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Panasonic KX-WP1050 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi Phone for skype
The Panasonic KX-WP1050 Wi-Fi is the first in a line of made for skype products to released by Panasonic over the coming months, but it is far from the first, or even the most innovative Wi-Fi Phone for skype. As with all Wi-Fi skype phones, the biggest benefit of the device is that you don’t have to be tied to your desktop in order to use the Skype service. Panasonic,though, has taken the complexity out of making Skypeâ„¢ calls by including a complete kit with the KX-WP1050 which can be set up and used by virtually anyone with little or no computer experience. The included router simplifies the set up of the Wi-Fi access point, and guarantees a secure wireless connection with automatic 256-bit AES encryption setup (WPA). The router can also be plugged into a hotel or office network giving the user a wireless connection for their laptop and the ability to use the Wi-Fi phone simultaneously. The AC adapter is compatible with all voltages from 100V to 240V, so it can be used by simply attaching the AC cord (sold separately) for a particular country.
This is something not currently offered by other Skype Wi-Fi phones and certainly makes it a bit more unique than standard offerings.
Panasonic KX-WP1050 Features and Functionality
This new model offers the range and security of WPA encrypted Wi-Fi technology, as well as Quality of Service (QoS) to improve voice quality. It features easy menu-driven operation, and a loud handset speakerphone, as well as a built-in headset jack for those long international calls. At just 0.62″ thick and weighing less than 4 ounces, the phone is convenient and easy to carry. The 730mAh Lithium-ion battery can provide up to a 55 hours standby time, and 4.5 hours talk time, and can be charged with the included travel router, or from a USB connection on a PC.
Skype features accessible by this phone include:
- Free Skype-to-Skype calling - with Skype, you can talk to any of the
more than 171 million registered Skype users over the Internet for free. - Online Presence - see at a glance which of your Skype contacts is
available for a chat, and allow others to see your status as well. - SkypeOut - an inexpensive way to call from Skype to traditional
landlines or mobiles. - SkypeIn - a premium Skype product which provides a number people can
call that users answer in Skype. - Skype Voicemail - takes your calls when you’re busy or offline.
- Skype Call Forwarding - can be set right from the Panasonic KX-WP1050 phone.
- Skype Conference Calls - the Panasonic KX-WP1050 can be added to Skype
conference calls.
Panasonic KW-WP1050 First Impressions
Overall, the Panasonic KW-WP1050 is pretty standard. It is does the same basic things that all other Skype Wi-Fi phones do. The difference maker though, has to be the travel kit that comes with the phone. The router that is included with the KW-WP1050 is definitely “thinking ahead” and certainly makes registering the Wi-Fi phone easier. At $399.99, it is definitely a bit pricey, but that is probably because of the router. If you travel, stay in hotels, and are a heavy Skype user, it might be worth the extra money to save on headaches, if not, I would looks for a more inexpensive model.
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I have been looking for a skype phone for my home. This one is great but Panasonic needs to fix a few things. First, they should sell the handset separately as an option (something like $99 or less). I have an Apple Airport Base Station and I do not need theirs. Even if I did, I still want to have multiple phones for my several skype accounts and buying the whole package several times is too expensive. They would sell thousands of handsets if they sold them separately, because this is a great phone. Second, they need to offer a charging cradle/dock. The battery life is very short and it is a hassle to have to hook up the handset to the base station or some computer through USB every other day. Third, they should upgrade the software on the phone so that you can have a list of identities and easily flip between them to check/enable your various accounts. You should also be able to set each identity individually so that no password need be reentered every time you switch to that identity. Overall, a very nice phone but be mindful of the limitations described above, especially as pertains to the charging cradle. I will be waiting for the second iteration before I buy another one. Panasonic, are you listening (there is zero possibility of customer interaction on your black box site)?
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