Netgear SPH101 Skype WiFi Phone unboxing and hands-on!

They first announced this way back in the misty days of January, but Netgear is finally shipping their new SPH101 Skype WiFi Phone. We were lucky enough to get our hands on one this very morning, and so far we like what we see. Connecting to a WiFi network (even a protected one) is a snap, and making calls is as easy as it is on a cellphone. Click on for some gadget porn!

[Carmine @ Sep 18th 2006 3:38PM]

Bump. Pete, can it do web-based authentication?! If it can, I'm sold.

[newsky @ Sep 18th 2006 4:14PM]

It does not have a browser so you wouldn't be able to use it for web-based authentication. I read this off of the Netgear site.

[yukiodinermobile @ Sep 18th 2006 6:28PM]

Goomba -

>> If its just for the home, you can buy home wireless WiFi phone also from Netgear. I bought mine for $80.

What's the model number for this wireless wifi phone? I couldn't spot it on Netgear's site. I'd like to find out more about it! Or a link to it?

Thanks

[markodeano @ Sep 18th 2006 2:34PM]

It looks awesome, hope its no goin to be too expensive...

[Chris @ Sep 18th 2006 2:36PM]

amazon still has it for $250

[Killah @ Sep 19th 2006 10:34AM]

Damn, this phone looks nice.
Nice re-design Engadget :)

[Chris @ Sep 18th 2006 2:35PM]

how's the call quality and batery life? is that a plain ol' brick charger? no dock? or does it charge off USB? is the power plug propriatery or would a generic car DC->DC unit work?

[Truz @ Sep 18th 2006 2:39PM]

Do people have that many people on skype that a handset like this would be useful. I guess I am just speaking for myself because I have only a few friends who use skype, and that is in part because we do a podcast over it.
Any of you guys use Skype as your main form of communication, over say a land line or a cell phone?

[elbaso @ Sep 19th 2006 8:56PM]

I use Skype a lot to call relatives overseas, specifically Europe and the Middle East.
Conversations that used to cost hundreds of dollars can now be free... It's great stuff.

[jalapeno @ Sep 18th 2006 2:50PM]

Can't wait to try this phone out!!

[B @ Sep 18th 2006 2:41PM]

It's 250 on amazon. I would consider getting one if it was cheaper.

[donely @ Sep 18th 2006 2:43PM]

does it support WPA/WPA2?

[benderillo @ Sep 18th 2006 2:43PM]

Do I see a Monopoly shortcut on that Treo? I absolutely love that game! Zanthia and Tarbrush never knew what hit them.

[m2 @ Sep 18th 2006 3:14PM]

The number of subscribers to retail voice over IP (VoIP) services rose by 83% during 2005, from 10.3 million at the beginning of 2005 to over 18.7 million. More stats on VoIP at Metrics 2.0

[forest @ Sep 18th 2006 2:47PM]

i'm assuming it works with skypeout/skypein, which would make this a viable cell phone replacement (as long as calls to Canada/US remain free)

[Jason @ Sep 18th 2006 2:51PM]

I know it does SkypeOut - it says so on their website:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/CommunicationsVoIP/Skype/SPH101.aspx

But I don't know if it does SkypeIn, which would be AWESOME. Any word guys?

[PodMonkeys @ Sep 18th 2006 2:48PM]

Truz. One reason to have this is so you don't have to leave your PC on all the time. It saves on the energy bill. It also saves on the cell phone bill if you don't have land line service, or travel around to places with WiFi alot.

I don't have a lot of friends on skype, but it'd be nice to have one of these since my cell gets no reception at home, and I don't like using headsets and don't want to be tethered to the desk.

The battery question is a good one. I'd really like to know how long a charge lasts. (talk and standby)

[disciple83 @ Sep 18th 2006 2:48PM]

I don't understand why a skype phone would be better off than a cell phone with a mobile-to-mobile plan or an "in" network. Those calls are also free, and don't use bandwidth, anyone wanna help me out here?

[aws910 @ Sep 18th 2006 7:46PM]

On Skype, to "buy" a phone number is $3.16 per month, then all calls to the US and Canada are free(for the time being). Since you'd always be on a wifi connection, you wouldn't need a "data plan". At the end of the year, I don't know how much they're gonna charge per minute but it'll probably be cheap... and the best part would be that you'd only "pay" for minutes that you actually use.

The problem that I have with this is that it's not as good as regular cellular service. On the train, we'll hit speeds of 80mph... have you ever seen one of these skype-handsets make a handoff at that speed? Then there's the issue of coverage... if you live in a metropolitan area, you're gonna be "that guy" that says "o yeah I can see 30 open networks right now" but in my city I'm not so fortunate.

So is it a cellphone-replacement? I don't think so. If a better alternative to wifi came around(better range, seamless handoffs), I think something like this could bring the end of the cellphone as we know it.

[Roman Astakhov @ Sep 19th 2006 1:16AM]

Skype is no replacement for a cell phone, that's for sure. However if you're into a transnational biz like me with frequent calls to several overseas locations, you start to appreciate your limit-free broadband plan saving you lots of bucks on those endless conversations. Ever wondered what a call from Russia to Australia might cost? - ehhhh, from a mobile-to-mobile?.. ;-)

[Kevin @ Sep 19th 2006 8:20PM]

Because even with SkypeIn it's still only $3 a month and there is no binding contract. I use Skype as my mainline at home because it's so cheap.

[Van Wyk @ Sep 18th 2006 11:28PM]

Yes it does. Remember skypein is esentially just your skype user name. There is a clever bit of manipulating done to route your skypein number at the network switch, but thats invisible to you.

This is the ultimate skype solution until somebody brings out a skype phone with a ff camera for video calls.

[Adam Jackson @ Sep 18th 2006 2:55PM]

Hey is that an Apple skin i see? Do they have themes like that for WM5 Treo 700?

[Socko @ Sep 18th 2006 2:56PM]

I have about 35 people on my skype list and this would be great for people who travel out of the country and don;t have a world phone.

[@ Sep 18th 2006 2:55PM]

I use Skype and SkypeOut extensively, as I live abroad and travel a lot. I've been using an inexpensive Ipevo USB phone at home with great success. WiFi would be even better, especially to connect at hot spots around the world. Handset price needs to come down though...

[Jeremiah Owen @ Sep 18th 2006 2:58PM]

Is it me or does it look like a dead ringer for the old SE T610?

[newswede @ Sep 18th 2006 2:59PM]

Sweet, I just looked up this phone tonight. In Sweden I'm paying 400:-SEK a month (about $55) for regular phone service. And that's just local! Crazy Swedes. So I'm sumping my landline and going with Skype full time. I already use it for calling the USA and it rocks. Now that they added webcam support for Macs I'm using it even more.

Does anyone have any other tips for using Skype as a full time phone service? (Yes I know it won't call emergency services...we have cell phones)

[Newbe @ Sep 20th 2006 8:42AM]

I've used skype "full time" for quite a while now and I must say that I dont miss the local telephone company, =Telia=, that charges a fortune each month just to have the �privilege� of having a landline. I have a skypeout number and it�s worked out great for me! Furthermore you're now able to get Stockholm numbers (as well as other numbers throughout the country).

[snark @ Sep 18th 2006 3:04PM]

disciple83,

Taxes! Do you know how much taxes are tacked on to a cellphone bill? Most of which I'm sure you're not even sure what they are. Unless you live in Vegas, taxes, especially in NYC are murder. That would probably be one good thing about Skype. Now if Wifi were really ubiquitous and you had a critical mass of people using those portable skype phones then yea, they're worth it but as of right now they haven't reach that point.

[Damien @ Sep 18th 2006 3:07PM]

For those asking about battery life, check out the specs on Netgear's website:

http://www.netgear.com/Products/CommunicationsVoIP/Skype/SPH101.aspx?detail=Specifications

In short, talk time is around 2hrs, standby is around 20hrs.

[Ben H @ Sep 18th 2006 3:24PM]

Looks very simple and almost apple-like actually. less is more.

[Lee Stanford @ Sep 18th 2006 3:15PM]

OK, I feel like a dork for asking this, but where can I find that Apple skin in use on the Treo?

[Jon Graft @ Sep 18th 2006 3:19PM]

I thought Skype was getting sued and soon to be going under?

[Anton Wilson @ Sep 18th 2006 3:41PM]

This phone won't connect to Wi-Fi hotspots that require browser-based authentication (the phone doesn't have a built-in browser).

Not sure how you're fixed for this in the States, but that rules out 99% of hostpots here in the UK, making this very much a house-phone replacement in the UK.

But possibly a pretty good one at that - I've been looking at SIP services.... any recommendations on which way to go?!?

[Ed @ Sep 18th 2006 3:41PM]

It can't... I read it on their website. No browser based authentication! That stinks... I guess VPN is also out of the question.

[Optimus Prime Time @ Sep 18th 2006 3:50PM]

Use your own cellphone and call internationally with http://www.rebtel.com instead.

[donl @ Sep 18th 2006 4:13PM]

I have a Linksys CIT 200 which works great but the one thing that was never mentioned in any of the reviews was that you can't read the numbers on the phonepad because the back lighting isn't strong enough.

[Cody @ Sep 18th 2006 4:13PM]

Since SkypeOut is basically free now (or at least till the end of the year or whatever) does that mean you could buy this and make free SkypeOut calls to non-skype users?
Or is it different because this is an acutal skype phone and is not being used from a pc?

[Nith @ Sep 18th 2006 4:21PM]

I am not sure what is so great about Skype that I would spend $250 (and I am assuming thats US$) on it. I find skype to be of awful quality and even worse reliability. I would probably wait until some new generation/upgrade of VoIP technology comes out before spending money on Gadgets. For now I will use my land line for all the calls that I need to make.

Although I must admit that when you are up at a cottage where there is no cell reception but you do have Internet, Skype is great.

[Hugh Jass @ Sep 18th 2006 4:23PM]

Word.

[bobbybilly @ Sep 18th 2006 4:24PM]

Up.

[martin @ Sep 18th 2006 4:30PM]

That looks really sweet, I wonder what would happen in Starbucks though or somewhere where you need to pay for WiFi access?

[Lou @ Sep 18th 2006 5:38PM]

RE: Web Based Authentication

Clone the wifi handset's MAC address and perform the authentication with your laptop. Declone and power up the phone. Should be as simple as that.

[drfish @ Sep 18th 2006 6:14PM]

Ditto on "Where can I find that apple skin for the Treo?"

[Simon @ Sep 18th 2006 6:31PM]

here's the smart move..... purchase a smartphone (with windows mobile as the OS) that has wi-fi capabilities (ie. the T-Mobile SDA) and install the pocket PC version of skype. Now you have a fully functional wi-fi phone and a quad-band cell phone. now THAT's a solution.

[RETO @ Sep 19th 2006 4:37AM]

well... and did you think about the available processors for compressing voice at a skype level? I tried out with Qtek 9100, a complete disaster!

Unfortunately, they "forgot" to equip the netgear with a powerful browser (like Nokia E series have, wonderful!) so that you can get into double protected (payed) wifi hotspots!

equipped that way, it would be unbeatable!

[Brad @ Sep 18th 2006 6:49PM]

so for everyone who immediately thought where do i get that apple skin for my Treo... I found it it's an app called Skinner and it's at http://www.79bmedia.com/skinner650 the Skin is called osx-panther

[rav0 @ Sep 18th 2006 8:37PM]

It looks uncannily like a Sony Ericsson T630.

[PanShop @ Sep 18th 2006 9:10PM]

is a nice gadget but for $250 20 standby hours is tooo short, i mean my cell phone goes over 200 standby hours and is way much cheaper, anyway is exelent using Skype over WiFi, 'cause now is really easy to find hotspots arround and regular cordless phones are so much bulky.

[Justin Wong @ Sep 18th 2006 8:38PM]

A skype phone? No Thanks. I'll stick to my regular cell phone thank you very much.