Cordless Phone Buying Guide
The frequency your phone uses is a critical factor in the quality of your calls. All VTech Cordless Phones use Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications Technology—or DECT 6.0 as it's known in North America—which provides the best sound quality, security and range to date. Generally immune to interference from other domestic radio signals, 6.0 continues to operate clearly even in common high-traffic situations, such as those caused by congestion from other DECT systems, Wi-Fi networks, video senders, BLUETOOTH® technology, baby monitors or other wireless devices. DECT 6.0 is currently the standard for all cordless phones.
Tip: Steer clear of 5.8 GHz and 2.4 GHz technology. Systems using these older technologies are still available, but should be avoided, as DECT 6.0 has surpassed them.
Another important consideration is accessibility. Some models of cordless phones offer just one handset per base station, but a system that offers several handsets per base keeps calls close no matter where you are in your home or business. Multi-handset or bundled phone systems can double as intercom or Push-to-Talk units, which are useful features in any application.
Tip: Look for multi-handset systems that offer expansion capabilities—you never know when you will need even more.
When purchasing a system, it's important to factor in the future. Select models of cordless phones offer the flexibility to increase the number of handsets, so as your needs grow, so can your system. And since additional handsets wirelessly link to the original base, you'll only need one phone jack.
Tip: Check for the words "Expandable up to" in the description so you know if the model you're looking at has room to grow, and by how much. The total number of handsets for each system varies.
With the increasing pressures from work and family life, it’s rare to be able to conduct a phone conversation without also folding laundry, filing papers or engaging in some other hands-on activity. If this is true for you, a speakerphone on your cordless phone can be an invaluable asset. With the touch of a button, a speakerphone allows you to leave your hands free, or bring more people into the conversation.
Tip: Choose between the base and handset speakerphone, depending on your activity. Calls do not need to be made from the base to take advantage of this feature.
View our full selection of Cordless Phone Systems with speakerphones.
In addition to a speakerphone on the base or handset, a headset adds mobility to your phone call, and can be added within minutes. VTech headsets provide the same coverage and quality as traditional handsets. With certain bundles, a headset may be included—other times it can be purchased separately.
Tip: Many models offer the choice between over-the-ear or behind-/over-the-head style headsets. Play around with which suits you best for maximum comfort.
As the number of unwanted calls to mobile and landline phones has increased, so has the need to know who's calling before you answer. The Caller ID/Call Waiting feature available on many VTech Cordless Phones makes it easy, with a display that shows the name, number, time and date of incoming calls.
Tip: Look for Caller ID Announce. With this feature, the handset and base announce the name of the caller, so you no longer have to scramble for the handset to see who's calling.
View our full selection of Phone Systems with Caller ID/Call Waiting
Thanks to mobile phones, gone are the days of memorizing 10-plus digit telephone numbers to reach friends or family. As a result, scroll-to-select, one-button dialing or memory calling are important features to look for in a cordless phone system. All VTech phones allow simple dialing of the last-entered phone number, and many offer easy-to-use speed dialing and built-in phonebooks directories. The number of entries that can be saved varies by model, but some offer space for up to 1,600 name and numbers.
Tip: Use the Caller ID to return a recently received call, or, with Connect to Cell systems, quickly sync contacts from up to four cell phones using BLUETOOTHR-enabled wireless technology.
Too often, cell phone signals are unstable or provide poor sound quality because of "dead spots" inside the home. Fortunately, VTech has developed a feature that can help. Connect To Cell™ uses BLUETOOTH® technology to sync up to four different cell phones and 1,600 phonebook entries to your home system, while allowing up to two mobile phones to be active at one time. And because no landline is necessary, Connect to Cell is a great option for cellular-only households. Once you have registered your mobile phone with the base unit, the connection will automatically start each time you enter your home.
Tip: Remember to ensure the BLUETOOTH® on your cell phone is turned on. Then, place it anywhere the signal is strongest, and enjoy the comforts of a home phone system.
The battery your cordless handset uses can have a big affect on performance. While most phones across the industry—and all made by VTech—use rechargeable batteries, not all are created equal.
Nickel-cadmium: Ni-Cd batteries are durable, small and inexpensive, but they suffer from the "memory effect." This means the battery must be fully drained before recharging, or the total capacity of the battery will be reduced.
Nickel-metal hydride: Ni-MH batteries are superior to Ni-Cd in that they don't suffer from the memory effect.
Lithium:Li-ion batteries are extremely light and also do not suffer from the "memory effect." Li-ion batteries can be manufactured in multiple shapes and forms to fit a wider variety of electronics.
Tip: Think about your battery needs—will you leave your cordless phone off the charger for extended periods of time? The answer could help you decide how important battery type is to you.
Phone service has never had more options. Fortunately, VTech phones are designed to work with many different providers. Here is a list of service types that all work seamlessly with VTech Cordless Phones.
Landlines
VOIP
Cable/Satelite/DSL
Internet
Tip: Keep in mind VTech offers Connect to Cell™ technology, enabling you to use a home system without one of the services above. Cellular-only households can also benefit from a Cordless Phone System.
The BLUETOOTH® wordmark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by VTech is under license.
Caller ID Announce is a registered trademark of ClassCo, Inc.