Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Skype With Your Cell Phone

Posted by Zonk on from the nice-change-of-pace dept.

Praxiteles writes "Seen on Gizmodo, apparently a USB device called 'imFONE' allows you to use your existing cellphone as a VoIP phone From the article:"You simply plug this thing into your PC's USB port, pair it via Bluetooth to your phone, and you're ready to go...It currently works with imtel and Skype..." No extra contact management and caller ID works properly."

11 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Re:This is pointless... by }InFuZeD{ · · Score: 3, Informative

    You aren't using your cell phone minutes. You're connecting via BlueTooth to your computer/laptop and using it's WiFi connection to place calls.

  2. Re:Stupid by PornMaster · · Score: 3, Informative

    Except you're likely to get considerably better audio quality with your laptop and a headset. Hell, if you could connect the cell phone via USB cable directly to the laptop at least you wouldn't have to kill your cell phone battery.

    --
    500GB of disk, 5TB of transfer, $5.95/mo
  3. Re:Stupid by mikejz84 · · Score: 3, Informative

    So for portable communications I need the following 1) A Wifi Laptop 2) This USB adapter thingy 3) A bluetooth phone Total cost: Over $1,000 Making a call 1) Find a hot spot 2) Sit down, boot up laptop 3) connect to Skype 4) go though laptop case, find bluetooth adapter 5) attach to laptop, load up whatever software you need 6) Take out your cell phone, go to a few menus to connect to your computer 7) Make your call Point: Sometimes i pays not to be so cheap and just get a better cell phone plain or learn how to talk and get to the point.

  4. samsung i730 and skype for pocket pc by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have a samsung i730 smartphone with Verizon's EVDO broadband internet access on it. Recently installed the pocket pc version of skype on it and now I can call the whole world for almost free of charge. Works fabulous and it has already cut down my phone bills by a good measure.

  5. So why use your phone as a headset? by spo0ner · · Score: 2, Informative

    If this requires a bluetooth enabled phone then you would (or should) already have a bluetooth enabled headset. If I have a headset that does not require me to be connected to my phone (see: tethered cord) then why not just use a bluetooth dongle and my headset for my PC anyways?

    Some may say that the battery is longer on your phone than a headset but my Jabra has some pretty good talk time http://www.jabra.com/JabraCMS/NA/EN/MainMenu/Produ cts/WirelessHeadsets/JabraBT250v/JabraBT250v

    Now what would be nice is to be able to place bluetooth access points throughout the house so you don't have to worry about the 30ft (not counting dense walls) limitation.

    Nitch product with no nitch market.

  6. Skype client for Symbian (et al.) in the works by Stack_13 · · Score: 2, Informative
    There should be a native Skype client for the Linux, Symbian and Windows Mobile based smartphones before the end of 2005, since Skype co-founder and CEO Niklas Zennstrom made an announcement in the Voice On the Net (VON) conference held in April 2005 in Toronto.

    Furthermore, Skype uses technology from the Global IP Sound, which announced availability of their VoiceEngine Mobile platform for the Symbian.

    So it should be here Soon(TM)

    1. Re:Skype client for Symbian (et al.) in the works by Tony+Hoyle · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's interesting.. google talk is based on Global IP Sound too...

    2. Re:Skype client for Symbian (et al.) in the works by pmsr · · Score: 2, Informative
      So is the Voipbuster client and plenty of others. Global IP Sound will be the winner of the Voip wars, whatever happens in the end.

      /Pedro

  7. Re:Stupid by cpu_fusion · · Score: 2, Informative

    You might be surprised to discover that most cell phone plans allow you to add an additional cell phone for around 5 bucks.

    So you could get the lowest minute rate plan, say $60 a month, add a phone for $5, and have unlimited VOIP calling.

    I'm not saying that is ethical, just possible. And that you're incorrect in equating that cost to be twice the normal cost.

  8. Re:Stupid by lakeland · · Score: 2, Informative

    there is one out already! Good specs, nice looking. Pretty much everything you want in a cell-phone.

    NEC makes it, the N91 or something, I forget the model number.

    It won't be sold outside Japan.

  9. Buetooth Headset plus Dongle by Essef · · Score: 2, Informative

    A bluetooth headset plus a bluetooth USB dongle for your PC achieves the same thing. I'm using this setup at the moment to use "Wireless Skype".

    -----
    People are just like Animals. Some live
    in the wild, some live in the Zoo
          - Chen Wen Ping
    -----