Product Reviews

The cheap, or even free, calls you can make with Skype make it an attractive alternative to a traditional landline, especially now that there is a growing range of handsets. US Robotics' USB Internet Speakerphone is the first hands-free device we've seen for the service.

Small enough to slip into a pocket, this round device is fairly attractive and looks like something you'd find on the table of a conference room. As with other Skype phones, it connects to your PC through USB. Due to the way Windows works, it becomes the default audio device in your PC, so all music, video and Windows sounds are played through it. Fortunately, the manual explains how to make the USB Internet Speakerphone deliver audio only when you're using Skype.

The other

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slightly annoying thing about this product is that when you first connect it, the speaker outputs all the sound picked up by the product's microphone, which creates a creepy echo. Making your first Skype call automatically fixes this problem, though. Call quality is surprisingly good. The single speaker is pretty loud and we could hear the conversation clearly from around one-and-a-half metres away.

The microphone is also pretty good and the USB Internet Speakerphone did an impressive job of cutting out background noise, leaving voices intact. However, range isn't great and sound quality diminishes quickly unless you sit directly in front of it. As there's only a single microphone on the front of the device, it's not practical for use as a conference tool. For one person in front of their PC, though, it does a good job.

The Speakerphone has only three buttons: one to mute and two to control the volume. The sound controls raise and lower the volume very quickly, though, so getting the level you want can be difficult. Finally, it has a headphone input, so you can have a private conversation, or use the device more like a traditional hands-free kit.

The Speakerphone works well for one person and produces very clear sound. However, unless you're going to do a lot of hands-free work, a standard Skype handset makes more sense.