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ZyXel P-2000W VoIP WLAN Phone Reviewed
prostoalex writes "MSNBC reviews ZyXel's P-2000W, a VoIP-over-WLAN phone that supports 802.11b and 802.11g. Gary Krakow tests the $200 phone with a VoIP account from T-Glo (his phone came pre-programmed with that). Looks like a pretty decent solution for anyone who's on the go, but has consistent access to Wi-Fi networks: 'I took the phone with me to a number of friends' homes and tried it there. All I had to do is ask the phone to find nearby networks and join them. It was even able to find others' WiFi networks as I walked though Manhattan (no, I didn't try connecting).'"
It's not expensive with the right mind-set.
Observe:
(I kind of hope this doesn't get moded up very much, or else a lot of people will start screwing the system like I do...)
Here's my trick, get an unlimited incoming call plan from your mobile company, and an asterisk box with VOIP (From my employer in my case). To make outbound calls on the mobile, call the asterisk box from your phone and hang up. Have it generate a call to you after you hang up and present you with an IVR (Voice Menu) where you can dial out. There you have free outbound calling using your VOIP minutes with the luxury of an unlimited incoming mobile phone plan.
All of your long distance will be billed at VOIP rates and not those huge GSM rates.
How's that for making use of both the internet and the phone company's cell phone towers?
-Jesse
According to a user on Vonage Forum, Vonage has requested that Zyxel not provide assistance to owners seeking to use this phone with Vonage's SoftPhone service.
See Vonage restricting use of ZyXEL P2000
This is probably because of Vonage's investment in the competing product from UTStarcom.
Not about this phone in particular, or even Wi-Fi SIP phones in general, but rather about SIP phones in general: I don't see a lot of discussion or concern about the possibility of someone cloning my SIP phone's identity, making lots of international calls, and running up my {Vonage, Packet8, whatever} bill. Given that I have seen no VoIP provider that will bill (like a landline provider) for service, but instead they all insist on tying the VoIP account to a credit card, this could turn into a nightmare. How could I prove that it wasn't me (or my authorized agent) in AfghaniKazakistan making all those calls to this cute chick in LowerSwampozia? Has this never happened? I can imagine a company like Vonage sweeping it under the rug at first (i.e., cancelling the bill) to avoid bad publicity for VoIP, but it seems like it's gonna bite somebody someday. Or am I just a paranoid anonymous coward?