Linksys iPhone CIT300 Dual-Mode Skype Phone

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Digital Cameras | PDAs | Communications

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Mark Korff
Kurtis
Linksys
Jan. 21, 2007

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Testing

So what does the CIT300 have to offer you ask? Well, depending on your phone usage, and combined with Skype, it could offer a whole lot. Let's be honest, for most of us, the free computer-to-computer Skype "calls" probably won't see that much use. I for one don't know anyone else that uses Skype, and while it would be really cool if that would change, I've long since stopped trying to convert my friends and family to something they may or may not understand even after I've gone through a lengthy explanation and shown them multiple times why it's better than what they've got right now. Anyway, the real draw here is an additional Skype service that isn't completely free, but is extremely cheap compared to the competition. The service is called SkypeOut and until the end of January 2007 it only costs $15 for an entire year of service, or $30 for a year if you sign up after January 31st. That $15/$30 buys you unlimited Skype calls to any phone number in the U.S. or Canada for a full year. Even when compared to other VoIP providers such as Vonage, that's an incredible deal, considering that unlimited calls for a year would cost approximately $360 with the Vonage service.

OK, so the CIT300 doesn't actually provide this great plan, that's all Skype, but it definitely makes Skype a lot more viable and attractive when comparing it to the competition. If we're going to compare Skype to Vonage once again for example, the Vonage service can make use of any normal landline phone. You just plug in the Vonage router to your current high speed Internet connection, and run a telephone cord from the router to your phone of choice and you're good to go. Without a Skype-enabled phone such as the CIT300 however, the Skype solution would keep you tethered to your PC which is obviously much less desirable for most conversations.

While I had never used Skype before, for the purposes of this article I created an account and signed up for the one year, SkypeOut unlimited plan for $15. Once the Skype software was installed I simply added a few contacts within Skype, picked up the CIT300 handset, pressed the Skype button, and instantly had access to my list of contacts directly from the handset.

After scrolling to one of my contacts, I pressed the Skype button a second time and after a few rings I was talking to one of my friends on his cell phone. Other than the fact that he didn't recognize my number, neither one of us noticed any difference in voice quality compared to any other phone I've called him on in the past, be it via cell or landline. Since that first call I've made numerous outbound calls with the CIT300 and I've never had anyone complain about the voice quality or even notice anything different other than the number that came up for them on caller ID.

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Impressions
Page 3: Testing
Page 4: Conclusion

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1 - Posted by Kurtis on January 24, 2007 - 4:44 pm

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