Gadgets Blog » Telephones

The countdown to Mother’s Day is imminent, which means that it’s a great time to start shopping for something that shows how much you appreciate your mom. While standbys like chocolate and flowers are excellent, I’ve decided to buck the traditional here on the Smarter Gadget blog and find some truly unique gifts for Mom that are useful to boot! In this regard, other Internet resources have been a bit shaky. One even recommended the Roomba Robotic Vacuum Cleaner, which while a nice idea, certainly doesn’t fit into something my own mom would appreciate! So instead, today’s gadget is something that will let her stay in better contact with family and friends: the Belkin Skype WiFi Phone!

Unlike ordinary telephones, which operate either via landlines or cell towers, a WiFi phone, as could easily be surmised, uses wireless Internet to make it’s telephone calls. While this may initially seem to limit the capabilities of such a device, in reality it provides a quickly-growing and less expensive alternative to other telephones. The Belkin Skype phone employs a program called Skype, enabling the user to place calls to anyone else with a Skype account on either a computer or another Skype-enabled phone. Instead of having a phone number, the user is able to call other people with a Skype account. This entire process is done over the Internet entirely free of charge, making it a great investment!

While the number of Wi-Fi only phones on the market is currently small, Skype has emerged as a leader in the field, enabling countless users to make free calls online. In addition to calls made to computers, apps are quickly becoming available on the iPhone and Android phones to increase the number of users. While it might take a bit of a learning curve for Mom, the result is a great deal! The Belkin phone is activated entirely separate from a computer, but her account will cross-over as well. On the computer version of Skype, it’s possible to video chat with spectacular clarity. I’ve personally used Skype to keep in touch with loved ones from across the country. It’s a great Mother’s Day present, especially if Mom is somewhere far away. What better gift than one that makes it easier for her to hear your voice and see your face?