These days, home telephones and mobile phones have a wealth of
features to help you communicate faster and more easily. If you
want to upgrade your phone you might find buying a digital cordless
model a wise choice. You’ll experience less crackle and keep within
earshot of hearing the phone ringing – especially if you’re at the
bottom of the garden!
If you make a lot of international calls have you considered the
latest VoIP phones? These let you make calls via the internet, and
can let you save a great deal of money, particularly when you phone
abroad.
Digital telephones and answer phones
Digital technology has made the home telephone a more sophisticated
machine, with a clearer sound and additional features. All the
digital phones we sell are cordless, and some incorporate an answer
phone.
What’s the difference between digital and the (older) analogue
phones?
As with analogue phones, digital phones still transmit on a radio
frequency but suffer from less interference. Conversations are
clearer and their range is usually wider. They’re sometimes referred
to as DECT phones, which stands for Digital Enhanced Cordless
Telecommunications.
Up to what range do they operate?
Most models operate up to 300m outdoors and 50m indoors, so you
can use them, for example, in the garden. Factors, including the
weather and any physical obstacles, may reduce their effectiveness.
What extra features can you get on them?
Lots! The most useful benefit is that you can use up to 4 handsets
from the same base unit; for example, use one phone in the hallway,
another in the bedroom, etc. You still have the base unit, which
connects to the phone socket, but the other handsets just need
to run off a mains socket.
Most digital phones are also ‘GAP compatible’, which means you
can use any compatible handset with any base unit: e.g. a Panasonic
GAP handset will work with a BT GAP compatible unit.
Some let you send SMS (text) messages to other SMS-compatible
phones, including mobile phones. You can even call contacts from
your mobile phone. Other features can include a longer battery
life, out-of-range indicator, choice of ring tones, hands-free
calling – even Caller ID, which lets you see who’s calling before
you answer (or don’t!)
What’s the benefit of a digital answering machine?
Again, you have improved sound quality and faster retrieval speed,
but you also don’t have to bother with a tape. Often they come
with a pre-recorded message if you’re not keen on recording your
own!
What about video phones?
These let you make video calls via broadband to other video phones.
You view the caller on a small screen, though you’ll only receive
a picture if they have a video phone or a PC with a web cam.
Glossary: corded and cordless telephones, answerphones and two-way
radios
A ‘broader’ band of frequencies that transmit a larger and wider
range of information, both sound and pictures, via multiple signals.
Additional handsets Extra DECT phones you can use around the home.
These are not plugged into a phone socket but link cordlessly
to the main base station.
Built-in speakerphone Lets you talk on the phone without picking
up the handset
Caller display Providing the caller doesn’t bar their details,
you can see their name and number if they’ve been stored in your
directory.
Caller memory Store names and numbers and recall them easily so
you don’t have to dial them again
Call log Records incoming calls so you can recall them quickly.
Some phones list outgoing calls too
Call screening Listen to the message via loudspeaker before deciding
whether to pick up the phone
Call timer View how long in seconds the call is lasting
Call waiting Alerts you to another person trying to call you.
This is a service provided by the network (often chargeable –
check with provider) and the phones need to be compatible.
Channels Most two-way radios have between 5-10 channels, which
are the frequencies the radios operate on. Similar to tuning a
radio you select a channel for the best reception – or so you
don’t pick up other people’s radios.
Conference calls Some phones have a two-line capacity, meaning
you could use both lines for a three-way conversation.
DECT DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) is a
digital wireless technology which is now being adopted increasingly
worldwide. Its key benefits are high speech quality with less
interference and increased range
GAP compatible You can use more than one phone from the same base
station – e.g. have one phone in the hallway, another in the bedroom,
etc. Any GAP compatible handset will work with any base unit –
e.g. a Panasonic GAP handset will work with a BT GAP compatible
handset
Hands-free Allows you to talk on the phone without picking up
the handset.
Hot keys/speed dialling Store important or frequently dialled
numbers and recall them by simply dialling a short code (e.g.
*1 instead of the whole number or even a single button on the
phone).
Internal call function You can make internal calls to another
handset operating off the same number – even when another handset
is being used for an external number.
Last number redial At the touch of a button you can automatically
redial the number. Useful when the line is engaged.
Mute button Allows you to speak to other people in the room in
private without the caller hearing.
Page button For use with multiple handsets operating off the same
number. At the touch of a button you can alert another person
or find a missing handset!
Range Some cordless phones have a range of up to 300m from the
base unit, meaning you can use them outdoors.
Two-way radios have a range of up to 2 miles, depending on any
physical obstructions. Many models have an alert signal to warn
you when the reception is becoming weak.
Recording time Maximum length of time answerphone message will
be recorded.
Remote access facility Lets you listen to your answerphone messages
if you’re away from home via another phone.
Ring tones You can personalise your phone with a choice of tones.
There’s a host of websites and services that let you customise
your phone with the latest hit or favourite theme tune. (There
is a charge for this).
Standby The time the phone can be left off the charger (when not
in use) before needing a recharge.
SMS capable You can send text messages from your phone to another
SMS phone.
Talk time This is how long you can use the cordless phone for,
once it’s been fully charged.
Voice Dialling Voice dialling feature lets you make a phone call
by saying a voice ‘tag’ that’s been linked to the desired phone
number. The ultimate in hands-free operation, you can simply utter
a name or number and the phone automatically makes the call.
VoIP telephones
VoIP – or Voice over Internet Protocol – is a phone that operates
via the internet and not via the conventional telephone socket.
As with the internet you subscribe to a provider. You normally
need to install their software onto your PC but with some models
you can just connect them to the PC via a USB cable and start
dialling.
What are the advantages?
Mainly price. If you call someone who’s on the same provider as
you are (e.g. Skype™) your calls are free – from anywhere in the
world. Receiving or making calls from/to other networks will incur
a charge but these are very small.
Are there any disadvantages?
You normally need to have the PC switched on, so if there’s a
problem with your PC, or with your broadband connection, you may
not be able to use it. It’s also not recommended to use one for
an emergency call as calls are not traceable. It’s a good idea
to have a mobile or normal landline as back up.
Can I keep my old number?
Usually. You may, however, be able to have a number based anywhere
in the world. For example, if you work abroad you could give your
number a UK dialling code, so your British-based friends would
avoid making international calls – and vice versa.
Can I use it anywhere?
Yes. As it’s connected to your PC, simply take it with you anywhere
in the world and it will still work.
What do the handsets look like?
Basic models look and behave the same way as conventional handsets,
with LCD screen, name and number directories. There are hands-free
and cordless models also available.
What’s the quality of the call like?
You and the person at the other end of the line shouldn’t hear
any difference. The VoIP phone even rings like a normal phone.
"If you’ve family abroad why not buy 2 VoIP phones, keep
one and send them the other? You’ll then be able to speak to each
other anytime, for free."
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