Key criteria for this review are:

• Ease of installation
• Ease of accessing either PSTN or Skype
• Access to Skype features, especially the Skype client
• Ability to run other audio programs (Windows Media Player, iTunes, SlingBox, etc.) while on a Skype call
• Duplication of standard telephone user interface features
  • telephone keypad, dialtone access

The Package comprises:

• the TeleVoIP Stick module (pictured below)
• a 12 VAC Power Supply,
• two audio cables;
• a telephone cord (RJ-11 connector to the Nortel M9417) and
• a CD-ROM with the TeleVoIP Stick software.

Other requirements:

• Installation of the Skype client on a Windows XP PC
• A broadband Internet connection
• A telephone handset that supports DTMF
• A working PSTN line for making standard telephone calls.

Installation is a five-step process:

• Insert the TeleVoIP Stick into the PSTN telephone line using the existing line cord and the supplied telephone cord
• (Remove any existing connection to the headphone/speaker jacks on the PC)
• Connect the TeleVoIP Stick to the headphone/speaker jacks on the PC using the two supplied audio cables
• Connect the headset or mic/speaker combination into the MicOut and SpeakerOut jacks on the TeleVoIP Stick
• Attach the power supply
• Install the TeleVoIP Stick software from the CD-ROM.

The software installation results in a client which sets up speed dial numbers, Call Forwarding and a Settings tab for parameters associated with the user's local calling environment.

Note that, while this setup appears to be physically at the Skype PC location, the actual TeleVoIP Stick hardware can be placed at the PSTN demarcation point in your house or home office. As a result any phone set beyond the demarcation point can work as a "PSTN" phone set for the TeleVoIP Stick installation. In this way as many phone sets as can be powered by the PSTN phone line can use Skype or SkypeOut from a single Skype installation. More on this aspect of TeleVoIP Stick later.

Setup:

Upon completion of the TeleVoIP software installation you will find a new Multi-Link "IP Voice Interface" icon in your System Tray. Right click on it and select Options:

• Restore brings up the TeleVoIP Stick client
• "Toggle PSTN-Skype Bridge" toggles the Call Forwarding feature (described below) On/Off.
• [There is also a Skype Forwarding tab but this feature is now overidden by Skype 2.x's inherent Skype forwarding capability.]

On the client's Call Fowarding tab the user can forward PSTN-originated calls to either a PSTN number or a Skype User. This is a feature that allows someone calling your PSTN phone number to reach you anywhere in the world where you have access to a Skype client whether on your own laptop at a WiFi Hotspot, on a Windows Mobile device or using a U3-enabled Smart Drive in an Internet café/

On the client's Settings Tab the user can:

• Set the number of digits used in local calls (for instance, the Toronto area requires ten digit dialing to access the four "local" area codes)
• Set the emergency number (default is 911)
• Set any digits required to get an outside line from a PBX
• Set a code for accessing all Skype functions using the PSTN phone set as the default audio device (default is 00)
• Set a land line access code (to access the PSTN line for making long distance calls on the user's PSTN plan; default is *9).

You are now ready to start using your PSTN phone handset to make calls on both your PSTN service and Skype.

Operation:

• To call a regular (local) PSTN number pick up the phone and dial in the normal manner (7- or 10-digits, as appropriate); the call will go out over your PSTN line.
• To call 911, pick up the phone and dial 911.
• To dial a North American long distance number, dial 1 plus the ten digit number; the call will automatically go out over SkypeOut. At least until the end of 2006 SkypeOut credits are not needed.
• To call a phone outside North America dial "00" + country code + local number (removing the leading "0" from any area code). For example to call someone on a land line in London, UK dial 004420-nnnn-nnnn. (SkypeOut credits required.)
• To call someone on your Speed Dial list, dial the speed dial number plus "#", such as 24#. To create a conference call with multiple parties who are set up on your Speed Dial, dial nn*nn*nn*nn# where nn is a speed dial number.
• To use the phone set as the speaker/mic for traditional Skype calls, pick up the phone set, dial 00 and then click on the appropriate Skype icon to launch a call (either in the Skype client or via one of the Skype Toolbars).
• On receiving Skype calls, pick up the handset and start talking (or use the headset or speaker/mic combination).
• On receiving PSTN-originated calls, one answers in the normal manner.
• During a call, whether outbound via Skype or SkypeOut or inbound from Skype, there is a button in the TeleVoIP Stick client that allows you to switch between the phone set as the audio device or any speaker/mic/ headset that is connected to the Skype hosting PC during the call.

Comments:

• The TeleVoIP Stick incorporates the ability to transmit the PSTN power appropriately when connected to multiple phone sets at the demarcation point;.
• It also transmits appropriate ringing codes such that when a Skype call comes in all phones in the home and/or home office ring.
• Only if a phone set is located at the PC can one take advantage of operations requiring the use of Skype services such as File Transfer and Chat or access the Skype Toolbars.

Positioning:

• TeleVoIP Stick is ideally suited for setting up the traditional home phone system to be able to
  • take advantage of the reduced cost of SkypeOut calls from any phone set in the home/office
  • accept Skype calls at any phone in the home/office.
  • send Skype calls out to the Internet to be picked up at a remote Skype client
• TeleVoIP Stick provides a familiar telephone touchtone keypad and handset user interface to Skype that does not tie up additional desktop real estate.
• As the TeleVoIP Stick involves incorporation into the home telephone infrastructure, it is best suited for connection to Skype via a desktop PC permanently located in the home.

Conclusions:

• Pros:
  • A device that merges PSTN phone line requirements with access to Skype/SkypeOut calling features
  • Maintains access to 911 and alarm services
  • Forward incoming PSTN calls to anywhere in the world where you have access to a Skype client.
  • Keep the same phone number available for receiving calls.
  • Takes up minimal additional desktop real estate to access Skype calling features via a traditional keypad interface.
  • Relatively simple five-step installation
  • No drivers to install (uses the host PC's sound card)
  • Delivers very high quality audio
• Cons:
  • Only those Skype Contacts who are entered into TeleVoIP Stick's Speed Dial tab can be called from phones located away from the Skype hosting PC.
  • TeleVoIP Stick provides a proxy dialtone on the PSTN phone that is different from the standard dialtone to identify that one is using a Skype-connected phone service. However, the proxy dialtone sound file should be selectable from a set of sound files. I think many would find the dialtone I heard to be objectionable.
  • While you can continue to listen to audio-enabled applications, such as Windows Media Player ("WMP") and SlingBox, while on a Skype call, you would probably want to mute the player's audio while talking on the call. An "auto-mute" feature would be helpful.

In summary, TeleVoIP Stick uses Skype as a PC-based complement to your home/home office phone system that allows you to reduce costs by both directing long distance calls to SkypeOut and by accepting Skype calls at any home/home office phone set. For the road warrior user, the TeleVoIP Stick allows callers to your PSTN phone to reach you wherever you may have Skype access on the Internet. For a phone set located at the Skype hosting PC, TeleVoIP Stick offers additional capabilities such as File Transfer, Presence and Chat without changing your legacy phone number and without disrupting access to essential services such as 911 and alarm systems.

Disclosure: Skype Journal would like to acknowledge the assistance of Multi-Link, Inc. in supporting our travel expenses to attend last month's eBay Developers Conference and eBay Live.

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