NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D)

NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D)
by Netgear

List Price: ~~$181.00~~
Our Price: $45.00
You Save: $136.00 (75%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: CE
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Customers in the UK, buy this product at amazon.co.uk for British Pounds

Digital Photo Product Details

Manufacturer: Netgear
Audio: English (Original Language)
Model: SPH200D
Product features:

Call your friends through the Internet without using a PC, for free
Make and receive traditional phone calls as well as internet calls using the same phone
DECT Cordless technology is ideal for long range and clear voice quality
Call ordinary phones worldwide for pennies per minute and no monthly fees
Supports up to 4 handsets per household (additional handsets sold separately)

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D)

Customer Review: You can save $100's
Summary: 5 Stars

I just got rid of my landline service and using this Skype service should pay for the purchase of the Netgear handset in about 5 months.
Here is what my situation was:
Paying for a "measured service" line through Qwest. This allowed for up to 180 minutes per month for only $9.95, however the caller ID feature added an additional $7.95 and after all taxes were said & done my minimum bill was around $25.99 (Hmm $9.95 plus $7.95... that should be less than $18... Oh wait the taxes!!! (What a rip)
I also had a Virgin Mobile phone, where I have an older service, so was paying $0.25 for first ten minutes per day then $0.10 per minute after. I had this set up so I only feed $5 per month into the phone - $15 every 90 days - Obviously I am not a big cell phone user. (Of course if the money runs dry, I had to re-feed with a $20 top-up.)
Also I am not from US originally, so I call the UK to chat with the folks, hence Skype was something I already used for a great rate of $0.021 per minute.
Now recently I have (upgraded) changed my phone services so that....
Dropped the Qwest service saving at least $25.99 month
Realized that the Virgin Phone allows you to earn FREE minutes - up to about 75 per month (71 just using the internet) - using their Sugar Mama service. You watch up to 5 minutes of ads per day & they give your 5 free minutes of phone time. (Really you just click on the ad to start then you go do something else for a minute i.e. check your e-mail - rinse & repeat 5 times.) Do this for about 15 days of the month and get free airtime.
Signed up for the Skype subscription for unlimited calls in the US. The subscription only cost $2.95 per month, plus they gave me a Euro's worth of calling, which worked out to a credit of $1.53 - This of course means that in my case, they just gave me 70+ minutes of calls to my folks in the UK. Sweet!! (I hope I get this every month)
Subscribed to the Skype phone number, so people can call me directly on Skype, or.... here's the really great thing..... Skype will forward the call to my cell phone after it attempts to connect using the Skype number, so now I can just give out my Skype number and if people don't reach me there, i.e. I'm out of the house, the call will come to my cell. Due to the fact that I was part of the subscription service, the Skype phone number only costs $24 for a full year.
So previously my monthly charge, at best, would be the $25.99 from Qwest, plus the $5 from Virgin, which in effect wouldn't give me much more that 200 minutes per month, based on using 1 minute per day for 20 days on Virgin. (Of course for a little web time per day for about 15 days you can get 70+ minutes free)
Today I spent $99 for the Netgear phone and my new monthly charges will be:
$2.95 per month for unlimited calls in the US (including approx credit of $1.53 per month (70 + mins) towards call my family/friends in the UK. Hopefully I get this credit every month!)
$2 per month for the Skype phone number that people can call me on and will forward to my cell.
$5 per month (based on $15 per 90 days) towards my Virgin Cell Phone. Plus with a little work earning 70+ minutes of free calls per month.
Sooo a total of $9.95 per month, provided that my cell use/calling the UK doesn't exceed it's limits. This means I'm saving at a minimum $21 per month. In 5 months time the new Netgear handset will be paid for!!! Then I'm gonna save $252 per year!!!! Thank you Skype!!!!!!
I also like that it takes AAA batteries - Or do I? I started using it today without charging up the batteries that came with it, just put in two new ones. I do notice that it seemed to use them up pretty quick, but maybe that cuz I was messing around with it soo much. But it is nice to think, that if the unit can keep working for a few years, I won't have to worry about trying to locate a special battery for it.
So far the communications have been real good - No dropped calls - Sound quality pretty good. Not choppy in speech. I guess I should reserve judgement until I've been using it a while, but the anticipated savings make me want to post this, so that you all can see how much you can save. I was already using a budget version of the regular phone line, so some of you stand to save even more than me!
Setup was sooo easy. Had it up and running before I could finish my Subway sandwich! Haven't even made use of the handset cradle - as mentioned - just inserted two regular (non rechargable) AAA batteries in it and was making calls within minutes
OK drawbacks - I did notice that it kinda sucked for Contacts - I may not know how to do this, - but to have to "scroll" through your list as opposed to maybe creating a list of frequently used numbers versus the ones I maybe call once a month?? I ended up deleting a bunch of my contacts and just saving their numbers in Excel to avoid seeing them.
Picky Picky, but why is the minimum backlight a minute - I would prefer a few seconds to preserve battery life
I have noticed (already) that the touch tones for use with automated systems doesn't work well (it often/mainly doesn't work at all). But I guess I'm willing to go back and use a headset and Laptop if I need to make that kind of call. Not a biggie (for me).
I probably would have continued to use Skype via the internet with a headset, but my wife had no interest in this. This is the real reason why this was necessary for our house, however, I can see how much easier this will be to use, what with the ability to wander around the house and not have to wait for the laptop to power up/have headset plugged in etc. maybe I'm just becoming lazy!!!

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Description of NETGEAR Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D)

NETGEAR?s Dual-mode Cordless Phone with Skype (SPH200D) combines your cordless phone and Skype calls, all in one. Just connect the base station to your phone line and router and start making calls---no PC required. Simply plug the Dual-mode Cordless Phone Base Station into your Internet router (Ethernet port) to enjoy making Skype calls. Additionally, you can plug the base station into your phone line (PSTN) wall jack to make land line calls---from the same cordless phone. Up to 3 additional phones can be added---so you can replace your current cordless phones throughout your home with NETGEAR?s Dual-mode Cordless Phone with Skype. The SPH200D delivers crystal clear voice quality and longer range with DECT technology--Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications

Amazon.com Product Description Your internet connection can easily become a phone line, allowing you to make free, or very cheap, calls worldwide. The Netgear SPH-200D Cordless Phone with Skype takes all the hassle out of the process. You don't need to install any software, or even turn on your PC. All you have to do is plug the

Place Skype handsets all over your home for total wireless freedom, no matter how you choose to connect. View larger.

The SPH-200D lets you make and receive calls in three different ways. Learn more.

The handset comes with a base station that enables traditional land line calling. A charging cradle is included, too.

An easy, user-friendly interface makes calling a snap.

Cordless Base Station into your internet router and start using Skype's worldwide internet phone service to talk to your friends and relations wherever they may roam. And if that's not enough, the SPH-200D also replaces your land line phone. Just plug the base station into any active phone jack and it becomes a traditional cordless phone as well.

Three Phones in One
There are three ways to use the SPH-200D. For no cost at all you can make Skype-to-Skype calls anywhere in the world. Skype software is pre-loaded on the phone, so you can start calling any other Skype users at their computers or at similar Skype phones right out of the box. An intuitive on-screen menu lets you see which Skype friends are online and available to call. Push a button and you're making a free domestic or international call.

Your second option costs only pennies per minute and includes no monthly fees. With SkypeOut you buy phone time in advance, then use the internet to make calls to cell or land line phones all over the world. You can also get a SkypeIn account for a small fee, which gives you an internet phone number, allowing friends to call you from any phone, anywhere, anytime. With the SPH-200D you can do all of this without fooling with software or plugging headsets into your PC. It's all there in the palm of your hand.

And of course the SPH-200D is also a traditional cordless phone. With the latest cordless technology, DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), the handset delivers incredible range, clear voice quality, and a full menu of digital features. You can even add up to three additional handsets, which allows you to replace all the old-fashioned phones in your home with one that truly belongs in the 21st century.

What's in the Box
Cordless phone with Skype, rechargeable battery, cordless base station, power adapters for the charging cradle and base station, setup guide, and warranty card.

For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited

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