Derrick
ლ(ಠ_ಠ )ლ
- Joined
- Nov 22, 2010
- Messages
- 5,085
- Reaction score
- 5
This is a beautifully simple VoIP implementation that requires minimal technical expertise to use. If used purely as a phone, it is as simple to operate as a regular phone.
It’s about time that Voice over IP (VoIP) starts hitting the mainstream. Up until now, pretty much all VoIP implementations required a PC, but standalone devices are now starting to appear on the market.
One such is iBurst’s new Webfone, which is essentially a wireless broadband modem with a built-in phone.
The unit looks like a regular desktop land-line phone. Closer examination reveals that there are a couple of extra buttons, as well as a fold-away antenna that flips up on the right-hand side.
At the rear there is, as well as the AC adapter socket, a LAN socket, so that the unit can be connected to a PC or a network, but it can be used without one if phone functionality is all you’re looking for. The antenna is a standard iBurst modem antenna, which means that it features a socket for an external antenna.
This may be required in locations with poor signal reception. Of course, connecting to a network or PC will allow the user to leverage the Webfone’s modem functionality. How you plan to use this unit will determine what sort of iBurst account you will need.
If all you want to do is to use the Webfone for phone calls, then a minimal package is recommended.
However, if you want to use it for Internet access, then you will have to sign up for a package with bandwidth suited to your needs. Frankly, buying this unit solely for use as a phone doesn’t strike us as particularly viable, but the prospect of getting the benefits of both Internet and telephony is quite appealing.
For the purposes of our review, the unit was tested in several locations. One location had an excellent signal, another had an average signal strength, while the last was in a built-up valley, largely shielded from wireless signals.
We found that the quality of service is very dependent on signal quality. When the signal is strong, calls are fairly clear, though there is a small amount of lag, attributable to network latency. However, with a weak signal, it was often still possible to access the Internet, but making calls was not possible – the call might connect, but at least one party could not hear the other.
This indicates that it is generally advisable to opt for the optional external antenna, which can be mounted on an exterior wall or in some place that falls within good signal range.
One minor, but quite off-putting problem, in my opinion, is the lack of feedback when you speak. On pretty much any handset you might use, you will hear a little voice feedback. The Webfone, however, does not feature this. This results in dead silence when no one speaks, something one might confuse for a dropped call, but this is a necessary feature with VOIP technology to ensure optimal bandwidth usage.
Overall, this is a product with great potential for anyone considering an iBurst Internet connection, and who also wants telephony complete with contact lists, dialling history and other features we have come to associate with cellphones, but at a fraction of the cost of conventional telephony.
It’s about time that Voice over IP (VoIP) starts hitting the mainstream. Up until now, pretty much all VoIP implementations required a PC, but standalone devices are now starting to appear on the market.
One such is iBurst’s new Webfone, which is essentially a wireless broadband modem with a built-in phone.
The unit looks like a regular desktop land-line phone. Closer examination reveals that there are a couple of extra buttons, as well as a fold-away antenna that flips up on the right-hand side.
At the rear there is, as well as the AC adapter socket, a LAN socket, so that the unit can be connected to a PC or a network, but it can be used without one if phone functionality is all you’re looking for. The antenna is a standard iBurst modem antenna, which means that it features a socket for an external antenna.
This may be required in locations with poor signal reception. Of course, connecting to a network or PC will allow the user to leverage the Webfone’s modem functionality. How you plan to use this unit will determine what sort of iBurst account you will need.
If all you want to do is to use the Webfone for phone calls, then a minimal package is recommended.
However, if you want to use it for Internet access, then you will have to sign up for a package with bandwidth suited to your needs. Frankly, buying this unit solely for use as a phone doesn’t strike us as particularly viable, but the prospect of getting the benefits of both Internet and telephony is quite appealing.
For the purposes of our review, the unit was tested in several locations. One location had an excellent signal, another had an average signal strength, while the last was in a built-up valley, largely shielded from wireless signals.
We found that the quality of service is very dependent on signal quality. When the signal is strong, calls are fairly clear, though there is a small amount of lag, attributable to network latency. However, with a weak signal, it was often still possible to access the Internet, but making calls was not possible – the call might connect, but at least one party could not hear the other.
This indicates that it is generally advisable to opt for the optional external antenna, which can be mounted on an exterior wall or in some place that falls within good signal range.
One minor, but quite off-putting problem, in my opinion, is the lack of feedback when you speak. On pretty much any handset you might use, you will hear a little voice feedback. The Webfone, however, does not feature this. This results in dead silence when no one speaks, something one might confuse for a dropped call, but this is a necessary feature with VOIP technology to ensure optimal bandwidth usage.
Overall, this is a product with great potential for anyone considering an iBurst Internet connection, and who also wants telephony complete with contact lists, dialling history and other features we have come to associate with cellphones, but at a fraction of the cost of conventional telephony.