Plantronics Cordless Phone
Last updated date: February 5, 2019
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We looked at the top 1 Cordless Phones and dug through the reviews from 3 of the most popular review sites including BestReviews, We Went Wireless, Beasts Live and more. Through this analysis, we've determined the best Cordless Phone you should buy.
Overall Take
In our analysis of 28 expert reviews, the Plantronics Plantronics Cordless Phone placed 5th when we looked at the top 9 products in the category. For the full ranking, see below.
Editor's Note August 5, 2019:
Checkout The Best Cordless Phone for a detailed review of all the top cordless phones.
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From The Manufacturer
Ideal for home and small-office use, the CT14 DECT 6.0 cordless headset phone offers enhanced sound quality and DECT 6.0 wireless technology for an interference-free wireless range of up to 300 feet. The CT14 relies on the DECT 6.0 frequency (1.9 GHz) for all communications, giving you a roaming range of up to 300 feet and significantly better reception when compared to standard 2.4 or 5.8 GHz cordless phone systems. The DECT 6.0 frequency is used exclusively for voice communication applications, which means that wireless networks or home appliances such as microwaves will not interfere with your calls. With the enhanced range and clarity that DECT 6.0 offers, the CT14 gives you the freedom to move about your house or office without compromising on call quality. Thanks to its flexible mouthpiece, which lets you position it precisely where you need, the CT14 will give you the professional-class sound quality you require. And its noise-canceling microphone transmits your voice clearly without the background noise that a busy home or small office can produce. The CT14 features a 2-in-1 convertible style headset that gives you the option of wearing it either over-the-head or over-the-ear. You may want the comfort and stability for long calls or conferencing that the over-the-head style offers, and when it's time to switch, simply disconnect the headband, attach the ear loop, and wear the headset over your ear. Either way, you get a comfortable fit that is designed for all-day use.
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.
DYWM Fun Fact
Before cellphones, if someone wanted to call another person or business, it required the use of a phone directory, also called a phone book. Unless you paid extra to have your name unlisted, your name, address and phone number would be published in a book that was provided to all local residents for free. The first phone book was published in 1878 in the town of New Haven, Connecticut, and contained only 50 names. It was one page long, printed on cardboard and included the names of every local person and business with a phone number at the time. Only two years prior, Alexander Graham Bell had demonstrated the telephone for the first time in that very town, which was where he’d invented it.
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 Cordless with Bluetooth Connect to Cell uses DECT 6.0 digital technology for clear calls and voicemails. The Vtech Cordless Phone with Caller ID & Call Waiting 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 Vtech Cordless Phone with Caller ID & Call Waiting is TIA-1083 compliant.
- Cordless phones rely heavily on their batteries. The Panasonic Cordless Phone with Link2Cell 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 AT&T Cordless with Digital Answering System 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 Cordless with Bluetooth Connect to Cell and AT&T Cordless with Digital Answering System should top your list.
- A major difference between today’s landline-based phones and those of the past is app connectivity. The AT&T Cordless with Bluetooth includes 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. The Panasonic Cordless Phone with Link2Cell lets 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.