Talk is cheap with Wi-Fi phone

netTalk Duo Wi-Fi Voice-over-Internet telephone system from netTalk.com Inc.
$62.59 at Amazon.com; includes one year of free service.

The popular magicJack device showed people that you could replace a standard landline telephone with a broadband Internet connection . The new Duo Wi-Fi from netTalk takes the idea a step further, by letting you use a Wi-Fi wireless link to carry your everyday calls.

The Duo Wi-Fi connects to your home wireless network. During installation, you must plug the device into a Windows or Mac computer to set it up. After that, it only needs power from an electrical outlet. It stays connected to the Wi-Fi network. Just pick up the phone and dial calls as usual.

The Duo Wi-Fi also works on standard wired networks. You can attach it to an Internet-connected computer, or plug it into your home Internet router using an Enthernet cable.

The netTalk device isn’t nearly up to standard telephone quality. The audio has a thin, tinny sound, and calls are sometimes dropped for no apparent reason. But we put up with similar nuisances from our cellphones every day.

I wouldn’t want to use the Duo Wi-Fi as my primary phone. But as an inexpensive second phone line, it’s well worth considering.