Telephone Reviews

I've had this phone for less than a week. Bought it after caving in - my old 25-channel phone just didn't cut it any more, or at least in this new apartment - usually had terrible loud buzzing constantly, and often wouldn't hang up unless I unhooked the jack from the wall!! Also, battery life had become seriously sucky. So far, this new phone has been far better. No problem with the battery, as yet; reception has been great (often TOO loud, have to turn the volume down!). However, several times (while sitting at my computer, don't know if related) I've gotten strange, loud beeping noises which went away after switching the channel, and just today I heard someone else's voice which alternated with the beeps as I switched channels, then finally all the extraneous noises stopped. I have no idea what is going with these noises, etc., but still, overall performance is far superior to my old phone. And the price is quite right. As noted, it's a basic phone, but as I've got a separate little caller ID unit I don't need that in my phone. We'll see how things work out long-term, but overall I'm quite satisfied with this purchase. One additional issue: when trying to cradle the phone using your shoulder, one must be careful, because the END button is situated right where you naturally want to put your cheek to support the phone - I've accidentally hung up a few times.

Excellent sound quality--clear as a bell. The range is impressive--it works perfectly indoors, and pretty well outside too (thru brick walls). And the photo doesn't do it justice--it's attractive and has a very small footprint. Both the base unit and the phone sit in a sort of upright position, so it takes up very little space on the counter. The color, pearl white, is actually a nice soft white. I've had many cordless phones; in fact, this one is replacing an older uniden phone--it's cheaper to buy the new one than to replace the battery on the old one.

I bought one for my cubicle at work and rather than spend big bucks on a fancy model and risk someone stealing it, I opted to go with the least expensive 2.4 GHz Uniden I could find.

I went with Uniden because I bought another model, the EXAI3248, from Amazon and you can tell I liked it from my review of that model.

It still has the same 1.5 - 2 second delay before you hear a dial tone (press TALK and there's about 2 seconds before you hear the dialtone) however the quality and resistance to interference is still there!!! I can talk next to an active microwave and other sources of interference w/o any problems.

I HIGHLY recommend this for people who do not need Caller ID or an answering machine but demand performance and affordability in a sleek package.

I suppose applications would include college dorms that utilize voice mail systems, office cubicles that also utilize voice mail systems, and maybe a secondary phone in a large house. Not every phone on that 1 line needs Caller ID and an answering machine so this would be a good and cheap solution perhaps for a young adult who doesn't take care of his or her things.

I've had this phone for less than a week. Bought it after caving in - my old 25-channel phone just didn't cut it any more, or at least in this new apartment - usually had terrible loud buzzing constantly, and often wouldn't hang up unless I unhooked the jack from the wall!! Also, battery life had become seriously sucky. So far, this new phone has been far better. No problem with the battery, as yet; reception has been great (often TOO loud, have to turn the volume down!). However, several times (while sitting at my computer, don't know if related) I've gotten strange, loud beeping noises which went away after switching the channel, and just today I heard someone else's voice which alternated with the beeps as I switched channels, then finally all the extraneous noises stopped. I have no idea what is going with these noises, etc., but still, overall performance is far superior to my old phone. And the price is quite right. As noted, it's a basic phone, but as I've got a separate little caller ID unit I don't need that in my phone. We'll see how things work out long-term, but overall I'm quite satisfied with this purchase. One additional issue: when trying to cradle the phone using your shoulder, one must be careful, because the END button is situated right where you naturally want to put your cheek to support the phone - I've accidentally hung up a few times.

Excellent sound quality--clear as a bell. The range is impressive--it works perfectly indoors, and pretty well outside too (thru brick walls). And the photo doesn't do it justice--it's attractive and has a very small footprint. Both the base unit and the phone sit in a sort of upright position, so it takes up very little space on the counter. The color, pearl white, is actually a nice soft white. I've had many cordless phones; in fact, this one is replacing an older uniden phone--it's cheaper to buy the new one than to replace the battery on the old one.

I bought one for my cubicle at work and rather than spend big bucks on a fancy model and risk someone stealing it, I opted to go with the least expensive 2.4 GHz Uniden I could find.

I went with Uniden because I bought another model, the EXAI3248, from Amazon and you can tell I liked it from my review of that model.

It still has the same 1.5 - 2 second delay before you hear a dial tone (press TALK and there's about 2 seconds before you hear the dialtone) however the quality and resistance to interference is still there!!! I can talk next to an active microwave and other sources of interference w/o any problems.

I HIGHLY recommend this for people who do not need Caller ID or an answering machine but demand performance and affordability in a sleek package.

I suppose applications would include college dorms that utilize voice mail systems, office cubicles that also utilize voice mail systems, and maybe a secondary phone in a large house. Not every phone on that 1 line needs Caller ID and an answering machine so this would be a good and cheap solution perhaps for a young adult who doesn't take care of his or her things.

-If you want an affordable, high quality camera for video chatting over MSN or Yahoo, this is a great choice. Simply plug it in and load the drivers and you are ready to video conference. I use it to talk to my family on the other side of the globe and save on international phone bills (it's free) using my DSL line. The resolution/frame rate is higher than most other cameras in this price range. To get a Logitech camera with the same video resolution, you have to pay more than twice the price. The picture quality is also great, even in low light. In fact, I needed to dim the lights in the room because there was too much glare.
-Unfortunately, the software doesn't work. I have a Celeron 2GHz Windows XP system and the software that came with the camera couldn't detect the camera. I contacted Creative Technical support and they were very responsive, but they couldn't fix the problem. The software seemed almost like it was a beta version or somebody's incomplete homework. Fortunately, the software is not necessary because I use Yahoo/MSN messenger to video conference and Windows MovieMaker for everything the software was supposed to do and then some.
-When you chat with someone, they don't need a camera to see your live video. So you can show them how good the product is and encourage them to get one too. The frame rate is much better with MSN, but the picture is larger with Yahoo. Yahoo has a super function that enables a faster frame rate, but I haven't been able to get it to work even though I have MSN DSL.

I bought this cam based on my needs and the reviews of others here and am glad I did. If you're looking for the best combination of value and features, this cam is for you.

If you're looking for a cam to chat with others online with, then this cam has all the features you need. You can pay twice as much (or more) for other cams with more features, and if money is no object to you then I'd spend more. But if you want solid, reliable features, then you're not going to beat the [$$$] or so you spend on this webcam.

I chose this over a Logitech model for 2 reasons. First, other reviewers complained about all but the more expensive models. Second, this was so much cheaper and offers the same features. Works with Yahoo, AOL, and MSN, and has great pics and supersize ability. Not as smooth as the more expensive models, but if you want the basics, this is for you.

Installation was easy--if you can read directions, you shouldn't have problems. I'm not going to accuse other reviewers of not being able to read, but I have Windows XP and had no problems installing at all. However, once the setup is complete, there are no other instructions...a more detailed troubleshooter would be nice. However, this is available online.

The 2 biggest features are making your own movies or using it as a live webcam. However, you can't do both simultaneously. So if you're using the camera to look at something, you won't be able to log onto yahoo webcam or any of the others...you'll have to shut it off first. Keep that in mind...took me 20 minutes to figure it out.

Enjoy this product!

We took the camera out of its box, plugged it in, plugged in the microphone, and Windows XP immediately installed and configured both. Within moments we were watching ourselves on screen and sending clips to our friends on the Internet. No problems, no hassles; seems like a great product.

I was happy with this cordless phone. I've found this item easy to use and very intuitive to setup. I like the fact that the base unit does not ring, and the phone has nice adjustable rings at differing tones, as well as an OFF. When at considerable distance from base unit, such as the garage and my mailbox by the street, the voice quality is still excellent (although it will at times pick up the kids' voices when they are yelling).

I ordered this phone from Amazon.com a few weeks ago. I chose this module because of all the features it offered at a great price.

I was able to set up the system in minutes without continually checking the operating manual because the operating buttons are large and intuitive. I like that the Caller ID feature is in the phone and that the phone can be recharged by placing it face up or face down in the base unit.

I noticed a reviewer mentioned hearing background or buzzing sounds while using their phone. I have not encountered any similar problem. However, I did follow the operating manual's advice about where to place the phone to avoid such interference. This may be something you would want to look into if you do encounter background sounds.

I love this phone, the features, and the service offered by Amazon.com.

On May 31, 2001 we had a house fire which was contained to the attic of the house. Unfortuately the rest of the house was soaked including my telephone answering machine. The handset was full of water and the caller id area looked like a carpenter's level with water rolling around in it. For some reason I decided to pack the phone hoping for the best. While unpacking, after we rebuilt in March 2002, I found the phone and plugged it in overnight. To my surprise not only did the phone work but it retained the last 30 calls received on the caller id. I couldn't believe it! You have me hooked on your telephone products. No one could ask for more out of a product.
Thanks.

This is a cute phone with musical rings and not bad for the price. But I do have a few complaints. The ring tones are very loud even on the lowest setting. Its also very easy to hang up, my cheek hits it, hang up, I yawn, hang up, cant do anything while holding the phone... and doesnt have a plug for hands free headset. I also get static if I move around while using it. Its still a good phone but may not have been my first choice had I known the downfalls.

I love this phone! Once I saw it was coming out I waited and waited for it and finally got it at my local Target. It is absolutely adorable and plays the best ringing tones. Its a litte hard to figure out at first, but one of the coolest Disney products out there!

This phone is great! I got the Princess cordless phone yesterday, and I love it! It's an adult sized phone, it has many features (some that kids wouldn't understand), and it's very nice to look at, it's not a "babyish" phone at all! Best of all, it has "Princess" tunes that play as the phone's "ring"! These include "Under the Sea", Ariel singing (Ahh ahh ahhhhhh), "Bibbity Bobbity Boo", "Beauty and the Beast", as well as a normal sounding ring. I absolutly LOVE the rings, it's a really great phone, I recommend it to everyone! I agree though with the people who complained that if your face hits the side of the phone, you accidentally hang up on who your talking to. I hung up on my friend today, so I realize that it can be a slight annoyance. That is the only drawback, I still think the phone is great and worth it for anyone who likes classic Disney songs and/or princesses. Some other fun features include storing up to 10 "speed dials"(and including their name on the display!), and if you misplace your phone, push the button on the base to hear Ariel's voice call you (she says "Hey, it's over here!") until you find the phone. Since Ariel is my favorite Disney character, I'm very pleased to hear a lot of "Ariel" on this phone! But anyway, this phone is really fun for the young and the young at heart. If you choose to buy it, you shouldn't be disapointed!

This is a great phone. It is wall-mountable, has crystal-clear sound quality, and has a space for an optional battery-backup in the base for use during power failures. The handset is comfortable to speak on, though a bit on the large and heavy side. The battery lasts a long, long time. If it runs out, the optional battery in the base can be swapped (it keeps that one fully charged at all times).

Well made, solid feeling product. An improved product vs. Uniden two line phones I have purchased in the past. All features worked great out of the box. Caller-ID feature requires simply that you have arranged to have that service with your local phone company.

This is a great phone with great features:

It is a two line phone, with an easy way to switch between lines, put one on hold, and even connect the two. If you have call waiting on each line you could connect up to 4 callers.

Caller ID is real handy.

The visual display makes it easy to see who is calling or called (even if you don't answer the phone) the numbers stay in memory and you can transfer the number of somone who calls to your list of names and numbers in memory if you want.

The phone can charge facing toward or away from you on the base.

The base acts as a speaker phone.

It has clear reception over a good distance the the 2.4 gig spread spectrum means your calls won't be intercepted by someone with a scanner.

I have two of these phones and they don't interfere with each other.

The battery charging system is great since there is a room to put a battery in the base as well as in the phone, so if the battery runs low while you are on the phone, just exchange the battery from the base with the one in the phone and you are back in business with a fully charged battery.

The phone beeps a warning when the battery is getting low and you can excuse yourself from your caller for a minute when that happens to change the battery.

The battery charge lasts a long time so this is n't likely to happen unless you keep the phone uncharged for a long time (which I do to extend batttery life)

There is an intercom feature that makes it easy to find the handset if you misplace it by hitting intercom on the base unit and it will ring on the handset--so you can find the phone.

The screen in the handset makes it easy to set up the phone for frequently called numbers and to scan thru your list.

There is a jack for a handsfree headset, and a clip you can use to put the phone on your belt or shirt pocket for hands free operation.

The base can function on top of a desk or table or be installed
on a wall.

In short this phone has all the features you might want for a home office, and is reliable to boot.

I love this phone so much I take it with me whenever I travel. You won't go wrong buying one--or even like me-- two of them.

I have had many cordless phones with varying results. With that experience I can tell you that this Uniden product exceeds any other I have owned. Physically, the phone is very sleek in design and comfort of use. The base unit, with a very nice digital answering system is simple to program using the voice confirmations the system provides. The handset menu functions and soft-keys operate nicely and are also very easily programmed. There is a very nice selection of options for personalizing the phone to your needs. The battery life has been excellent, including a battery strength indicator on the display. In addition, we also added a second handset to this expandable system by merely placing the expansion handset into the base cradle. The only drawback is a minor one in which you must program the second handset manually, not a major task. The expansion handset also provides very nice intercom options, walkie-talkie like features, and is a nice value at $... The system we replaced with the Uniden was much more expensive with fewer options and poor performance.
We use a wireless network for internet connections, and the phone system works perfectly without interference or signal loss.
We are very pleased with this system and would highly recommend it. Simply put, the very best telephone we've owned.

I have had my Uniden phone now for just under a month. I bought it to replace an IBM phone that started having problems within a few months of purchase. The Uniden phone has been great. Reception is clear as a bell and it has a ton of features that I love, including volume controls on both the handset and the base. It also features 16 different ringer options, and the ability to assign ringers to certain callers (so you'll always know if it's someone you actually want to talk to or not). The digital answering system works wonderfully as well, and is very easy to operate. That feature alone saves me [money] on voice mail from my phone company! I highly recommend this phone to anyone wanting a high quality 2.4 GHz DSS system. UPDATE: I've now had this phone for over a year and I am still very happy with it. I haven't had any problems with the battery yet. I've dropped the receiver from high up at least five times, but this phone just takes a licking and keeps on working great! The only minor complaint I have is that you have to be careful putting the handset back into the base if you have it mounted on a wall...otherwise it tips forward and falls. Still a phone I'd recommend to anyone.

This is the second Uniden phone I have purchased and I love them both. They are easy to set up and use. Can't go wrong with this product!

People I talk to say the sound is horrible. Sounds like I'm in a tin can. I hear my voice as an annoying echo when I talk. The battery cover keeps falling off. It's going to the garage where I hope to run over it.

This Motorola phone is light weight and nice to grip, but the "mute" button is in the WRONG place. If you have any hint of cheek bones, you will constantly be pressing against the "mute" button and sending your talker into the land of aloneness. You then have to take the phone away from your ear to see where to press it, this time with your finger, to get your talker back who has been oblivious the whole time and talking away. A terrible design. The range doesn't seem that great either, basically the same as my 900 hz (or whatever) phone from before. Probably worth it to invest more $ for a better phone.

I read the review by An Electronics Fan from Paonia, CO, and started laughing so hard! It's sooo true that mute button on this phone is in the wrong place. I kept pressing it with my cheek!!! The key pads do not light up, and you don't hear the tone you usually hear when you press the numbers. It doesn't cradle well so it's not comfortable for someone who stays on the phone for long. However, the receoption is much better than my old Sony cordless that was 900 Mhz. The sound is clear and I do like the style of this phone. It is cheap, and that is probably the best feature of this phone. :-)

While performance of this phone is great - fantastic, in fact, I think the functionality of the phone is a bit clumsy for women.

The range is great. Audio is crystal clear. No interrupts on our wireless-g network, save one small glitch with the laptop, resolved by changing channels.

The belt clip is for belts, not slacks or skirts. Women don't always wear belts. It needs more tension or a tighter grip to be able to hold on to the thinner materials women wear. I tried using the clip to hook it to a long key lanyard, worn around the neck, but it was too heavy/clunky to be worn that way comfortably.

Problem 2 - headset or over the ear? Again, a "woman" issue - small ears prevent me from comfortably using the over the ear ear/mic. Using the headset is great with the exception of a little too much tension on the ear causing a sore spot, earpiece cover isn't soft enough to accommodate even small earrings (conforming foam would have been better).

Recommendations to the manufacturer - it would be *great* if, after you fix the tension issues w/ the beltclip, you could fix it so the belt clip would mount in either direction. What I mean is wearing the unit upside down would allow you to read/see display & buttons when looking down at it.

I have owned a couple hands-free phones in recent years and find this to be a big step forward in sound quality, comfort, and size.

The boom microphone is excellent. It doesn't reach around in front of your mouth the way old-fashioned headsets did, which is an advantage. A red LED at the end flashes to let people know you are on the phone.

Drop the phone into the base unit and it charges automatically, giving you about 5 hours of talk time. A stalk on the base unit swivels up so you can hang the headset up when its not in use.

Comfort is so good you can forget you have it on (I wore it out to my car the other day. Doh!). The handset has a belt clip and there is a shirt clip to keep the cord out of your way. You can switch the ear piece and mic from one ear to the other in about three seconds. Likewise, you can pick up the headset almost as quickly as you could a regular phone.

Range is good. I pace around my office and don't find the signal degrades, although walls, partitions and doors will obviously shorten range. If you need more range than this offers, you probably need a cell phone.

Build quality and metrials are both excellent. It takes normal wear and tear and has been dropped several times with no ill effects. Design is modern and attractive.

The only shortcoming worth noting is ergonomic -- I had to dock it one star because the buttons are needlessly small (think TV remote circa 1990), though they are clearly marked and easily readable.

Recommended.

When in my home office, I am on the phone 5-7 hours a day. I have tried many combinations of phones and headsets and have never been satisfied with the voice quality. I also run a wireless network and have had problems in the past with 2.4 Ghz phones causing interference. The Plantronics CT12 is the answer to all my problems:

* portable - small belt unit is light, offers great battery life and includes all the features I need
* great headset - sound quality is equal to that of a handset (people do not know you are on a headset); comfortable with two fit options, Firefly function is nice bonus
* Caller-ID - included on belt unit, works as expected
* 2.4 Ghz - range is good, does not cause interference with my wireless network (previous phones from Panasonic and others have)

Only negative is that you cannot answer or otherwise use the phone while it is charging (must remove the belt unit from the charger). All in all, highly recommended.

Once connected, this unit resulted in so much static on the line, that my Tivo could not successfully make its nightly call to download new guide information.

After lots of testing, I found that the unit simply would not work unless it was within about 10-15 feet of the base unit. An amazingly short distance for a device such as this.

I then headed down to the best buy and picked up the RCA version of this device and it has worked flawlessly. An interesting note here - both devices appear to be identical as far as their guts are concerned. In fact, the instructions for both items were identical - the exact same words used on every page.

I am not sure why there was such a difference in performance (perhaps I just got one that was off a bit), but I would suggest you think twice on this item. I was able to return it but had to pay all shipping costs - something you don't have to do if you need to return it to the local store.

I bought this item when I bought my direcTV system with tivo. Standalone Tivo's can be home networked with your broadband connections so it didn't used to matter that there was no phone line nearby...but DirecTV has not enabled that functionality yet so you have to have the receiver plugged into the phone line.

Was very pleased with this product...works fantastic in this application.

This is exactly what I was looking for. I did not have a phone jack by my Tivo and had put off buying one. I was able to install this in about 10 minutes...it only took this long because I put the transmitter upstairs...and it still worked fine.