As I’m rather enamored with my cheap cheap grandfathered unlimited data service, I’m not interested in switching to another operator, so I’ve been investigating some options. I haven’t had a land line since 2001, when I went completely mobile. I’m not interested in paying the high taxes and fees for traditional copper telephone service, so I started looking into my Voice-over-IP (VoIP) options.

I used Gizmo project for a while, and liked that I could configure it on my mobile phones (Nokia N95, E70, E61i) to use that line while I was in the house or anywhere that had WiFi I could use. The N and E-series devices from Nokia support WPA so it hasn’t been a real issue in all honesty. But I was looking around for WiFi SIP phones to use with the big VoIP providers and they all sucked. I’m not interested in re-wiring a loft apartment to accommodate a SIP TA and buying new phones for the place, since I haven’t had an actual telephone in quite a while. So I started looking at the other options out there, and since I know people that use Skype, I figured I’d give them a closer look.

Most people know that Skype lets you make free calls from person to person using a computer. It even does video conferencing, which is really nice, especially since it’s cross platform, meaning I’m not limited to iChat AV users. But with the ability to put some money in my Skype account, and make calls outside the Skype service to regular ol’ POTS lines (just like Gizmoproject) and get myself local incoming phone numbers for area codes, countries, and what-have-you, as well as redirect those calls to other numbers easily while also getting the ability to make free Skype-to-Skype calls and even have my own outdial to call from my mobile at Skype rates, and I was well on my way to being pushed into that direction.

The real kicker though was that there was such a brilliant option for connecting to it all without using a computer.

The Philips VOIP8411B/37 DECT phone, for example.

Most of the WiFi phones out there are either very expensive, or complete trash. Most of them are both. I was almost set on getting the Linksys WIP 300 because it is pretty inexpensive, but review after review pushed me away. I wanted to like this handset a lot, because I could use it with my Gizmoproject/SIPPHONE line(s), or use another VoIP provider like VoicePulse or Lingo. Those providers allow you to connect from your VoIP gear to the rest of the phones in the world. They broker those connections and provide a lot of other services.

But I’m not interested in hooking a bunch of phones in my household up. I just need a line that rings at the house, lets me call family for cheap (or free if they use Skype on their own), and has very low international rates as well. Some people in my family will be interested to know that you can call Oman for $ 0.185. This is something that Skype does very well. Skype does some other neat stuff too: not only can you easily use it on your computer for calls and video calls, but you can also use it as a messenger, and as a presence tool. You can let your contacts see when you’re available, so you’ll know if it’s a good time to call. The Philips phone I bought also ties into that and uses the same features.

So I plugged in the Philips and configured it for my Skype account (IM or email me if you want the username we’re using) and it was instantly online and pulled my contacts from Skype, populating the phonebook on the phone. It’s cordless so I can walk around and it has very high voice quality and range. I’m delighted.

In addition, it also can plug directly into your traditional phone wiring, letting you use it for calls locally on your main number, but easily letting you do free skype-to-skype or Skype-out calls to non-Skype users at reduced rates. This is perfect for calling overseas or even cross country instead of using traditional long distance services.

So far I’m really pleased with it. I gave myself a local 401 area code number, but apparently Skype doesn’t support outbound Caller ID yet, so when I call people it shows up as “Unavailable”, which is kind of a problem since I usually don’t bother to answer calls without it and I assume most people don’t. But one of the nice things about having that line is that people can call that number (or Skype account for Skype-to-Skype users) if they want to reach either Liz or myself. Our mobile phones are all ours, but the Skype line is for either of us. And if you’re a Skype user, you can even see when someone is around, or if we’re available. Which ends the entire “is this a good time to talk,” conversation before it starts.

While I’d probably rather have a WiFi SIP phone that I can take with me, the DECT phone I got is a wonderful device that will be a good cross-over device for people interested in VoIP technology without wanting to fully commit to it. Skype’s services are quite good, and having a real phone to marry it to makes it that much more viable. I can’t imagine making all of my phone calls while sitting at a computer and wearing a headset. It would drive me nuts! So if that has been a big problem for you as well, consider the options such as the Philips.

There are WiFi options for Skype users as well, but they all look like junk. The reviews are mixed of course, but the Philips is head and shoulders above them all in terms of look and feel, not to mention ease of use.

Maybe things will change when better WiFi phones come out, but until then, I’m more than happy with the Skype service I’m getting. Plus, I got to pick a phone number that ends in “ZOMG”, so I’ve got that going for me, which is nice.

Together we can fight these salty interlopers.

Took the scoot out for a few errands around the East Side, tail end feels a bit sloppy and will check it out later. It will probably be something I can’t figure out, so I’ll have to take it in to JavaSpeed and catch up with my slackass scooterati.

Brian Jepson’s Weblog : Providence Geek Dinner-Wednesday February 28:

The Providence Geek Dinner is back at AS220 (115 Empire Street, Providence, RI) on Wednesday, February 28, 2007. The fun starts at 5:30pm. I hope to see you there. See the Providence Geeks blog for details and RSVP.

Yeah, I should start going to these.

Current version of the document is Draft 6. It will hopefully be finalized with some assistance from you, the reader, or as we fine-tune the scores and add new events, eventually it will be reasonably complete.

The rules are simple, and examples are given. This can be used not only while watching the Season Six yawn-fest, but by going back and re-watching previous, excellent, seasons of 24.

I tried sprays. I tried all manner of remedies to get rid of them. They hang out in the basement and come up through the floors like prehistoric killers sent to murder me in my sleep. They scurry out from under the sofa, they run up the walls—they are evil scary critters, and they give me the creeps.

But I did some reading and I came up with a solution to my creepy centipede problem.

I don’t know exactly where I was reading about this, but apparently people that have problems with insects in their garden use diatomaceous earth to control insects. As I was reading, the more sense it made.

I did some hunting (thanks to Froogle) and found a lot of people selling food-grade diatomaceous earth. The reason I grabbed the food-grade stuff is simple. I didn’t want my cat to decide to eat any and have it hurt her. Apparently if a pet eats some of this stuff it can’t hurt them and in fact would kill any parasites they may have.

Diatomaceous earth feels like powder, but apparently is more like billions and billions of sharp-edged centipede killing particles, which slice and dice the little buggers and they die horrible deaths. It would seem that they lose all of their precious bodily fluids and live out the rest of their miserable lives in horrible pain. Which is fine be me. I hope they get this crap stuck on them and drag it back to their friends.

I filled a pepper shaker with the stuff and shook it along the walls of the apartment, where any obvious holes are from the radiator pipes, behind the toilet and under the sinks, and even took a mug and shook it around the edge of the house.

Since then I’ve seen only two. And I gotta tell ya, they didn’t look too good. One of them haphazardly scurried into range of my shoe, and another didn’t even try to run. It froze. Looking up at me with those pathetic disgusting centipede eyes and practically begged me to put it down. I was all too happy to oblige. Leave no centipede alive, I say. That was back in, what, October? I haven’t seen one since then, and we used to see a couple a week. And each one was scarier and more horrifying than the last, with their hundreds of legs and razor sharp fangs, and the howling—dear God the howling!

So my latest hack for dealing with insect invasions? Diatomaceous Earth. It’s cheap. The only problem is finding a small enough quantity to try. I’m not comfortable making a recommendation, but there are tons of people that sell it. Just make sure it says that it is food-grade. Just in case.

Here’s My List of Things It’s Okay to Eat…:

Chick: Don’t eat that!
Guy: Why? What did you do to it?
Chick: Nothing! It’s just been all over the table!
Guy: [Silently eats it.]
Chick: Oh my god. I’m never hooking up with you!

There is a guy in my office that says he’ll eat pizza that has been sitting out for a couple of days. He insists that this is fine because it has been cooked already.

I think he is insane.

I have a strict 24 hour policy on food. If it has been cooked, ordered, opened, or has been touched by a human, it must be consumed within 24 hours.

I just got this exquisite pen in the mail last week. It was a present from my Dad my step-mother and sisters. I love it.