Doro 225ipc USB Broadband Telephone

The DORO 225IPC is a budget VoIP phone aimed at first time users. It offers pretty good value for money and includes 10 selectable ring tones, caller ID, a blue backlit LCD display and the ability to browse through your Skype contacts.

The phone is a slim, corded VoIP handset and comes in a variety of colours. DORO has attempted to make the phone look stylish and although it's always a matter of personal taste, we think the 225IPC looks pretty ordinary. Our review unit was finished in a matte black plastic and its well designed shape means it cups comfortably in your hand. The phone is fairly long but its slim form ensures talking for long periods doesn't pose a problem.

The 225IPC features a fairly standard arrangement of buttons - a keypad, answer and end call keys, up and down buttons and dedicated keys for contacts and clear. Our main complaint is with the keypad, as the buttons are very thin and don't feel particularly sturdy. Their rubber finish also means they require a pretty firm press to activate.

The LCD display is quite bland and although the backlight is bright, the quality of displayed text is poor. The unit is as easy to use as a normal telephone, with the up and down menu keys used to scroll through Skype tabs and contacts.

The phone connects to your PC via a standard USB connection and the cord is long enough to ensure you can sit at least a metre or two away. The 225IPC is pretty compact overall, so it can easily be thrown into a laptop bag or briefcase for traveling if you have access to mobile broadband.

Setup is simple and requires you to install the software which is included on a disk in the sales package. The 225IPC is Skype certified, but its advantage is that it will work with most VoIP applications - and is compatible with multiple operating systems including Mac OS X.

Where the 225IPC impresses most is call quality, with crisp and clear voice for both parties. Volume at its highest setting was more than adequate in a noisy environment. DORO claims the handset uses echo and noise cancellation to provide quality voice calls and we were significantly impressed with these features. All up, a solid phone for the VoIP enthusiast.