Product Reviews

You don't need to know anything about the NetPhone KE1020A. Not how it works, as it's no different to a regular phone. Not how you set it up, because you just plug it in and go. Not how much it costs to run, as your first batch of calls are thrown in for free.

However, don't go away just yet, because there are things you should know. The first is that it connects to your broadband router, not your phone jack, and routes calls over the Internet. Swapping circuit switching for packet switching, this Mac mini-sized handset will be a boon for anyone who makes frequent overseas calls, as Paris, France; Paris, Texas; and Paris, Yukon will each cost just a penny a minute. The trouble is, so will calling the UK. Compare the cost of a one-hour weekend call to your neighbour on this device (60p) with the same on BT (5.5p at its most expensive) and the scales tip in favour of better-known brands.

It could well be BT's contract prices that force your hand in the long run, though. For that 5.5p call, you'll also have to pay £10.50 a month for your line, which could well end up lying idle. You'll still have to pay this to use VoIP, as you need a BT line to support your ADSL connection, but by hooking up a VoIP phone such as the NetPhone, you get yourself a second line free of charge, so can spend the £10.50 monthly saving on more than 1000 minutes of calls.

When you unbox the phone, you'll find it's set up to use the Mamakall network, but as we already had an account with another provider we were quickly able to access the internal web server and tweak the default settings to switch providers. It's at this point that the phone becomes more appealing, as it's one of the most attractive units we have had in our hands so far. The buttons have a comfortable travel, the footprint is much smaller than something you'd have bought a year ago, and the screen is easy to read. In its default state, it displays your VoIP number and the balance left in your Mamakall account (it comes bundled with £1.05). Of course, if you change your settings and switch providers that balance readout will

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Call quality is likely to vary depending on the traffic on your network and the Internet in general, but it performed admirably in our tests and the signal was indistinguishable from that which you would hear on a regular line. The built-in phonebook is a welcome addition and the well-thought-out keyboard is quick to learn, giving you access to menus so clear they rival a Nokia mobile. Volume controls can be easily used without looking at the buttons. Around the back, there's a pass-through LAN port, which is a nice touch, as it means you can put this device between an ADSL modem and a Mac without the extra expense of a router.

There are caveats, though. The first is that in its virgin state this phone doesn't include an incoming number, so unless you can convince your less technologically enlightened friends to buy matching kit or dial what amounts to an automated switchboard into which they'll then punch your subscriber number, you'll miss out on the invites and gossip. This will be rectified in the near future, but only if you're prepared to cough up an extra £5 a month to rent a line. When you consider that Sipgate can match Mamakall point-for-point on call charges and throws in a numbered line free of charge, the incentive to crack the phone's ridiculously simple four-digit password and switch providers is all but irresistible.

Your next consideration should be safety. Regular phones are powered by a small current fed from your local exchange. VoIP phones, though, rely on a separate power plug, so will pack up in a power cut. Likewise, if your web connection goes down, you won't be able to call your ISP to complain because... well, your phone relies on that faulty ISP just as much as your browser.

Finally, depending on who you sign up with, you may not have access to the 999 (or 112) emergency services, so you'll want to back up any VoIP phone with a regular phone line - which rather defeats the object - or keep a fully charged mobile at hand.

Those last two issues are common to all VoIP phones, though, and shouldn't be held against the NetPhone KE1020A. Its price tag is £20 too heavy, though, and for that it misses out on a five- or even four-mouse rating. Even so, we'd be willing to overlook this if our own cash was at stake. It is, by far, the best VoIP phone we've tested, and existing VoIP users with entry-level handsets should consider this as a serious upgrade path. As it comes pre-configured, it's an equally friendly choice for the first-time user, but if you fall into this latter group, do consider carefully whether IP telephony will really deliver the cost savings it promises. Everyone's case is different.