Siemens Sells Skype Adapters For Wireless Phones 192
prostoalex writes "In a recent Slashdot story on Skype CEO interview some comments expressed displeasure with the fact that you have to be tied up to your computer to make those VOIP calls via Skype. Not anymore - this adapter from Siemens plugs into the USB port of the computer and allows Siemens Gigaset S645, Gigaset S440/445 or Gigaset C340/345 phone models to use the Skype connection instead of landline. News.com has the story."
This is a story? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:This is a story? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:This is a story? (Score:2)
No.. (Score:1)
Re:This is a story? (Score:4, Informative)
Currently it kicks major ass because of the echo-suppression and sound-quality.
The parent post is a troll (Score:5, Informative)
Skype uses 256-bit AES encryption [skype.com], which, if implemented properly, should be secure enough for just about anyone.
- No compression on the audio, bandwidth hog.
The speech codec used by Skype outputs a compressed stream which cannot be compressed further; try zipping an MP3 and you will see what I mean.
- Skype rhymes with hype.
How is this relevant?
The other points can be debunked by those who actually use Skype.
Re:This is a story? (Score:5, Insightful)
This one is debatable - when I call my parents over Skype and they use their Pentium 3 machine, the calls are lower quality, probably around 8 kHz, but when they use their much faster laptop, the calls are a much nicer 44 kHz. Since Skype handles most configuration itself (validating their "it just works" attitude), I can only assume it's dropping the sample rate because the slower computer can encode fast enough.
Re:This is a story? (Score:2)
Re:44kHz? You have great ears! (Score:2)
Re:44kHz? You have great ears! (Score:2)
IM through Cell phone... (Score:3, Interesting)
in the highlights seccion:
Display of Internet alerts (e.g. weather, stock market), Instant Messaging (IMS) on handset
Very nice. It would be nice if I could IM someone through a cell phone without being stuck in front of a computer.
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
- ?Add to buddy list
- ?Alert when buddy is online?
- ?You have a new IM
- ?AIM: Online
- ?AIM: Offline
I guess this function is only available on certain branded phones.
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
I was surprised when a friend of mine found out that our phones, Sony Ericsson T610, has a built in AIM client that's not enabled by default. If you open the hidden service menu (press -> * <- <- * <- *) you can see all the strings in the phone software, and there are some AIM-specific ones. A few examples:
- ?Add to buddy list
- ?Alert when buddy is online?
- ?You have a new IM
- ?AIM: Online
- ?AIM: Offline
I guess this function is only available on cer
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
Re:IM through Cell phone... (Score:2)
I have unlimited AOL IM on my Nextel for $5/mo. I think Cingular also offers the service.
Been there, done that. (Score:2)
Cool (Score:2)
Re:Cool (Score:1, Interesting)
but it gives you leverage with your true phone system
and even a "way out" if you will..
at any rate.. its not just THIS feature.. but the future ones, that do seem quite promising..
Re:Cool (Score:2)
What's the problem? (Score:5, Interesting)
The charges for long distance are apparently very low, though not eliminated, altogether. This is the only benefit I can see to strapping a headset on and sitting in front of your computer rather than walking around with a normal 2.4GHz cordless phone.
But what's the hold up? Why can't the Western countries get their technologies up to speed with Eastern countries? You can't tell me that it's a problem of "vast spaces" because this is a problem at the central switching network level, not something esoteric like bandwidth falloff.
You may think that the Asians are supreme copycats, but when it comes to technology, sometimes I wish that the West would copycat right back.
Re:What's the problem? (Score:5, Interesting)
I look across the ocean and see that Eastern countries like Japan and Korea have VoIP integrated directly into the phone network.
A bit of an over simplification, but for the most part, true. Gramma can use it without second thoughts, and it doesn't require a computer.
The charges for long distance are apparently very low, though not eliminated, altogether. This is the only benefit I can see to strapping a headset on and sitting in front of your computer rather than walking around with a normal 2.4GHz cordless phone.
A bit wrong. VoIP calls from a standard phone ARE FREE, any where in Japan, as long as the recipient is also using VoIP from the same company. If they're not, such as using a different VoIP provider, or a traditional land line, then you are charged a small (much smaller than traditional land-line to land-line calls) surcharge for the call. However, different VoIP providers (who are actually over glorified ISPs) in Japan are slowly but certainly forming alliances with each other to honor each other's "free call" offers. Either way, the great thing is that I can use my VoIP phone to call anyone else with a VoIP phone for free, or if they have a standard land line, for next to free. I can also make very cheap phone calls to my Mom in Colorado, but don't tell her that. She'll start complaining that I don't call often enough.
But what's the hold up? Why can't the Western countries get their technologies up to speed with Eastern countries?
In Japan, this has actually been a rare case. Beauracracy in Japan is the same, if not worse, than it is in the U.S., with extreme corporate favoritism. I think what happened here is that NTT, the Japante telecom semi-monopoly learned from the past. Local phone calls are not free in Japan. They still aren't. So when the internet first came around, people wouldn't use it too much, in fear of the phone bill. The users, and the gov't saw this as a really bad thing though, because the internet was seen as a way to boost the suffering Japanese economy. Good idea. So they got NTT to create a method where you sign up for a single number (your ISP, or your best friend, whatever your purpose was) and from 10:00PM to 7:00AM or something like that, you could call all you want for free. A nudge became a push, and soon we had the same system, but this time 24/7 to that specific phone number. Then came ADSL, which made this entire idea obsolete.
NTT probably saw the direction of VoIP, used a bit of hind-sight, and figured there wasn't a point in battling with it. Especially with other telecom players coming into town and slowly knawing away on the monopoly. So instead of a slow, agonizing death, NTT has decided to jump straight into the VoIP business. All phones will be VoIP in Japan, in a few years. And this includes NTT's own. They currently have a different area code just for VoIP, that starts with 050, which is used by various VoIP providers. This is really cool, because I can call a friend using VoIP, from my 3G cell phone, and vice versa, even if his computer is turned off.
You may think that the Asians are supreme copycats, but when it comes to technology, sometimes I wish that the West would copycat right back.
You have a point. The US still innovates, but not as much as they used to. Asia isn't innovating as much, but they are much more than they used to. Common brand beers in Tokyo actually taste better than anything in the U.S. such as Budweiser and Miller. (I know, there are great microbrews in the U.S., but there are in Japan too.) There is one thing, however, just one thing that I crave so bad for that I can't get over here: QUALITY TURKEY GRAVY!!!!!!!
Sir, this is no problem (Score:2)
You see, you just need to use:
http://www.qualityturkeygravy.co.jp
instead of:
http://www.qualityturkeygravy.com
Re:What's the problem? (Score:3, Interesting)
Secondly, while many Americans believe that the government is hopelessly in bed with corporate
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
US != "The West". We are a couple of contries here in little teenie weenie Europe also...
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
After a few of those any bar would be nigh impossible to climb over, especially when the bartender keeps smacking you over the head with an empty Smirnoff bottle.
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Just like Vonage's service here. You plug their box in between the cable/dsl modem, and your router. Then you plug your phone into the box. Oh, my verizon bill is like $45 with no long distance. You can get unlimited calling with Vonage for like 25.
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
Those that would have reason to really care have other ways to listen in, anyway.
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
The whole point of the whole damn story is that someone made a connector so you can use your normal cordless phone on skype's voip network wiht the "cheap Soundblaster microphone crap".
"You actually just use the phone like your normal phone and it automatically uses VoIP for all calls." --
exactly..thats just what you do here. The only difference is you have the option.
Its only 0.02 euros per minute for many major countries.
The rates for all countries are here [skype.com]
Er.. the GPO was (and is) the problem (Score:2)
transmitting something they didnt approve of. Even if they were wrong, you'd normally get said kit back mangled because they weren't the nice guys (there I did say that nicely don't you think (grins)).
S
Re:Er.. the GPO was (and is) the problem (Score:2)
I agree, you really should have used something the US folks understand. I get the "Back in the dark old days" part, but then you have something like a compound prepositional phrase, "of before JFK." To me, "of JFK" would suggest the dark old days were during his time in office, whereas "before JFK" would suggest the time leading up to that. I suppose there could be arguments that either time period was
Re:What's the problem? (Score:3, Informative)
We use the VoIP service from Time Warner Cable in NC [timewarnercable.com].
It's just a little black box plugged into a dedicated cable line and then into a p
Re:What's the problem? (Score:2)
For example, let's look at Iraq. Cell phones are going to be huge, right? Because there's no existing landline infrastructure that they're tied to. And since VoIP is superior (in
The West? What about Europe? (Score:2)
The UK are lagging behind, BT offering free calls nationally including fixed-line [bbc.co.uk] but using their crappy software and a computer mike/speaker
Phillip.
really missed the point (Score:5, Insightful)
Heck, at almost no extra cost it could even include a small router(that could be disabled), so if the customer doesn't already have a router they just plug their computer into the box rather than the other way around. This just makes sense on so many levels, where as using a USB connection through a computer (and the required software that must go along with it) is really ugly.
Re:really missed the point (Score:5, Informative)
Re:really missed the point (Score:2)
But, then again, nobody asked me.
Diversity of implementations/business models (Score:2)
data is data, hardware is hardware (Score:2)
If your point is Skype doesn't require any hardware and that matters to someone, then they stick with the PC and software solution. But if Skype is going to offer hardware, it should be a full hardware solution that takes the VoIP data and can connect to any other VoIP system. And yes, I knew there were other hardware so
Re:data is data, hardware is hardware (Score:2)
Re:really missed the point (Score:2)
The other problem is that they didn't really address the problem at all:
some comments expressed displeasure with the fact that you have to be tied up to your computer to make those VOIP calls via Skype. Not anymore - this adapter from Siemens plugs into the USB port of the computer
Call me crazy, but having to be plugged into the computer sounds pretty fucking much like being tied to the computer.
Re:really missed the point (Score:3, Informative)
I bought one, and it had a really annoying background hiss - so loud sometimes it was unusable (this is a common problem with the Sipura if you google for it). I RMA'd it, and the tech guy tried to convince me that this was the *first* faulty Sipura they'd ever heard of (yeah, right...).
They shipped me a new one. Within 48 hours smoke started coming out if it and it died. I never bothered RMAing that one - it went straight into the bin.
Has anyone here ever played... (Score:5, Interesting)
VoIP communications proliferating around the western world, phones with 3D-accelerated chipsets, desktops with 3D environments, UI's that operate via trodes on the skin, WAN's LAN's and PAN's integrating hardware, software, and wetware...
The technology is getting very cool. Now if only we can keep the politics out.
I can see a day when your ISP will link to another ISP via Wi-Max (or an equivelant tech), and another ISP, and another... creating an independant Internet not reliant on a wired and "restrained by Big Brother" infrastructure.
Your phone calls will be over VoIP through either your PC, PDA, or mobile phone. Your email will be routed through independant nodes remaining detached from governmental or multinational corporate infrastructure.
The space program will progress to the degree where many more privately owned satellites will be launched into space and create a global network that overcomes the latency and dataflow problems of satellite sheerly through it's if not anything else.
People, technically minded ones, will drive for more "personally empowering" software - mainly communications software that increases the speed, scope, and deliverable nature of all manner of data.
We will encounter a "wall" where the government tries to grasp control of this exponentially growing network, and the wall will be broken through.
These are strange days for tech. Big companies are embracing technology for the soul purpose of squeezing every dollar, pound, and euro out of it, while the public and the publically minded private enterprises are pushing for person-orientated tech.
We are looking at the beginning of a technological cold-war.
It's between you who would use the technology available to you to better your life, and those who would have you remain ignorant - eating happy sound-bites and tasting media tidbits.
Good for Siemens. I like it when companies put out useful tech. Hopefully they will produce more of this kind of technology in the future.
Re:Has anyone here ever played... (Score:2, Insightful)
Close, but no cigar. (Score:3, Interesting)
Nowadays, World+Dog has a PC with built in WiFi and Bluetooth support. Or else you buy an USB adapter at the local supermarket. Instead of using a telephone to access skype, use a Bluetooth headset like this one: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/speakers/heads
It shouldn't be too hard to program a speech-to-text interface to allow you to "call" one of your contacts by speaking the name. And if you don't want to be caught speechdialing, there must be other alternatives. You could run a small program on your cellphone to control skype while walking around the house.
The solution Siemens offered here is a nice way to cut costs on long distances calls, but not really groundbreaking. I'd like to see a company build an 'out-of-the-box' remote solution for Skype.
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
83,86 Euros for this thing?!?!
Fine, I'll keep using my Mac microphone & speakers and my iPaq (over WLAN) thanks
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
A: Bluetooth is designed for very low power use, and the transmission range will only be 10m, about 30ft. High-powered Bluetooth devices will enable ranges up to 100m (300ft). Considering the design philosophy behind Bluetooth, even the 10m range is adequate for the purposes Bluetooth is intended for. Later versions of the Bluetooth spec may allow longer ranges. (Source: http://www.mobileinfo.com/Bluetooth/FAQ.htm#t6 [mobileinfo.com]
But with battery power still limi
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
1: Cause a spiffy bluetooth headset doesn't have a keypad to dial a phone number.
2: Because the cost of a plane old phone is cheap. Hell a cordless phone [overstock.com] start under $30.00.
3: A phone isn't going to fall off your desk and get run over by your chair.
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
Re:Close, but no cigar. (Score:2)
Props to Siemens for being the first to jump on this bandwagon
They're not the first, and not even the best. http://worldcall.brinkster.net/pcphoneline/skype/v ta1000.htm [brinkster.net] not only supports Skype, but
Linux drivers ? (Score:5, Interesting)
If only there was linux drivers
Re:Linux drivers ? (Score:2)
Newbie Skype questions? (Score:5, Interesting)
It was written by them (Score:2)
"I knew it was over when I downloaded Skype," Michael Powell, chairman, Federal Communications Commission, explained. "When the inventors of KaZaA are distributing for free a little program that you can use to talk to anybody else, and the quality is fantastic, and it's free - it's over. The world will change now inevitably."
Fortune Magazine, February 16, 2004
Re:Newbie Skype questions? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Newbie Skype questions? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Newbie Skype questions? (Score:2)
Re:Newbie Skype questions? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Newbie Skype questions? (Score:2)
Don't hype Skype (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Don't hype Skype (Score:2)
Seeing as how they cannot become a de-facto standard without a willing market to support them, is the term "hijack" a little strong?
Re:Don't hype Skype (Score:3, Insightful)
The world would be far better off if everyone installed Linux on a spare computer so they could run Asterisk [asterisk.org]. You then just need to buy a bunch of hardware [digitnetworks.com], and then either spend a few hundred dollars each on WiFi phones, or spend tens of hours recabling your house.
Oh, and then you get to configure the mess, after learning all about such eccentricities as G.711, G.723.1, GSM, IAX, and SIP, SCCP, plus a whole lot of other defacto telephony standards and Ways Of Doing Things that were obviously devel
Wrong, not informative (Score:2)
If you want to call other people for free using the Internet standard SIP protocol, FWD [freeworlddialup.com] provides some free, apparently easy-to-use software to do it. If you want to call real phones, several non-shady VoIP companies offer SIP softphones, although it looks like most people who are paying for SIP service prefer to have a hardware ATA.
Re:Wrong, not informative (Score:2)
Somehow, I doubt that Vonage is likely to be very willing to support me when I can't call out from Kphone on my Gentoo machine. So I, along with the rest of the world who would rather talk on the phone instead of spend all day trying to make the bloody thing work, will either be using one of their hardware ATAs, or whatever software they supply.
It's a magic black box that just works. I'm OK with that.
But if we're do
Re:Don't hype Skype (Score:2)
Skype's business model is about vendor lockin. It's bizarre as it doesn't offer anything that the standard version doesn't. Their direct dial is quite expensive (although not unusual for VOIP - it's still *far* cheaper to use a cheap analogue dialup for overse
DECT anyone? (Score:2)
Better than this Siemens... (Score:3, Informative)
The Siemens model works only with a few handset models made by Siemens only... Pretty close I'd say.
Compatible handsets? (Score:2)
If not, where could I find a RJ-11-to-VoIP converter for my base station? The system has 2 lines, so I could convert one to VoIP and use the other as a normal land-line. Cool!
Re:Compatible handsets? (Score:2)
check out a SIPPhone Call-in-One [sipphone.com]. It appears to do a good job of combining a land line and a VoIP line onto one phone or extension cable. What sounds great - you connect your regular analog phone. To dial normally, just dial normally. To dial using VoIP, press # to switch to the VoIP line and then dial! Almost easy enough for Grandma to use!
For everyone posting "better" alternatives... (Score:4, Insightful)
(To Skype itself, not the accessory.)
It must meet these, Skype's current basic functions:
I'm very tempted to give up my cell phone over this. We have no landline phone here, either. My wife has a cell phone, just in case.
(Side note: why doesn't /. allow the cent sign (AKA option-4)?
Yet another alternative (Score:2, Informative)
Allows to do both Skype and land-line calls, implements DECT standard.
Base station intrefaces via USB to PC and RJ-11 to PSTN. Better than Siemens product in the way, that it does not require a separate DECT base station to do PSTN calls.
As well as Siemens Gigaset M34 USB , does not have drivers for anything but Windows. I don't think the drivers will be available, because unlike Siemens RTX does not have a signed partnership with Skype.
Said to be available
Advantage??? (Score:2)
In the US, most cell phones come with unlimited nights and weekends. $45/month on a national plan with Cingular/AT&T (one of many that offer the same kind of plans) will get you about 300 minutes of daytime minutes per month. And some companies are already offering free incoming calls...
Most people are either working or in school during the day, so the limited daytime
Re:Advantage??? (Score:2)
The plans you mention probably only include local calls. If you're outside your city then you get roaming costs, and if you call someone on a different city it's a long distance call, which I'm sure won't cost 2 cents a minute.
Oh and if you travel much, you can call from anywhere in the world to anywhere in the US for the same 2 cents a minute.
Plus, I bet many Skype users are outside the US. I can call any city in the US from Mexico for 2 US cents a m
Re:Advantage??? (Score:2)
The obvious question that no one's asked yet (Score:2)
USB to DECT would be better (Score:2)
DECT (digital enhanced cordless telephony) is the ETSI (european) standard for cordless phones (roughly, it describes two 64K channels (I think?), and an authentication "pairing" mechanism -- in fact, Bluetooth adopted some of the architectural features of DECT).
The great thing about DECT/GAP systems is that they are interoperable: so you buy a base station, and can pair additional handsets: even if the handsets are from another manufacturer -- it really works. In the UK, a single handset DECT handset/stat
Re:What is Skype, anyway? (Credit Card Mystery) (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What is Skype, anyway? (Credit Card Mystery) (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What is Skype, anyway? (Credit Card Mystery) (Score:5, Informative)
What does the name of the charge matter? It could have been from SkippyDoodle. If you didn't make the charge, then your card was compromised.
If you're asking for help on the topic, then I'm not surprised your card number was stolen. Cancel the card, get your money back, and get a pamphlet on credit cards before attempting to use another.
And yes, that email you got from CitiBank and Paypal to enter your information were fake.
Re:Skype is Number One! (Score:4, Insightful)
If you think you can do better, well, go for it I look forward to seeing "glomph-o-phone" take the world by storm.
But I think a better focus of your attention would be towards skype, extending it via thier API, and pressuring them into making thier core system better/more open because I don't see Skype going away any time soon. "Skype Me" is going to become the next "Google It" whether you like it or not.
Re:Skype is Number One! (Score:2)
If by mass market you mean the rest of the populace that can't be bothered to buy AV software let alone keep it up do date and just want to pick up a phone and use it without thinking too muc