[Natalieb]

Hi Everyone,

Ive just been looking, in particluar at Tesco internet phones, which plug into your computer via a USB connection. Has anybody had experience of using such phones for telephoning family from NZ - UK or vise versa.

I know there are different kinds, can anybody recommend any others?

Do they work as well as using a landline or can you have difficulty getting through etc.

Might be a nice gift to buy family members when we leave.

Any advice on phones like these or any other cheap methods of communication for my parents would be much appreciated.

Natalie

[Super_BQ]

I wouldn't bother as the internet lines aren't reliable enough. If home PC users are having troubles talking on Skype or other online voice (MSN & Yahoo Messenger), there's no chance that a VoIP phone will be more reliable.

Have you ever though what happens when you have a power outtage in your house?

BQ

[R&A]

Hi Natalie,

I haven't used the phone handsets myself but I have used a headset to speak to people in NZ using skype several times which as far as I know is pretty much the same thing, also plugs into USB. The line is often not quite as clear as using a landline but I have never struggled to carry out a conversation. My OH is currently in Christchurch, I spoke to him for over an hour earlier this evening with no problems and completely free. As far as I'm concerned its definitely worth doing to be able to stay in touch with loved ones. You can pretty much make endless calls and doesn't cost a penny (between computers).

As super_Bq points out the internet connections can be unreliable in places so I wouldn't rely on this as your only phone line but in my opinion its a great way to stay in touch with family and friends.

Sorry I cannot offer any specific reccommendations, and also if I am talking about something different. :laugh

[Mal]

I have used a USB handset for Skype here a couple of times and it seems to work OK. I bought it from Dick Smith electronics here in NZ, but I believe it is exactly the same model as is for sale in Tescos. If people you know use some sort of voip already it will do you no harm to give it a try. You'll need a fairly solid broadband connection, though not necessarily super fast.

Family in the UK usually call us using http://www.telediscount.co.uk/ or similar, which costs around 2p per minute I believe. The quality is really variable, sometimes crystal, sometimes practically inaudible with a several second delay. If it's too bad we usually call people back.

We use the telecom 0161 prefix to dial international from NZ, which I think costs about 7c per minute.

[westies]

We use skype regularly, with no problems at all, and its fast, maybe where we live, but we find connection as fast as UK, been using it for 12 months, never had a problem, its so easy to use!

[highlander]

We use Skype regularly most days to talk to the UK, including PC to PC (free of charge) and Skype-Out (to real phones which costs 1.2p/min to UK). We have had no problems whatsoever and the call quality has been good/great. Using a webcam you get video too.

We are using Telecom broadband - which is OK, but nowhere near as reliable or fast as the Demon service we had in the UK (for the same price). We could of course pay more to get a (possibly) better link.

We have found the call quality over Skype is far better than what we get talking to my sister in Canada using 'real' telephones.

USB phones are available here in The Warehouse (one looks the same as our US Robotics one but with a different label). Hardware price is about the same as UK. You could also look as Dick Smith (www.dse.co.nz) for hardware.

[Croft]

We have the Tesco headset phone, as opposed to the USB phone which is more expensive. The only advantage over skype is that you get a real phone number linked to your phone which means that people can call you from regular lines on it. That would also mean if you're in NZ people in the UK would only be calling a 'local' UK phone number, and still get you.

As others have said, don't rely on it as your main phone, or at least have a mobile as a backup. Last time I used it to call NZ they could varely hear me, and I made sveral attempt to connect. I reverted to our land line in the end. Every other occasion I've used it though it has been crystal clear - much better than the land line, and os much cheaper - Tesco charge 2p/minute to NZ. Skype may be cheaper.

I'd say you have to have broadband too.

The other downside is that my parents live in Dubai and they block all IP telephony - the local state owned telephone company was losing too much money!