AT&T Expandable Cordless Phone & Answering Machine
Last updated date: October 1, 2020
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We looked at the top Cordless Phones and dug through the reviews from some of the most popular review sites. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Cordless Phone you should buy.
Editor's Note October 1, 2020:
Checkout The Best Cordless Phone for a detailed review of all the top cordless phones.
Overall Take
Larger buttons and a big LCD screen set this cordless phone apart from the rest. The phone comes with multiple handsets and has a built-in answering machine with LCD message counter. Consumers will also enjoy the caller ID and call waiting functions.
In our analysis of 31 expert reviews, the AT&T AT&T Expandable Cordless Phone placed 4th when we looked at the top 14 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
From The Manufacturer
Expandable up to 5 handsets (uses 50003 accessory handset). Enjoy a speakerphone that can keep up with your calls. Increase participation by allowing both ends to speak and be heard at the same time for conversations that are more true to life. Extra large display for easy viewing Easy-to-read LCD on the cordless handset. High-contrast black text on a white background provides for an easy-to-read screen to view incoming Caller ID or review call history. The lighted keypad also allows for easy dialing in low-light conditions. Big Buttons Enlarged font and extra-large, backlit keys make the keypad easy to use. This feature is especially helpful for those who are visually impaired. Caller ID/call waiting 50 name and number caller ID history Handset displays the name, number, time and date of incoming calls. ECO mode power-conserving technology Power-conserving technology manages consumption for optimal battery performance. Features Quiet mode DECT 6.0 digital technology 50 name and number phonebook directory 9 number speed dial Voicemail waiting indicator2 Quick access key for voicemail box Last 10 number redial English/Spanish/French setup menu Wall-mount bracket included Mute Any key answer. The telephone operates using standard AC 110 volt power found in all North American homes. The telephone handset uses a 2.4volt Ni-MH battery.
Expert Reviews
Expert Summarized Score
User Summarized Score
What experts liked
What experts didn't like
Overall Product Rankings
1. Panasonic Expandable Cordless Phone & Answering Machine
2. Motorola Cordless Phone & Answering Machine
3. RCA Telefield Shark USB Charge Cordless Phone
4. AT&T Expandable Cordless Phone & Answering Machine
5. AT&T Cordless With Bluetooth Connect to Cell
6. Panasonic Bluetooth Cordless Phone
7. AT&T Cordless With Digital Answering System
8. AT&T Expandable Cordless Phone
9. VTech Cordless Phone
10. Plantronics Cordless Phone
11. VTech Cordless Handsets
12. Clarity Cordless Phone
13. Panasonic Cordless Phone
14. Motorola Cordless Phone
An Overview On Cordless Phones
At one time, if you wanted to talk on the phone, you needed a landline. Then cell phones came along, making it possible to leave home without missing a single call. However, that doesn’t mean home phones have gone away completely. In fact, 45.9 percent of U.S. households have a landline, with 6.5 percent shunning cellphones altogether in favor of being landline only.
There are many benefits to having a home phone. If you have small children in the house, you’ll likely gravitate toward a landline to give your youngest family members a way to talk to their friends until they’re old enough for phones of their own. You’ll also have the benefit of having your number easily traceable by emergency service dispatchers if you someday need to call 911. It’s also hard to ignore the generally far superior call quality you get with a landline versus a cellphone.
But landlines have come a long way since their heyday. Today’s cordless phones bring a variety of features, including the ability to link up your cell phones so that you can receive and make cell phone-based phone calls from your landline while you’re at home. Why would you want to do this? Because it gives you the call clarity and convenience of using your home’s cordless while also keeping you in touch with everyone you normally speak to through your cellphone.
As you’re shopping for a cordless phone, you’ll likely notice that some advertise that they include answering machines. Yes, you can sign up for voicemail through your phone company, but you may simply prefer to have it with your phone. If so, you may want to check with your landline service provider to make sure you can permanently disable your voicemail. Otherwise, you might find your voicemail is picking up, bypassing your answering machine every time.
The Cordless Phone Buying Guide
- Although landlines are usually clearer than the average cellphone, call quality can vary widely from one phone to another. The AT&T Expandable Cordless Phone uses DECT 6.0 digital technology for clear calls and voicemails. The Motorola Cordless Phone & Answering Machine has clear call quality, but it can be quieter than comparable phones.
- If you wear a hearing aid, look for a phone that meets the Telecommunications Industry Association’s standards for hearing aid wearers. TIA-1083 compliance means that you’ll have a significant reduction in interference if you’re wearing your hearing aids while using it. The Panasonic Expandable Cordless Phone is TIA-1083 compliant.
- Cordless phones rely heavily on their batteries. The Panasonic Expandable Cordless Phone combines the shortest time to charge with the longest time on standby before needing a recharge.
- Busy families need more than one handset. In the pre-cellphone era, you had to buy a separate handset for each room. But the Panasonic Expandable Cordless Phone comes with three handsets, all of which connect to the main phone. That means you can set up the handsets in three different locations for your family’s convenience.
- With your cell phone, voicemail comes from the phone company. The same goes for a landline. However, some cell phones come equipped with their own dedicated answering machines built-in. If this is a priority for you, the AT&T Expandable Cordless Phone should top your list.
- A major difference between today’s landline-based phones and those of the past is app connectivity. Some models include a feature called Connect to Cell, which lets you take incoming calls from your cellphone, as well as make calls through your cellphone plan. If your cell phone gets a text, your landline phone will alert you. There are models that will let you add up to two smartphones so that you can make and receive calls. This feature means you can seamlessly switch to your landline when you’re at home, enjoying the call clarity and comfort of speaking using your home phone’s handset.
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