Skype and PPC / Windows Mobile
 

Ok, I've resisted the whole pocket-pc thing all along, but I've become a frequent Skype user and although I travel with a small and thin laptop, there are times that I don't want to take a laptop at all and would like a portable device.

I purchased the Belkin Skype Wi-Fi phone from Amazon, and while it is basically good (overpriced I think, but good), the one drag that it has is that you can't use it at any hotspot that requires you to log in to the web site, even if it is just a "click here" via a browser to get your access.

If I wanted to pick up a PPC type device that would be a little dedicated Skype-box, what do you guys recommend? I guess all I need is something that can do WiFi well, have good/great battery life, and run Skype like a total champ.

...and some naive questions: on my laptop I use a Plantronics wireless USB headset - can the pocket-pc (windows mobile?) devices handle USB in any way for a headset? How about something to plug my camera's SD card in just so I can back up pictures?

I know some of you guys live and breathe these pocket devices. I have an iPaq 6315 that work gave me a while ago that is sitting in a box somewhere, but I don't think this is in the current generation of zippy devices, so I'm willing to buy.

I'm not really interested in using one for a cell phone replacement, like a Treo or something, I already have a Blackberry that I'm perfectly happy with for work email and a Moto phone for cell, so this device would be really just a dedicated (if slightly expensive) Skype box.

I think you get my desire, if you have some completely different advice, I'm open to that, too.

Thanks to any and all advice!

--Doug

One of the Dell x51's - preferably the 600Mhz one if you just want a PDA.

Otherwise one of the new HTC pdas, like the Imate Jasjam if you want a PDA/Phone.

Headsets usually use a 2.5mm connector, or you can use a bluetooth headset / headphones.

The 6315 would probably work fine for Skype, as long as the cpu isn't too slow. Give it a go.

Actually I just read that the 6315 has a OMAP 1510 168MHz processor, which is probably too slow for Skype. But it can't hurt to try it.

I want to say that I remember reading about Skype (or another VoIP provider) getting a phone that could log in to hotspots, so you may want to keep searching.

Otherwise you need a pretty fast PDA for Skype. My Axim X51v works pretty well, but Skype really slows it down. Other issues related to your questions: Axims don't do USB. If you want a headset you can get a regular one that plugs into the headphone jack (with a cheap adapter), or you can get a bluetooth one.

The Axim will take your SD card, but they don't have much built-in memory, so you wouldn't be able to backup very many pictures. So far, I've found no good way of sending/receiving files from the Axim over WiFi (to back up your pictures to a third location), but there's probably a way.

Bottom line, though, I think buying a PDA just for Skype seems a little excessive.

MDA Vario running the new beta 2.2 for slower CPUs works fine.
Invest in a webhost and FTP stuff from your Axim. Dreamhost is pretty dependable. I can give you some discount codes (~$50/yr or less for 200GB storage; pretty handy to have just in general while travelling and for backups. While you're at it, you can setup your own email account [take that, 2.8GB Gmail!]); PM if interested.
Compared to buying a Wi-Fi Skype phone, it can be a bargain; an SDA currently runs about $160. That's actually less than NETGEAR or Belkin phones.

May not directly answer your question but I use a IPAQ 4700 PDA with bluetooth and WIFI and use Skype Mobile. My headset is a BT Moto HS850

Thanks for all the help - after reading on here I picked up a Dell x50v from a local seller, an institutional guy that seemed to get them in bulk for about $290 new-in-box with warranty, which seemed in-line with what the going price was on eBay.

I installed the new Skype v2.2 on it and updated the Bluetooth so I could use a regular Moto HS-850 bluetooth headset. The bluetooth headset works "ok", but I have a basic bud wired one from the old iPaq that that works fantastic and the incoming voice is plenty loud and outgoing seems clear.

I'm returning the Netgear Skype phone that I bought from Amazon for $180, which takes the sting out of the $290, and the new Axim seems a lot more reliable the the older T-Mobile iPaq that I had. I'm not going to use it too much, but for international travel it seems like the hot setup for Skype usage in WiFi areas when you don't want to hork around the laptop.

I wonder when the new iPhone comes out from Apple, which is supposed to have WiFi in it, if Skype will come out with a version for it - that would save me the cell phone and iPod that I bring along.

Again, thanks for the help from you guys, I'm happy with the solution I've picked up!

--Doug

Sadly, from just a cursory scan, my Treo 750 doesn't seem to support/be suported by skype yet.

Probably never will. 300MHz CPU isn't fast enough for Skype.

The Nokia E61 is a great device for Skype, using www.fring.com . The Bluetooth headset works fine...

:p

Nokia Schmokia :p

"Supported" in Skype-land is more like "these are the handful of phones we've bothered to test it on" rather than "this is an extensive list of hardware it works on." ;)

I've been using Skype on my 750 just fine. The only requirements are:

1) Make sure you've got solid 3G coverage (and a data plan of course)
2) Make sure you're using a wired headset (else the voice comes out of the speakerphone)

Point 2 is common to Skype on all PPC phones, it's an issue on the Skype side of things.

Only downside to Skype is that it is a bit of a battery hog, but if you're only using it when you need it that shouldn't be an issue.

Just grab the latest PPC (not smartphone) beta and go to town.


Skype running on my Treo 750 says it is. ;)

I too used it in Mexico just a week ago on a Treo 750 - I used it all with WiFi at a hotel for several days, with a wired headset. Worked fairly well.

I also have a Dell 51v Axim, which I think worked better (used them back and forth), but the 750 certainly worked "good enough" with Skype, I could have been fine with it and nothing else.

Wired headset is a requirement, I just used the cheap "bud" kind that came with it, but they worked well.

Try this First.
 

Surf over to Boingo.com and take a look at their free API for the Belkin phone. They want you to buy their $7.88 a month hotspot service, but I think the program will work without Boingo and will give you Belkin phone a sniffer.

http://mobile.boingo.com/support/sup...evices.php#wm5

I use this set up as well. My HTC was not fast enough to handle Skype. All calls sounded like a robot on delay. Fring works pretty well as a solution for Symbian devices, since Skype is still not willing to put out a Symbian version.