On 17 Sep 2006 11:17:13 -0700, t@auzinger.org wrote:

>
>PhilT wrote:
>> Paul B wrote:
>>
>> > Why is that something that works 'out of the box' is treated with
>> > distain
>>
>> I found the audio quality to be crap, and Skype is a technological dead
>> end.
>>
>> When you've used it for a while and think "That's fine, but I want to
>> use the normal phone handset instead" you have to start again, so why
>> not start with free SIP services that work just the same as Skype
>> (software download, runs on PC using audio input/output of soundcard)
>> then later you can migrate *the same service* to different hardware and
>> greater functionality without having to start again.
>>
>> Phil
>If Skype works for you - DLink offers a USB adapter to PSTN phones. I
>had it connected to my cordless base and it worked as well as my Skype
>connection allowed it (which was unfortunately not very good, but other
>people swear by it).
But why waste money on Skype hardware? Skype is OK to play about with
on a computer but it really isn't worth spending good money on when
you can buy a SIP ATA and not have your computer switched on all the
time. The computer alone (without a monitor) costing over £5/month to
run 24/7. Further you then have a massive choice of VSPs, using SIP,
in this country and around the world.

Remove 'no_spam_' from email address.