I’ve been having a conversation on a Skype bug reporting forum, and it came to a conclusion that the Philips VOIP321 Skype Phone is just not worth purchasing. I’m an owner of a Philips VOIP321 phone, and until December 2008 it worked fine. However the latest Skype update has put an end to product useability.
Since Skype Version 3.8.0.188 (Release date: November 19, 2008) and all later versions (including Skype 4 Betas as at Jan. 2009) the software Philips supply no longer works with Skype and the VOIP321 phone.
The latest VOIP321 driver from their website suffers the same issue, even though it states “The VOIP321 USB Phone Driver V 3.8.3 which can be downloaded from Philips web site is compatible with Skype software version from V2.0.0.x until V3.8.0.x”. This is plainly no longer correct with the latest stable release of Skype, V3.8.0.188.
Skype developers are unable to do anything about it as they see it being a Philips driver problem. Phillips wont update their driver (Quoting support staff “… no more development/fixes are being incorporated into the VOIP321.EXE file”).
The solution to getting this beast working again:
- Uninstall Skype 3.8.0.188 (or later non-working version)
- Visit the Old Apps website where you can (without support from Skype) download a previous version and use it.
- I found that Skype
3.8.0.1543.8.0.139 worked fine for me with the VOIP321 hardware under Windows XP - Reinstall the older version.
- Launch the newly installed older version of Skype
- Remove the VOIP321.exe application from the Skype menu: Tools > Options > Advanced > Advanced Settings > Manage other programs Access to Skype
- Reboot your Windows Computer
If you don’t own one of these yet, don’t waste your time on Philips Skype phone devices. Their driver support is lacking when Skype is updated and they EOL their product too soon. You buy a product for a few hundred dollars and it becomes useless 12 months later. Phillips would probably rather sell you a newer bit of hardware.
Should they update their driver at this point I will be the first to commend them. I forgot to mention: Phillips Skype phones (where your PC is required) are Windows Only. No Mac or Linux support or drivers are offered.
My next purchase will be a wifi or wired ethernet Skype phone, and not Philips.
DF said,
January 21, 2009 @ 00:52
3… 2… 1… ZERO! Worst mistake I ever impulse purchased. Learnt my lesson.
J Raad said,
February 6, 2009 @ 22:22
Hi. My philips VOIP321 works perfectly with skype 3.8 and now on 4. No problems at all. Really love this phone.
lantrix said,
February 8, 2009 @ 14:46
Hi J… Thanks for the comment. Since I rolled back to an earlier version to get my VOIP321 working, I turned off updates.
I’ll give the latest stable release a go and see if it once again works. If so I’ll update my article.
ALL41_Eggy said,
February 12, 2009 @ 10:09
IT WORKS ! Eventually…
I’ve just updated to Skype 4.0.0.206
I’m running Vista Business Enterprise 64-bit and using VOIP321 driver version 3.8.3.
Suddenly my Philips VOIP321 dosn’t work. It’s is listed under Microphones but NOT under speakers. So after reading about problem other people had been having I un-installed and reverted to the previous 3.8 version. Still it does not work!?!?
Anyway, I looked in windows sound control panel and noticed that the speakers had been disabled? I had been using the phone on Skype just before I upgraded so I can only assume the device was disabled at that point.
Anyway, I re-enabled it , re-upgraded to Skype version 4 and everything works perfectly (except skype taking up half the screen buts that’s for a different thread ! 😉
arimont said,
February 12, 2009 @ 22:51
I have a dual handset VOIP321 wich my employee read somewhere that he can use it to make two skype call simultaneusly. I didnt find a way to do it, can anyone help me with this? To make two simultaneous skype calls with the VOIP321?
lantrix said,
February 16, 2009 @ 16:52
@ ALL41_Eggy – I have a different issue. The actual application provided by Phillips (the latest update) hangs searching for Skype on startup. I’ll have a poke around in the control panel audio settings though like did and see what happens. Thanks for the comment, and glad to see you got it working!
lantrix said,
February 16, 2009 @ 16:54
@ arimont – Thanks for the comment. All I have seen in the manual is that if you purchased a second remote handset, the VOIP321 allowed for one person to be on the Skype line and a second person on the landline (real telephone line) at the same time. I have not seen anything about two simultaneous Skype calls. To achieve this I would guess you needs a second VOIP321 base station and a second windows computer logged into another skype account.
lantrix said,
February 16, 2009 @ 16:55
@ J Raad – I updated to the latest Version 4 release and it broke again as described in the post. I’m going to have to roll back to V3.8.0.139 again.
If you have any tips would be happy to hear them.
Graham said,
March 17, 2009 @ 16:48
My Philips voip 321 worked fine with XP, but since I upgraded to Vista it won’t work. I downloded Philips Vista driver but that doesn’t work. Philips isn’t in sound devices and has a yellow exclamation mark against it in device manager.
Gus said,
March 18, 2009 @ 15:28
While I am also disappointed that Philips have apparently abandoned support for this, while it is still being actively promoted on Skype’s UK website via Amazon, since upgrading to 3.8.3 I have experienced none of the problems reported. Just updated now to Skype 4.0 and still working fine (although I prefer the previous version’s look).
Potblak said,
April 18, 2009 @ 12:29
How many of the people having this problem are using HP Pavilion PC’s ?
I’m wondering if the driver problem is caused by something HP is running, because the fixes seem to work fine for some people but not others.
They don’t work for me, dammit. (Vista Home Premium SP1/HP Pavilion s3780a/Skype 4.0.0.224/VOIP321 ver 3.8.3)
And yes, I’ve tried the colder version of skype too!
Tony said,
May 21, 2009 @ 01:41
God I wish I had read these articles last week. I purchased one over the weekend and yep its crap. No I’ll have to learn this roll back thing. How hard woud it be for a company like Phillips to do the right thing. I heard the company was going bad. No wonder we have all lost faith in them.
lantrix said,
May 21, 2009 @ 12:17
I’ve totally moved away from Windows now to Mac, so my VOIP321 is acting as a standard normal fixed line phone only.
The “roll back” was successful for me initially, but I had to remember to turn off the auto updates in Skype. As well as that, it started playing up on me after a while. Not sure if it was just windows. This is the last Phillips phone I will purchase – no support for upgrades (limited product life), and no Mac/Linux support.
I hope you have luck Tony, and let us know how it goes.
Gus said,
May 22, 2009 @ 02:08
Sorry to spoil the party and heaven knows I am not a Philips fan, but mine is still working fine – XP Pro on HP desktop, Skype version 4.0.0.226. Philips VoIP321 USB driver v 3.8.3 Not wrting this to gloat, just to let people know this should be resolvable.
USB not quite as bullet-proof as it was originally claimed, however, and I do have lots of other incompatibilities but surprisingly this one keeps on working fine.
Tony said,
May 22, 2009 @ 03:49
Well I cant get mine working but then I’m using vista I even wound skype back to Unable to fine the PhilipsVoip321 Sound Driver. Lots of noise from the pc but nothing from the phones. V3.8 in a vain attempt of trying to get the thing working. Both new phones are sitting next to the bin as i write this. I’m so disappointed with Philips and Skype for certifing them on this product.
Alan Schofield said,
May 22, 2009 @ 06:43
I too have no problems since my original post some months back where I found the sound device for the phone was disabled in the windows sound control panel. After enabling it again everything worked fine.
I’m running Vista 64-bit although the driver and Skype application are 32-bit versions as far as I am aware.
Skype version 4.0.0.226
Phone driver V3.8.3
I anyone wants to compare anything from their PC to mine then ask here and I’ll do what I can, we can (and I’m not being funny here) do a skype chat (text) if you like. I’ll give my skype name out if anyone is interested in doing this but I’m in the UK so bear that in mind.
lantrix said,
May 22, 2009 @ 11:18
Good luck guys. I’m done with Microsoft products, so I’ll leave the comments open on the post for any follow ups. That way if anyone else has the same problem that I and some commenters did, they may be able to see any solution or versions you are having success with.
Tony said,
May 22, 2009 @ 14:49
I eat my words and apoligise to Philips. It took a few hours but i think i go most of my issues sorted today in regard to my Philips VoIP321. I spent about an hour with Philips Australia support desk and we both got the thing to do what its supposed to. Its not a plug and play item, not in my case anyway. So to recap I have Qty 4 laptops loaded with Vista, Sykpe 4.0.0.226 and the VoIp32. As of right now all totally funstional, well today anyway. I’ll let you know if it fails in to the future.
Margaret said,
July 7, 2009 @ 15:27
Need help – loaded new version of Skype and now my Phillips phone (which is not that old!) tells me my contacts are unavailable. I need basic instructions as to how to get this working. I uninstalled my Skype and want to load an old version – can anyone tell me how to do this? Also the latest Phillips Driver. I am about to get a new computer so would like this fixed before it comes.
Anthony said,
July 7, 2009 @ 15:46
You will find older versions of Skype at http://www.oldapps.com/skype.php I had the same problem and I’m running my philips voip phone fine now on version V4.00. I’m not game enough to go to any newer version so remember to go to options in Skype and disable auto downloads. It took me ages to get it going but I ended up going to the philips site and downloaded the version there.
My understanding is there will be no new version as Philips is moving away from supporting Skype phones, so I’ve been told. Depending on what or what its not doing you may have to remove the phone driver completely and reinstall. Remember to reboot and restart your machine between each install and unintall.
No promises but I ended up getting it working and its one of the best buys I’ve made in ages. Its just a shame that its a pain to get going in some instances.
Cheers
Tony
rg said,
July 8, 2009 @ 02:40
For those of you facing problems installing the driver for VOIP321in Vista, its got something to do with the USB port steering. Simply plug in a 5-10$ usb card in the PCI slot, and plug the phone into that. Worked smoothly for me. Found the tip on some Skype forum.
And note – DO NOT PLUG IN PHONE BEFORE INSTALLING SOFTWARE.
link2caro said,
August 26, 2009 @ 08:27
For Windows 7 users:
– Install Skype 4.1
– Do not plug in the phone before installing software
– Install the software VOIP 321, choose compability mode “Vista SP2”
– Launch the software VOIP 321, and do as it asks
Simplewilf said,
October 18, 2009 @ 05:25
Windows Vista Voip321/Skype.
rg – July 8:2009. Absolutely spot on – I think! There seem to be so many variations on the theme… But I can say, because having hit the Vista/Voip321 problem and trying all the other solutions, that the USB-PCI slot method worked for us (USB card/Via chipset). Athlon 64 & 32 bit Vista. All drivers programs the latest versions direct from the Phillips/Skype sites – not CD copies.
Takes away the pain instantly and our Voip321 duo phone work superbly.
Ali said,
November 18, 2009 @ 13:03
Windows Vista 32 Voip321 /Skype
I have found that on my Dell Deminision system running vista 32 with latest MS service packs (@17 Nov 09) that Skype 4.1.0.166 works fine, however when its upgraded to Skype 4.1.0.179 (current) , the application voip321would load skype seemingly ok, but incomming call would only ring for 3 to 4 rings before disconnecting automatically. I have since deinstalled and reverted back to Skype 4.1.0.166 and all seems to be well.
majones said,
December 2, 2009 @ 18:57
I was struggling to get VOIP321 to work on my new Windows 7 64bit machine, the failure being W7’s inability to start VOIP321 as a sound device. So I followed the advice of several posters on several websites, including this one, and installed a VIA VT6212L chipset PCI card (
Colin said,
December 14, 2009 @ 12:18
My Philips 321 is still working perfectly under Skype 4.1 absolutely great phone Dec 2009
lantrix said,
December 14, 2009 @ 15:53
Thanks Colin. I’ll have to dig mine out and try it again.
tony said,
December 14, 2009 @ 20:48
Yep had the same problem when i purchased mine 18 month ago. I rolled Skype back to an older version and have not looked back. It took a couple of days to get it going but I use it about 20 to 30 times a day without any problems. I love it. Its now getting a little old and I’ll be looking for replacement handsets over the next 6 months. Any suggestions on what would make a good replacement? -Cheers Tony
Jane Duckering said,
December 16, 2009 @ 20:21
hello there is hope yet for me! l have purchased a voip and in the process of chucking it out the window!! l have installed on my computer all the necessary things, the cd installation for the phone is version 1 everything works fine apart ffrom the fact l cannot hear anyone on the handset or speak to anyone! l can make calls and end them answer calls but cannot hear anyone, a few posts say that maybe the handset speakers have been disabled, could someone tell me how? doesnt make it any eaiser for me as my computer is in spanish!!! arggg!!!! thanks
lantrix said,
December 17, 2009 @ 11:29
Hi Jane. You can try using the latest driver from phillips and see how you go. It can be downloaded from their VOIP321 driver page.
chris said,
February 8, 2010 @ 22:05
I am having the samw problem in windows 7 – the USB system is not recognizing the VOIP. Unfortunately I have a nettop tiny pc which means I cannot install the PCI USB card as other people have stated to fix this.
Does anyone have any solutions that do not require a new PCI USB hub?
I am sure this is not a skype problem, it is a windows/hardware problem.
Mark said,
February 14, 2010 @ 21:00
I have tried all the suggestions above, and keeping the NEW VOIP driver, I deinstalled skype version 3.8.0.188 and then going back to 3.8.0.139 (which didnt work either) and then went back to an earlier version (not important which one.. read on). However as others have suggested above I finallyI managed to get Skype going again by clicking through the Windows Sound card settings. I discovered that something (through the passage of upgrades, instals and deinstals that I have done) had MUTED the skype sound device in the windows set up.
For example on XP go to see for yourself go to Control Panel>>SoundSpeed and AudioDevices>>Click on Sounds and Audio Devices>>Click on Audio TAB>>Change Device to Philips VOIP321>>Press Volume Button, and the Phillips Sound Controller appears…
In my case the sound control settings had the Mute all Clicked for the Philips VOIP321, so I unchecked that and the Philips VOIP321 started to work again…
christophe said,
February 21, 2010 @ 04:03
I have the Philips dual phones VOIP321, Windows XP and Skype version 4.1.0.179. It works well after a 5 minutes fix
I had one problem after this latest Skype upgrade: the VOIP 321 was not connecting to Skype. I looked at the Skype menu, Tools, Options, Advanced, and went at the bottom of the page, to the “Manage other programs’ access to Skype”. This is where you can allow VOIP321 to use Skype (by clicking on the “change” button). Maybe this advanced option has been added in the latest versions and by default doesn’t allow VOIP to use Skype (since Philips doesn’t support it anymore).
Kerk said,
February 24, 2010 @ 22:46
Just installed Philips V3.8.3 driver, while I already had Skype V.4.1.0.179 in my XP pro system.
Everything works perfectly fine!
Nigel said,
March 12, 2010 @ 23:51
My phone with 3 hand sets works fine with skype version 4.2.0.152 and VOIP321 version 3.8.3 running on XP Pro
mdtdallas said,
June 8, 2010 @ 17:43
I have a Philips Voip321 and are running windows 7 x86 (32bit) with skype 4.0. The driver says that the phone is connected and phone calls via the skype button fine, but when i recieve a call the handset doesn’t ring. HELP
lantrix said,
June 17, 2010 @ 16:23
I’m sorry I can’t help in this case. I’ve dropped Windows OS for any personal computing, and I’m still only running XP for Business requirements. If Phillips wont provide a driver that works, it only proves my point in the post about not buying another phillips pseudo “VOIP” phone.
Mulligan said,
September 18, 2010 @ 01:14
I just lost connection vie the 321, read the comments from Nigel. Down graded skype to 4.2.0.152 and it all works well again with VOIP321 version 3.8.3 running on XP
Ralph E Ashton said,
March 12, 2011 @ 19:14
Thank you so much, your solution works 100%
I have found a USB to Ethernet Connector, would this work on the Voip321, trying to find a solution to avoid leaving my Laptop on.
Best Regards and Thank you.
Ralph
Alan Schofield said,
March 12, 2011 @ 22:00
The VOIP321 DOES work will the latest version of Skype, I’m using it myself everyday on Win7 Pro 64-bit.
All I do it run BOTH Skype.exe and the VOIP321.exe under compatability mode as Windows XP SP2.
Simply locate both of these EXEs on you PC, right click, properties, compatability then select run in compatability mode and select Windows XP SP2.
If the VOIP321 is still not listed in SKype as an available device, just check it’s not disabled from the windows sound hardware control panel.
peter austerfield said,
October 2, 2011 @ 02:26
christophe is a genius. My voip wouldn’t connect “access denied” I followed his instructions [30 seconds only. no downloading crap] and it worked!! brilliant. thanks christophe your the man.
Chris JAckson said,
October 10, 2011 @ 05:56
Just wanted to add to a very interesting discussion: I’m using VOIP321 driver ver. 3.8.3 with Skype v.5.5.0.119 (Skype just updated itself today) and it’s still fine.
No problems (after a reboot of course!)
I’m using 32bit Windows XP Pro sp3 (how old!!?)
I find everything works best if you don’t set Skype to start when Windows starts, instead let the Philips USB Phone driver (VOIP321.exe) start first, and it will then launch Skype.
It never seems quite as reliable if VOIP321.exe starts AFTER you have already launched Skype.
I do allow Skype to manage VOIP321.exe, but it’s been configured like this for quite a few versions of Skype now.
Good luck all, despite Philips deplorable lack of interest in updating the software, the VOIP321 soldiers on!
alfredmarks50 said,
November 2, 2011 @ 10:48
yes I have the same experience (XP) . My Philips phone voip 321 works fine again after following Chris instructions. . It’s skype causing the problems, updating every month. They want to sell their own Phones
Tx Chris
alfredmarks50 said,
November 2, 2011 @ 11:05
Driver Download site:
http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?ctn=VOIP3211S/21&slg=en&scy=GB&mid=Link_Software
Chris JAckson said,
November 2, 2011 @ 19:21
Just wanted to add that with Skype v.5.5.0.124 the VOIP321 is still functioning fine – but I did have an issue with my Zone Alarm firewall software which actually stopping the VOIP321 from working.
I’ve no idea what happened to Zone Alarm.. I think an update went wrong, but the True Vector service wouldn’t start.. So I had to uninstall Zone Alarm. That fixed the issue with the VOIP321.
Anyway, just to say that I learned that a firewall problem can also be a problem for Skype and the VOIP321 – even though in my case Skype was showing as connected, and messaging was working. So, if your VOIP321 driver just hangs and never launches properly, it’s worth checking your firewall.
Look for services set to start automatically but which have failed to start. To be honest I didn’t look at the ‘True Vector’ service and think ‘Zone Alarm’! But that’s what it turned out to be.
My next mission is to get one of the VOIP321’s working on Win7 x64 – I’ll be tying compatibility mode as suggested by Alan Schofield.
Louise said,
December 28, 2011 @ 23:45
I also have some problems with my VOIP321 and Skype 5.5 (running Windows XP). I have set it up as Chris suggested for VOIP321 drivers to start first, which will subsequently launches Skype. It did actually worked to start with, but after a few days it stopped. On the handset it now says “Contacts Unavailable”.
I have followed some of the other suggestions to no avail. Any suggestions anybody, it’s driving me nuts?
Thanks, Louise
Chris JAckson said,
December 29, 2011 @ 10:46
Hi Louise – if you’re familiar with Windows Event Viewer (Start -> Run -> ‘eventvwr’ OR Control Panel -> Computer Management -> Administrative Tools) have a look through the application log and the system log for anything to do with the VOIP321.exe or Skype.exe, and see if there are other errors happening around the same time, and what they are.
Maybe something will show up?
My VOIP321 and Skype 5.5.0.124 are still working happily together, although once the VOIP driver is running I don’t get any sound via the laptop speakers, apart from the Windows sound effects.. no idea why this is!
Anyway, post back anything that you think looks suspicious from you event log and let’s see if we can get it working again.
Chris..
What Is A Firewall said,
January 11, 2012 @ 04:46
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I to find It really helpful & it helped me out a lot. I’m hoping to offer one thing again and help others such as you helped me.
Bill Kirkpatrick said,
September 26, 2012 @ 14:41
For Chris Jackson – You’ve probably discovered the solution to your audio output issues by now, but in case someone else has the problem: the Philips download site provided earlier in this thread by Alfredmarks60 is still available as of Sept 2012 at http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/dcbint/cpindex.pl?ctn=VOIP3211S/21&slg=en&scy=GB&mid=Link_Software and most of the answers to questions poised in this thread are provided in the FAQ on that site. It is a very comprehensive FAQ list. It covers issues like: how to let Skype use the Voip321 handset and non-Skype audio use the PC speakers; how to run it all on Windows7; troubleshooting topics; as well as many others. I have been using my Voip321 phones for several years, more than two years on Windows7 Home Edition. I used it 24×7 when my daughter was studying overseas but now only when I expect to receive or initiate Skype calls. I have loaded each Skype update without problems, presently VOIP321 driver version 3.8.3 and Skype version 5.10.0.116. The more recent Skype releases have a peer-to-peer style process that allows Skype to use your computer in some fashion when not actually engaged in a call. It may have something to do with the instant messaging but it remains persistently running something in the background even after you have done an ‘exit’ from Skype. You must do a ‘quit’ sequence to shut it down completely. I noticed the computer running at nearly 100% in the middle of the night when nothing else was active on the computer. Task Manager indicated it was Skype using a high level of CPU when it wasn’t apparently active. Skype instructions for System Administrators details how to turn this off, but it involves editing the Windows7 registry. I was letting VOIP321 and Skype start with Windows after a reboot, but sometimes Skype started before VOIP321 had started completely causing problems. Now I manually start VOIP321 and have VOIP321 set to initiate Skype and it all works without problems. Still happy that I bought it…
Bill in Sydney, Australia.
sinnavan said,
December 8, 2013 @ 16:58
1995
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