T-mobile's VOIP feature allows you to connect the router to a regular phone. As far as I can tell, skype only allows you to talk through a computer. You have to pay extra to get a phone number for your skype account. Tmobile@home is only $10 a month for a home line, unlimited nationwide calling. I like the fact I can put phones all over my house with the tmobile account (with an expandable phone system) somehting I can't do with skype.