SKYPE, FON and an SMC phone without a network, apart from your own wifi network. I find this a very misleading advertising.

I just read a to the point comment by Jaanus on the Skype WIFI phone package Fon wifi router. I want one of those packages, so I can really see how this performs in day to day reality. Consumer of Business it does not matter. The question to ask is what it will allow me do and not do.

When I read this below «being an normal consumer» (in fact I am a skype geek, so you can sell any skype geek item to me, that does not go for normal people), I would think that this WIFI phone can be used in any WIFI hotspots. I think that is maybe not a flagrant lie, but certainly something that will be misread by many people… Many people will be fooled into thinking that this phone will work on a wifi location where it will actually not work. Then those people will be starting to point their phone to the Sky to check for any open wifi channel. A new phenomenon is born : wifi scavengers… wifi predators… ? Even Jaanus from Skype – in his honesty –  writes something that is like a warning note on the limitation of these phones. Let’s be totally honest on this please… We are living in a day and age where there are not many fully operational wifi network for these type of phone. It will work, if you are lucky to pick open wifi. I have done a quick test with the Netgear phone earlier. I am talking facts here.

It should be made clear to consumers (skype is officially a consumer product right ?) that this solution will work probably well at home around your own wifi. The geeks will understand of course. Experience users will understand it too.

As far as I understand that phone cannot login to public wifi hotspots that need browser authentication. And I don’t think I will be calling my neighbour asking him, hey you got a FON-router too, can I have your wep key, so can make a phone-call…..  Meaning it is useless when you are on the road, unless you find the occassional open wifi. Maybe one should be reminded that using open wifi of others without their permission (except fon users then…) is stricto senso illegal… So don’t do it then.

I actually just gave back a Netgear WIFI phone and I did not even regret it. It had not use for me, not even as a consumer, so it will certainly not float far in business environments. It is a nice thing to have for sure. Maybe I should have kept it to sell or auction as a collectable it on Ebay in 2020 sth… with click to call bidding in 15 years from now with the slogan : «this is one of the first skype netgear phone, from the year 2006, the year were phones were produced without us having a global wifi network. vintage edition. original phone».

I hope when I get to test this solution in reality I find some pleasant surprises. I hope I can ammend this blog with a real life test. Very few of those gadgets don’t end up on the heap of things that used to look usefull but in fact where nothing more than an impulse buy…

related : Review: Hotspot troubles hamper Belkin's Wi-Fi Skype phone | Skype and FON offer | Skype Bundles Wi-Fi Phone and FON Wireless Router

 This bundle by Skype, SMC and FON combined is only available to U.S. and European consumers from the Skype Web store (139 euros / $159.99). Contains the SMC Wi-Fi Phone for Skype (WSKP100), FON’s wireless router “La Fonera”, 500 minutes of SkypeOut credit, and Skype Voicemail for a year. I wish I could test it…  SMC‘s Wi-Fi Phone for Skype can be used anywhere where there is an open WIFI access point. FON’s La Fonera WiFi router allows users to share bandwidth at home, and get free access to the global community of FON Access Points in exchange.

Check out the FON BOARDS, quite some interesting comments there.