Keep your business in touch via the cloud

Finally it's important to understand that, with this kind of hosted service, you're totally reliant on broadband for your telephony needs. However, backup provision can be made to cope with outages and if all else fails there's always the mobile

A desktop phone that lets you use Skype without a PC

Simple to set up and use ; frees you from the PC

A bit costly ; mediocre call quality ; no PSTN functionality ; no speed dials

If you use Skype, this is an easy-to-use phone ­ but it won't banish the usual limitations of Skype

Another way to make and receive Skype calls via your mobile

PBX mode ; web-based control ; external aerials supplied

Price ; external PSU ; no SMS tools

Flexible, with a good range of features, but pricey unless you use Skype a lot

Link your Skype account to a mobile phone

USB-powered ; SMS manager

Price ; awkward setup

A neat gadget if you use Skype all the time, but otherwise it's too pricey

Review: Philips VOIP841 Internet PhoneVersatile cordless phone for both Skype and landline calls

Works with both Skype and landline calls ; attractive design ; good build quality

Expensive ; lacks built-in answerphone

The Philips VOIP841 Internet Phone works well, but the lack of an answerphone is disappointing

Review: Linksys SPA942 internet phoneBusiness-quality handset for Sip-based IP telephony

Multi-line ; dual Ethernet ports ; PoE ; Sip compatibility ; extensive range of call-handling features ; secure remote setup

Complex web-based configuration interface

An affordable yet top-quality business IP phone that can be used with a variety of in-house or hosted Sip services

Slim and stylish with a 30GB hard drive, the 604 supersedes Archos' popular AV500 portable media player. It certainly looks the business;...

PC need not be on

No instant messaging ; no video ; can't be used from commercial hotspots ; expensive

Grandstream's current best-seller the GXP-2000 supports up to four Sip accounts. Four dedicated buttons with associated LED indicators allow easy selection between...

A bit over-specified for most home users

The Grandstream GXP-2000 IP phone is a good choice if you need multiple account handling flexibility and extension phone capabilities, for example, in a small business or home office

A good basic IP phone for home users

A complete, converged telephony system in a box

Supports analogue, TDM and VoIP phones ; pre-installed voicemail, auto-attendant and call-centre applications ; management

No hot-desking facility ; Sip support ; mix of management GUIs

Analogue, digital or VoIP, the BCM 50 has it all and, with built-in applications, sets a new standard for small-business telephony