Thomson Speedtouch 716(g)

Connectors and combined modems and routers are becoming ever more commonplace for internet telephony (sometimes referred to as voice over IP, or VoIP).

The Thomson Speedtouch is the first product we've seen that takes the logical step of including both in one box.

In addition to being a single box for connecting all the computers in your house (with or without wires) and connecting the whole lot to your ADSL line, you can even plug in a normal home phone and enjoy cheap or free calls over the internet.

Log on to the configuration web page and you can set up your ADSL connection and adjust the wireless security settings. This is also where you enter the details for your internet telephony account (supplied by Thomson's partner VoipTalk).

You need to sign up for this on the VoipTalk website using the supplied voucher that includes £2 of call credit.

Call quality is as good as a normal phone. Calls to users of VoipTalk and some other internet telephony providers are free - details of which are on the VoipTalk site - while national landline calls and calls to the US cost 1.6p a minute and calls to most mobiles cost 16.5p per minute.

You cannot, however, make 999 calls using this service, so it will not replace your home phone. It could help slash the bill, though.

Added:  Monday, October 31, 2005
Reviewer:  Personal Computer Wo
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Related web link:  Speedtouch
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Language: eng