This telephone is a distaster.
It would just not work. Yes I can access my Skype contact list from the telephone and make a Skype call but no sound comes or goes through the phone. It goes via the computer’s speakers and mike ! Useless. Have uninstalled and reinstalled the software many times to no avail. What is worse is that the VOIP321 does NOT appear on the Windows sound control panel. I also have a big question mark in front of the phone in the material list and a problem identified as “driver missing”. Reinstalling the older veriosn of the driver (3.5.0 available from the website whereas 3.7.0 is on the installation CD) does not solve the problem. After spending a long time on the Philips support line at a prohibitive cost talking to someone who knows nothing bout the product, the situation is the same. The Philips support quality is appaling. I have now a Skype phone that only works as a landline phone and no clue how to solve the problem.

Hi,

Since the phone is accessing your Skype contacts, it appears that the software installation functioned... you might want to check couple of things...

1) Make sure under Tools - Options - Sound Devices that you have selected the proper devices for audio in/audio out
2) Make sure under Tools - Options - Privacy - Manage programs that you have the software accessible by Skype

My suggestion would be to use the latest software. We mention this issue in our review:

http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/r-skype-vo...ps-voip321.html

As you will read, we still think that the DualPhone by RTX is king of the dualphones.

Hope that helps!

Which you even never tested and had posted wrong info about it on your info site about this phone!

I have tried all these but it simlply doesn't work.

Sound devices: VOIP321 does not appear on the list to chose from and I believe this is the problem.

Privacy: Skype access is allowed.

Driver is 3.7.0

When checking hardware in Windows Control panel VOIP appears with an error message. The systems suggest to reinstall the driver but it does not work.

Actually, we have tested the phone and used it daily for over a year -- just have not had a review posted as there are many already available.

You are correct, we did have an error in features on the site and it is being corrected.

Thanks for pointing it out.

No problem, you are welcome!

Thanks for explaining!

Why some people alway hard sell DualPhone?

Not sure what you mean by 'hard sell'... but until new technology like WiFi comes out here in the States or even the next Dualphone embedded unit, the RTX DualPhone simply is the best premium solution.

And I would confidently and easily say the RTX model is the best 'dualphone' on the market...

Personally, I currently have the Linksys CIT200 on my desk, as I do not need the dual part of a phone and our company uses Panasonic desktop phones through the PBX.

If you saw someone having issues (as reported by others) with the Philips Dualphone... and they needed a dualphone, which model would you recommend?

"Best" is a subjective term. For me, the "best" model of something is something that provides all the functionality I need, and does it reasonably well, at a price that's agreeable.

The RTX dualphone is no longer the "best" for me as I require a speakerphone or call conferencing function. Hence my desire to replace them with a different model.

Fully agree.

I have not seen the spec sheet for upcoming embedded release, but would hope they have the features you are looking for as well.

Did you get a chance to test teh Philips phone?

Not yet. I am waiting for stock to arrive in the UK at a reasonable price.

All this exchange of views is interesting but can someone come up with a solution to my problem ?

From what I understood you already got the answer to your problem. There is no solution

Hey this is crazy.
I have the same phone with the same problem & was looking at this forum for possible answers.
Are you trying to say that Philips have released a product that just plain doesn't work?
Rubbish.
There must be a common fault here with the install or something.

Yes the phone accesses the contacts, yes the phone rings when a Skype call comes in, but there is no sound and both windows & skype do not list VOIP321 as an audio device. The hardware manager shows that the device has a driver problem. When you reboot the PC the hardware wizard tries to load a driver but can't find one, even if you point it at the installation cd. I have unistalled & re-installed and still have the problem.

I am sorry but I don't accept that there is no solution.

Regards
Keith

Well:




I cannot say anything more, I do not even have this phone. But from what I understood.

Hi Keith,

Here is a quick test... normally USB phones push the drivers from firmware... so that even if you don't install the additional software, the product should work as a headset/mic.

Because you are not seeing the phone listed within Skype (audio in/audio out) it means that the phone did not successfully push the driver from firmware. Your first test will be to try the phone on another computer. If the drivers are installed (meaning, you see the phone within Skype's audio choices), then you have a problem with your computer, not the phone.

Please try to install the phone on another ocmputer and then we can take the next steps to help you out...

Note: I currently have the Philips VoIP321 on my desk for additional testing... our inital testing was, well, not good... but we hope software updates will work the bugs out.

I have loaded the v.3.7.0 driver and Skype 2.5.0.141
As I understand these are the latest.

Cheers

I just picked up the VOIP3212 (twin-pack) locally today. I will be testing them for a few days or so then will start a thread with my thoughts and a comparison between the Philips and RTX dual phones.

did you get it working. I have not had any problem as long as I use the cd supplied drivers - which are the same ones on the philips website. However, if I upgrade to the latest version of skype it stops working. This is a pain because everytime you boot the pc hangs up with a screen asking if you want to install the latest version of skype. Other than that the phone works great in both regular and pc mode.

I installed just letting the cd program do its thing. If you look in the skpe settings the sound and mic must be tagged to the voip321 not your sound card.

Hope this helps - if you solve the current skype version let me know

In this case - as it does not work in the current latest version of Skype it could be a bug in Skype, so please report this bug in the Jira database for bugs.
please check whether this bug has already been reported in database: https://developer.skype.com/jira/

If not please report it., you need to create an account using your skype account details.
Thanks!

I'm not having a problem, even with the latest version of Skype. I just installed the VOIP321 driver from the CD, the Skype installer from the CD (v2.5.126) overwrote the installed, later version (v2.5.141), then I just updated Skype back to v2.5.141 using the Check for Update option in the Help menu.

No problems so far.

I have a different problem! On a machine running XP with a number of different users, and using the supplied drivers. When installed, my computer speakers are disabled....but only in some accounts. In the accounts where sound is OK, the volume control in Accessories/entertainment default to my sound card. In the other accounts, the VIOP 321 is selected; even if I then re-select my sound card, this selection is not accepted...I go out of accessories, then back in, and the VOIP321 is show as the selected option again (for playback & record).

When I deinstall, everything is OK.

The phone works OK on PSTN..I haven't even got round to trying it on Skype.

Dear all,
after an initial ok period, now the driver file crashes when launching.
The base is correctly initialized, but during the "searching for skype", everythings stops, the loading window remains opened and I have to close manually the process.
I tried to reinstall both the philips driver and skype but no good news.
What kind of conflict could be ??
Thanks
Matteo

I use a laptop with dual boot, 2 versions of XP, one fully loaded and the voip123 driver does not work and the other very simple and with the exact same hardware there the Philips phone does work perfect! So the problem must have to do with some driver conflict in the loaded setup, but I have no clue what's the problem.
Anyhow I have one setup that works and I use the phone in combination with a SIP box and voipbuster connected to the router. That way I use the Phillips phone for Skype, voipbuster and the landline too. With the computer off I can still make/receive internet calls over the SIP box on my voipbuster account. I really like this setup with this phone.

Hi there,

the problem can also occure if the sound volume of the voip321 audio device is set to low. Just adjust this throught the volume control-> options-> settings and select the philips voip321 device fisrt. After that just adjust the sound volume. It will probably work. (even with skype 3.0.0.190).

Kalimera to everyone!I'm really not sure why i post a reply here but i was really tired to read the topic from the begining to the end,and only PROBLEMS to everyone!iam from crete(greece)and i couldn't find the phone here so after coming back from one trip to Hungary i bought it from there!I just turn the language into English i install it and EVERYTHING works PERFECT!As skype phone and landline phone without any but any problems!I wish i could help you because this phone really change my skype calls!
Sorry for my big post!Merry Cristmass to everyone

Thanks for the advice. Sorry it's been a while since I last posted here, been rather busy & lent my phone to a friend to try out.
I did install it on another PC, all went OK. It also installed OK on my friends PC.
So problem appears to be with my laptop.
I noticed when I installed it on my other PC it installed as a Human Interface Device, but on the laptop it shows up as another device, albeit with a yellow question mark next to it. If I try a manual install & select Human Interface Device from the list of hardware it then searches the CD for a suitable driver but can't find one.
I notice on the CD that there is no '.inf' that is normally found on an install CD.
Do I have a bad CD or does the install do it via it's own means & not follow normal practice?

Your advice would be appreciated as I currently have a useless phone that I can't install.

Cheers
Keith

Recently the "Contacts unavailable" error message appeared on the Philips VOIP321 phone.

The phone was bought in November, and has worked properly intermittently.

I had checked that USB is plugged in to pc and latest skype is running on pc.
Tried restarting pc and also unplugging phone usb and reinserting - no joy.

Contacted Philips by e-mail, whose suggestion is that I uninstall the latest version of Skype and use the version provided in their Installation CD.

Question:

What sort of a company offers a product without updating the software to run it to take account of updates in the software for the product for which it is sold?

Answer: - seems to be: Philips.

Is Philips doing anything about it?

Is Skype doing anything about warning people off products claiming to be skype-compatible which are arrested in time to obsolete versions of Skype's product?

Is there anyone in the usergroup with a workable fix to this issue, which does not involve going backwards on Skype's software offering?

I am only guessing here... but it seems that the latest release of Skype has some changes that has affect many hardware developers...

If that is the case, you really can't blame Philips -- instead, it is more of the relationship Skype has with hardware manufacturers.

Maybe someone should start a thread called 'Hardware that have issues with latest Skype...'

hmmm....

No, in that case they have to be reported in jira with logfiles,then things can be fixed!

It would be great if Skype could fix all the issues, but the fact is that Skype is not going to rewrite the software for each manufacturer...

Issues that we are seeing with B2Ks are not the same as the Philips321... each manufacturer's software that interfaces with Skype will need to be checked and possibly updated...

The fact that many hardware is Skype certificated proves that Skpye woks together with them to fix issues.
So they ALL SHOULD be reported as bugs

Agreed. Hence trying to start a one-shop thread.

Precisely the same grief - thing was there were a number of Windows auto updates this week -but yep, contacts unavailable -have uninstalled, reinstalled from disc and still got grief.

This is not happy happy joy joy.

Anyone got a solution besides throwing the phone onto the road and going back to a headset?

Dear phildemeyer, I have exactly the same issue, were you able to solve it? how? I have Windows XP, I can see the contacts in the Phone, but no sound, tried reinstalling the drivers etc etc, but the Phone option does not appears in SKYPE.

THANKS!




Did you make it work? I have the same issue

In case anyone is still interested. I've solved the problem with the Philips VOIP 321 phone not working as a mic and Headphone device. On a PC using XP it wouldnt work..., I installed the Philips on a laptop and wouldnt you know it, it worked perfectly first time - this is with the default versions of Skype and the VOIP software from the supplied CD. I then loaded up Astra 32 program (www.astra32.com) to locate all the .inf files installed by the Philips (this was on the laptop). I found one file that was installed on the lappie but not on the PC - wdma_us.inf. I copied this file and installed it onto the PC (which didnt have the inf file). I installed it to c:\windows\inf\ directory. The philips installed three files, this was the only file it didnt have.
After reconnected the Philips to the PC, the PC found the Philips immediately and loaded all the necessary files. I havent upgraded SKYPE or the Philips software as yet. At any rate, it works perfectly, so its a case of " it aint broke dont fix it" just at the moment

if you now tell us what happens after upgrading Skype it would probably awesome for those who are interested (having followed this thread despite not owning it).

I have the same problem I have tried everything I go to this forum to search a awnser and then I see this toppic, I hope anybody can help me and the other people who have this problem

edit -
The problem is over windows says new hardware found I follow the steps and now it works

Best regards Jaydogg

Hey, still got a problem with Voip321.

On my notebook with Vista Business, sigmatel audio, the newest drivers from philips an the newest skype version, my Philips Voip 3211s/21 doesn't work. On another notebook it worked perfectly!!
Vista wants to install usb audio drivers but it can't finish the installion and I got an error message. The phone isn't recognised in Windows (yellow, unknown), doesn't appears in Skype or audio management. The Voip321 drivers aren't recognised as drivers for the phone.

Where could be the bug!? For me its unbelievable that Philips neither Skype could'nt solve the problem which exists since 2 years....

Please help me.

I have had nothing but trouble with this phone. I can answer SkypeIn calls fine but can not make any calls out through Skype using this phone only calls using my landline. Audio is set for mic & speakers to Philips VOIP321. I'm using latest Skype for Windows 3.8.0.144 & Latest Phone driver V3.8.3.