Internet Phone Wizard

Reviewed by: Don Hughes, send e-mail Published by: Actiontec Electronics Inc., go to the web site Requires: IBM compatible, Pentium processor, USB port, 16MB of ram, CD ROM drive, Windows 98 (SE), ME, Windows 2000, touch-tone analog phone, and analog phone line, LAN or modem based connection Internet Explorer 4.01 or above MSRP: US$99.95 (USB), $79.95 (PCI) When I first opened the Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard box and held the stylish USB device in the palm of my hand, I speculated why anyone would want to make phone calls over the Internet. Questions came to mind about the practicality of this cute little device. Was it just another computer toy that would soon sit on a shelf collecting dust? However, the unit's claimed ability to make "free" world wide long distance calls invoked my curiosity. Actiontec says that "With the Internet phone Wizard you can use the same phone to make a normal analog call or to place a call over the Internet. When dialing over the Internet, you can make PC-to-PC or PC-to-phone calls. The Actiontec Internet Phone Wizard allows you to place calls over the Internet using your regular phone. Once the computer is connected to the Internet, simply pick up the receiver and dial, or enter the number via your computer keyboard.

The manual covers each hardware and software installation step with diagrams and easy to read text and you're never left to go it alone during the Wizard-based process. Should you get stuck, a quick call to Actiontec's tech support will overcome any installation problem. The Internet Phone Wizard has three ports on the back clearly marked USB, Line/modem and Phone. After installing all of the cables, turn the computer on. The first time testing Internet Phone Wizard we used a system running Windows 98 and an Aopen motherboard with built-in sound chip. The results were less than satisfactory. During testing, Actiontec released a new update for Windows 2000/ME, requiring me to send the Internet Phone Wizard back to the company. When I got it back I installed it on a system with an Asus motherboard and Sound Blaster AWE64 card. The sound quality and performance of the Internet Phone Wizard improved dramatically.

The last step is to dial-in or connect the computer to the Internet. Once online, the Internet Phone Wizard loads the Telephony Service Provider menu which appears as a small icon in the system tray. Actiontec gave me Internet address for two providers that offer free calling to the US and Canada. I soon found out that the days of "free" Internet phone calls are history, as all the Internet telephony providers now charge users for dial-up services.

In all fairness to the Internet telephony providers, they have greatly improved their web sites since my last visit, and the cost to join a service is soon repaid to the user via money saved on long distance calling. I managed to find a web site on the supplied list that offered "free" five minute calls after becoming a user registered user. But when I clicked the free call button, the system refused me because no two-dollar minimum was deposited in my account! Go figure.

Not to be vanquished I continued my quest to find a free Internet calling service and manage to find one Internet Phone provider that allowed users to make demo calls to 800 numbers in the USA. Thus, using Nettelephone.com demo service, I tested the Internet Phone Wizards calling abilities to different companies that had 800 numbers. The results during testing surprised me and the Internet Phone Wizard impressed me with the clarity of the Internet telephone calls.

Although the web sites that once offered free long distance calling between Canada and the USA are now history, the low rates offered by the Internet telephony providers are a real attraction. One site had their weekly special offering a special low rate for calls to Italy - six cents/ minute. With the improvement in Internet calling technology and expanding fiber optic bandwidth, it will not be long before private and business users discover the money-saving potential of Actiontec's Internet Phone Wizard.

The Internet Phone Wizard is not just another computer toy, but a stylish, easy-to-use, money saving accessory.

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