D-Link DPH-120S

D-Link's DPH-120S resembles a standard landline telephone in almost every way. A corded handset attaches to a simple base unit. It's a basic unit that emphasises functionality rather than style. The phone isn't dual-mode, offering solely VoIP through either a LAN connection or a direct PC connection using one of the two available Ethernet ports on the device. The phone's features are fairly basic and include speakerphone, speed dial, phone conferencing, voicemail and basic phone book functionality.

The DPH-120S doesn't offer any form of Web-based configuration interface over the local network. Users are instead required to input their SIP account details using the phone's numeric keypad — a cumbersome process but thankfully only necessary to do once.

D-Link's 'traditional' approach to this handset can even be seen in the implementation of speed dial functionality. Whereas the majority of modern phones would rely on their LCD for listing speed dial numbers, the DPH-120S has a numbered paper slot where users are able to write down speed dial numbers. This system seems out of place on a product supposed to be at the forefront of modern telephony.

Unfortunately, the DPH-120s doesn't deliver outstanding call quality — voices are tinny and prone to interference. Call recipients reported similar problems, saying that voices were generally high-pitched and uncomfortable for long conversations. Problems worsened over speakerphone, with the phone's microphone proving too sensitive and easily picking up the respondent's voice and causing feedback.

Call quality is highly dependent on the quality of the user's SIP carrier and Internet connection. However, hardware itself also plays a part — something is easily evident when using the same SIP carrier with both Linksys' IP Phone SPA962 and Siemens' Gigaset C470IP. Although the DPH-120S does have some merit in its 'traditional' approach, it ultimately falls short of expectations.