year with Skype, which is HALF the price of many common cellphone providers. The next year, you would only pay for your Skype service, making the savings just amazing.
Downsides? 1)You need to be near a broadband internet connection. 2) This is not a replacement for a cellphone because you cannot call an emergency hotline.

I still think I'd prefer to have this in the house and on the road (with a pay-as-you-go, never-given-out-number mobile phone for 911).

[renae the gps expert @ Sep 19th 2006 5:25AM]

great looking phone, does it double as a normal phone? can you plug a normal landline it to it also?

[Tonyxu @ Nov 10th 2006 12:49AM]

Look more and more attractive,how's the price?

[Andrew Wong @ Jan 14th 2007 3:55AM]

More importantly, where can you buy one???

[docsharp01 @ Mar 31st 2008 9:57PM]

Excellent article and comments about the Skype phone.
http://www.1-satellite-tv-facts.com