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DECT phones - what’s on offer?

Monday 18 April, 2011

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

If you’re experiencing poor sound quality and a crackling when you pick up the phone, it could be down to your handset, not the landline. Switching to a digital DECT phone could solve your problems though…

Cordless DECT phones use digital technology, making them a far superior choice to analogue cordless phones. You’ll get clearer sound, a longer range and less radio interference, as well as a host of additional features.

But which DECT phone should you choose? There are plenty of DECT cordless phones on offer at the moment, and finding one that’s right for you isn’t hard - but you will have to shop around for the best deal.

What is a DECT phone?

DECT stands for digital enhanced cordless technology - all DECT phones are digital and cordless. If you want the freedom of being able to move around and continue with daily activities while making calls over your landline, a cordless phone is your best option.

Analogue cordless phones are still available, but digital DECT phones offer a greater number of features, and tests show that the sound quality when making and receiving calls is consistently better when using a DECT phone.

The benefits of a DECT phone

Before investing in a new DECT cordless phone handset, it’s important you understand the advantages and disadvantages of the phones - you may decide a conventional, corded phone is more suitable.

Advantages

• Better call quality
• Advanced features such as speed dial and hot keys which let you store the numbers that you call most
• No interference with wireless routers, baby monitors, doorbells and microwaves
• Multiple handsets.

Disadvantages

• Power cuts - Because all DECT base stations need to be plugged into an electric socket as well as the phone socket, DECT cordless phones will not work during a power cut.
• Neighbours - If your neighbours use the same DECT phone on the same frequency, there may be some interference.
• Possible health risks - Some experts fear that, like most electronics that use wi-fi, DECT phones can harm users with radiation. However, the Health Protection Agency says the distance the radio waves travel is so short that the power emitted is negligible and perfectly safe.

Panasonic DECT phones

Whether it’s for a home office or for day-to-day calls, electronics giant Panasonic has a DECT phone for everyone. You can choose from compact cordless designs and elegant models with built-in answering machines and colour displays. “Of course, superlative digital speech clarity is offered as standard on each model as are breathtaking aesthetics and peerless ergonomics,” says Panasonic.

Below are just a few of the recommended deals available through Amazon:

Panasonic KX-TG6523EB DECT trio digital cordless phone set

• Price - £43.99
• Handsets - 3
• Customer rating - 4.5 stars
• Other information - The Panasonic KX-TG6523 trio has a range of features including a large amber-illuminated keypad with well-spaced buttons, ringer LED, and a distinctive 1.8in back-lit LCD display screen. The phone can also be personalised with up to 16 polyphonic ringtones.

Buy a Panasonic KX-TG6523EB DECT trio digital cordless phone set now.

Panasonic KX-TG6521EB DECT single digital cordless phone set

• Price - £24.99
• Handsets - 1
• Customer rating - 4 stars
• Other information - The Panasonic KX-TG6521 has an integrated digital answerphone that records up to 20 minutes of messages. Messages can be played back on the base station or the handset and can even be remotely retrieved from an external phone using the remote playback feature.

Buy a Panasonic KX-TG6521EB DECT single digital cordless phone set now.

Panasonic KX-TG6513EM DECT trio digital cordless phone set (silver)

• Price - £46
• Handsets - 3
• Customer rating - 4.5 stars
• Other information - The Panasonic KX-TG6513 is an energy-efficient phone that delivers up to 17 hours of talktime/180 hours standby time per battery charge. The phone also features caller display and a 50-name and number call log, so you can see details of your call history.

Buy a Panasonic KX-TG6513EM DECT trio digital cordless phone set (silver) now.

Siemens DECT phones

German-owned electronics manufacturer Siemens says its Gigaset cordless phones are “the embodiment of innovation and design”. All Gigaset phones are thoroughly tested before leaving the factory, and Siemens promises that they will deliver high quality calling for years and years.

Here are some of the recommended handsets available from Amazon:

Siemens Gigaset C475 IP DECT cordless phone

• Price - £73.30
• Handsets - 1
• Customer rating - 4.5 stars
• Other information - The Siemens Gigaset C475 IP phone can work both with a standard BT phone line and an internet phone (VoIP) service, such as Vonage. The LCD screen on the phone is also backlit and in colour, making it very easy to navigate menus. There is a phone book to store up to 150 contacts and even the facility to send and receive text messages.

Buy a Siemens Gigaset C475 IP DECT cordless phone now.

Siemens Gigaset C385 with answerphone - twin eco DECT phone

• Price - £69.99
• Handsets - 2
• Customer rating - 5 stars
• Other information - The Gigaset C385 twin eco DECT phone uses Siemen’s High Sound Performance technology, so even when using speakerphone, you’ll never miss a word. Chat for as long as you like with extra long talk time of up to 25 hours, and the integrated phonebook has space for up to 150 entries. The Gigaset C385 also makes telephony greener with its energy-saving and radiation-free eco DECT technology.

Buy a Siemens Gigaset C385 with answerphone - twin eco DECT phone now.

Siemens Gigaset E365 big button DECT cordless phone

• Price - £43.99
• Handsets - 1
• Customer rating - 4 stars
• Other information - The Gigaset E365 is specially designed for those with sight and dexterity problems. Its pre-programmable buttons let you save your most important numbers - and get in touch with your loved ones at the touch of a single button. The phone even features a handy emergency call button to ensure that help is on its way when you need it most.

Buy a Siemens Gigaset E365 big button DECT cordless phone now.

Other DECT phones

There are plenty of other DECT cordless phones on the market, from brands including:

• Binatone
• BT
• Motorola
• Philips
• Doro

These are available from Amazon and most electronics retailers, as well as shops like Argos, Tesco and Asda. Remember, it’s essential you shop around before buying a DECT phone, to ensure you get the best model for your household.