Every industry has its own never-ending list of buzzwords, and the telecom sector is no different. Voice over Internet Protocol, or simply VoIP, is the hottest topic in communications right now. Sure, the technology sounds complicated, but the fundamentals are easy enough: convert analog telephone conversations into digital media streams for transport across a network, which is commonly the Internet. The benefits are enormous for both consumers and corporations, as the Internet has remained largely unregulated, unlike the traditional telecom services.

Whole series of articles and research papers have been published just on the regulatory aspect of VoIP, but that is far outside the scope of the average consumer. People are attracted to VoIP mainly due to cost savings, with many VoIP services offering phone access for a fraction of landline services, or even free when connecting two systems directly over the Internet. For this reason, companies like Skype and Vonage have experienced near overnight success, and the growth factor is tremendous as more consumers are realizing the potential benefits of VoIP technologies.

While there are no doubt many positives associated with VoIP, there is one consistent negative afflicting most providers: the computer. The earliest users of VoIP commonly relied upon microphone headsets connected to personal computers running a VoIP application. Sadly the situation has not improved much, though a few companies are beginning to offer proprietary systems based upon rather expensive standalone devices. Yet, for everyone else, the recent advent of computer-hosted gateway devices provides a viable alternative, though limitations still remain.

In a search for an affordable solution, we recently ran across a nifty device from Actiontec in the form of the Internet Phone Wizard with Skype. As the name suggests, this device is specifically tailored to work with the popular Skype VoIP service. The IPWS essentially provides a digital bridge between an analog telephone and a computer’s USB bus.

Marketing Hype

Making Internet phone calls is free and easy, but it is just too cumbersome to wear strange headsets and sit in front of your computer to talk. This is just the problem the Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard solves. Instead of being restricted to unwieldy headsets or small microphones in front of the computer, now you can make Internet calls from anywhere with a cordless or regular phone. You’ll still be using the Skype service and an Internet connection for these calls, the only difference is that everything will be channeled through the phone instead of the computer speakers. Additionally, these Internet calls come with superior sound quality and convenience. They sound as good as regular calls with the Internet Phone Wizard’s echo-cancellation technology and excellent voice quality. The calls are also easy to make, with a speed-dial feature that lets you call your friends by tapping only a couple of keys on your phone.

Why Skype?

Skype is a popular choice among the laundry list of VoIP services because it provides free in-network calling, meaning calls routed over the Internet between two systems incur no cost. Considering the vast majority of American families have computers, Skype represents a cost effective alternative to traditional phone services when communicating over great distances, especially for otherwise costly international calls. Skype also offers the ability to interface with traditional phone networks for outgoing calls, with rates starting around $0.02 per minute – certainly cheaper than long-distance providers like Sprint and AT&T.

Internet Phone Wizard with Skype

The Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard with Skype resembles a small external modem, and for the most part, the underlying principal of converting analog sounds to digital data is roughly the same. The IWPS is a USB device, thus a host computer is still required. Fortunately no external DC power adapter is required, as the IWPS draws current directly from the computer’s USB bus.

At the heart of the IWPS hardware is the AOX SE401 USB Video Imager Controller. Yes, we said video controller, though the chipset is equally adept at handling sound processing when paired with a digital audio codec. If you are into technical specifications, the SE401 is built atop a 16-bit processor with a proprietary compression engine, and it is most commonly found in entry-level webcams.

Despite having a hardware controller, the IWPS is nothing but a useless box without the bundled software. After installation, the included utility auto loads during Windows boot and works alongside the standard Skype client. If the client is not loaded for whatever reason, the IWPS routine will launch it before connecting an outgoing call. Useful, but on the downside, the dial delay needs to be increased in such a situation, as the application often tries to dial before Skype is completely loaded. Those with Skype continuously loaded in the background will not be affected by this issue.

Dialing out works in much the same way as the typical Skype client connection. Speed-dial is supported, though only for in-network calls. Call waiting is available, plus the IWPS will ring back if you accidentally forget someone is on hold when ending a call. Calls using the Skype-Out network also require the same annoying 00 or 001 prefix, though this is a limitation of the Skype software, not the Actiontec IWPS.

An important feature of the IWPS is its ability to switch your phone over to a standard line when the computer is turned off. While far from innovative, it is a helpful option for those not leaving their computers on 24 hours per day. Overall, anyone used to the Skype network will have no trouble using the IWPS device.

In regards to sound quality, the IWPS is subject to the frequency limitations imposed by analog phones. There is a marginal loss of fidelity, but nothing surprising given the nature of the technology. The sound level is more than adequate, plus settings can be tweaked as desired since the IWPS installs as a standard Windows audio device. If you can communicate over an analog phone line, then you can communicate over the IWPS. It is doubtful anyone is using Skype to stream high quality audio, as more efficient content delivery methods are readily available.

Final Thoughts

The Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard with Skype affords one the ability to bypass the clumsy and awkward microphone headset, especially for less tech savvy people that feel better acquainted to using a traditional telephone. For the enthusiasts out there, the IWPS offers the ability to cut the wires by allowing one to interface Skype through a cordless phone, thus delivering improved portability, even though the reliance on a host computer remains firmly in place.

On the downside is the price. The IPWS will set you back about $60 from most online retailers, and Actiontec is certainly not the only manufacturer cashing in on the VoIP craze. Expect prices to drop as competition heats up. Cost concerns aside, if you are a dedicated fan of Skype and are seeking a simple telephone interface, then the Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard with Skype delivers a convenient solution with a simple software interface and minimal overhead.

Pros: Convenient for VoIP Works as advertised Simple installation Cons: Niche market item Marginal price

Overall Rating: 8.5/10 (higher is better) Manufacturer Info: Company:   Actiontec Pricing:      ~ $60.00