Linksys CIT200

VoIP headsets with built-in mics are fairly inexpensive, starting at around $15. For real comfort, however, consider springing for the Linksys CIT200. The CIT200 frees you from the tethers of your computer and makes Skype accessible from your desk, the sofa, upstairs in the bedroom, or anywhere within a 160-foot range of the base station; the base station plugs into a free USB port on your computer. Unlike VoIP-enabled phones such as the net2phone XJ100, the CIT200 functions only when it's near a PC with the base station (and both Linksys and Skype software installed). VoIP phones generally require a contract and a monthly fee, but the CIT200 requires neither.

In a world of Motorola RAZRs, the CIT200 won't win any awards for design. It's smaller than the typical cordless landline phone, but is larger than almost any cell phone (most notably in its 1.3-inch thickness). Since the CIT200 requires the use of a base station, it's not a device you'd carry in your pocket, anyway. It's comfortable to hold, and the raised keypad with rubberized buttons is a joy to use. The phone offers many of the usual features you'd expect, such as caller ID, a hands-free jack, configurable ringtones (there's no way to add your own), and even a locator function on the base station.

We tested the CIT200 on a variety of calls, both within the Skype network and using the company's paid SkypeOut service, which makes calls to regular numbers. Those calls cost a bit less than two cents per minute in the U.S., and rates around the world are pretty reasonable (check the Skype Web site for current rates). Using the phone is very similar to making calls from a cell phone, the only difference being that you have to hold down the + key for a moment before dialing a phone number (due to Skype's European origins).

Call quality was mixed. We heard the other party loud and clear, but the sound quality itself was fairly harsh, with the balance tilted towards too much treble. From the other direction, it sounded almost as if whoever was using the CIT200 was speaking with a hand in front of their mouth. People can make out what you're saying, but there is a perceptible difference between the CIT200 and the average cell phone (many of which don't sound that stellar to begin with).

The phone's color display is a welcome addition, but it's pretty dim and low-contrast. On the plus side, you can browse the names in your Skype address book from the phone, and we were able to walk several rooms away from the base station without any drop in audio quality, including through closed doors.

The phone requires a fairly lengthy 14 hour charge time before its first use. It comes with two AAA-size NiMH batteries that are rated for five days of standby or ten hours of talk time. In our tests, however, which included about an hour of mixed calls and the rest in Standby mode, we saw approximately one full day before the batteries drained. Frequent talkers should plan on charging the CIT200 every night.

The CIT200 works well, sounds okay (if not great), and is comfortable to use. Most importantly, it moves you away from the PC and makes Skype calls around the home or office, just like a regular phone. It's considerably more expensive than a headset, but Linksys sweetens the deal by throwing in 60 free SkypeOut minutes and a month of free voicemail. If you're a heavy Skype user (or plan to be one), the CIT200 is worth a look.