Reviews4,313 Reviews

All Reviews > Hardware > Mobile phones

February 11, 2006

Linksys CIT200

VoIP (voice over IP) is a neat way of making free or low-cost calls via your PC. It has finally come into its own, having been floating around for a handful of years waiting for both decent-speed broadband and us punters to catch on to its charms.

There are a number of implementations: plug a suitable handset directly into your PC and chat via an instant messaging client; call up other users of a VoIP service; or use VoIP on the go via a smartphone or PDA running Microsoft's Pocket PC 2003 or later.

As well as obviating landline telco charges, VoIP has the advantage that you can take your number with you, so you don't have to pay international mobile charges and can appear to be in your office while loafing at home.

We're particularly enamoured of the Linksys handset. It's neat and compact – perfect to take with you and plug into a laptop if you're in a wi-fi hotspot or have mobile broadband.

Setup is simple – you just have to stick the installation disc in your CD-ROM tray and accept the licence terms, before plugging in the CIT200's base station. This enables you to walk around using the handset rather than being tethered within five feet of your PC by the cable. Before use you need to charge up the Linksys' two AAA batteries for 14 hours, but after that you're pretty much ready to go.

Calls between you and other Skype users – of which there are some 16 million worldwide - are free, while calls to and from mobiles and international landlines are significantly cheaper than with a fixed line. Think costs akin to those of international calling cards, or visit Skype for a detailed price breakdown.

VERDICT >
1 | 2 | NEXT >

null null

Keep up to date by adding PC Advisor Reviews to your iGoogle home page or Google Reader

What is this?

Subscribe to PC Advisor now and claim your FREE gift

Question of the day!

Does your smartphone replace your need for a laptop when on the move?

Question of the day!

Does your smartphone replace your need for a laptop when on the move?

% of PC Advisor readers agree with you

Yes
TBC
No
TBC

What tasks can your smartphone do that would have traditionally been done on a laptop?

119 characters remaining

Follow the conversation at @SmartphoneFocus

web browsing, search facilities, voip, email, word processing everything RT @Graham_D_C

Mainly email but getting better at spreadsheets etc, RT @IDGdan

Total reviews: 4,313

See product specs

expert rating

Build quality

4/5

Features

3.5/5

Value for money

4/5

Overall

4/5

expert rating

Linksys CIT200

READER REVIEWS


Google


Recent reviews

Reviews index


Latest reader reviews

Latest reader reviews


Top news

News index


Latest blog entries

Blogs index


Sponsored Content

  • Take the internet to new places with the Nokia N800
    Communicate how you want to, where you want to with instant messaging, email and internet calling. View movies, browse the internet wirelessly and watch TV on the high-resolution screen and listen through high-quality stereo speakers with headphone jack.
    Buy now