Linksys provided us with the first Skype phone (April 2006, page 52) in the CIT200. We liked it but lamented the necessity of tethering it to a turned-on PC in order to work. Philips’ version works in a similar way but can also be used as your regular (PSTN) phone. As such the base station needs to be plugged into a mains socket, into a phone socket and also a PC’s USB port. This can be a problem if your plug and phone sockets are already over used. Our base station was placed next to a wireless router and a hiss invaded the line, despite occupying a different wireless spectrum.

The phone can stay away from its charger for an impressive four days and its DECT communication system gives good audio quality (when there’s no interference) and a 50-odd metre wireless range.

It’s well-featured with speakerphone, Caller ID and good contact management. By pressing the Skype button you can call Skype contacts (so long as your PC is on). Ring profiles tell you whether an incoming call is Skype or PSTN.

Philips is also offering the VOIP 433 which offers a colour display and Windows Live Messenger compatibility, but this doesn’t offer landline calling like Skype. Indeed, the 321 works with Skype out and Skype in: the former lets you call global landlines for under 3c per minute while the latter lets you accept calls via your choice of phone number (which can be based in any country in the world). Our main gripe is that Skype pops up on the PC’s screen whenever a Skype call is made – which can annoy anyone using the PC. But its ease of use and PSTN compatibility make it potentially well worth the investment and frequent long distance callers could save a fortune.