IP Democracy: Mossberg: Skype's New Rev Could Propel It Into the Mainstream

Influential Wall Street Journal personal tech columnist Walt Mossberg has been testing Skype’s new revision, Skype 2.0, along with some nifty sounding handsets designed to help Skype work just like a regular phone. His verdict:

Despite some flaws, this new combination of hardware and software generally worked well, and I believe it stands a chance of propelling Skype into the mainstream.

The new version features video-calling, among other upgrades, and will be accompanied by a Skype campaign to get microphones onto the desks of computer users, a strangely rare occurence, particularly in the U.S.

Mossberg waxed most enthusiastically regarding a new Linksys phone, the CIT200, which sells for $100 and works just like a cordless phone. Users plug the phone into a wireless base station and then can use either free Skype or modestly priced premium Skype Out anywhere in the range of the router.

I tested the phone by calling both Skype users and non-Skype users, and it worked great everywhere in and around my home — upstairs, downstairs, even outside in the yard.

Update: Skype Journal also has a glowing review here. And the official press release is here.

Posted by Cynthia Brumfield on November 30, 2005 10:32 PM to IP Democracy