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What type of phone do you need?
Single-line phone
Ideal for: Home use. Available with many of the features found in more complex, high–end phones, but have only one line and are therefore more economical. If you're anticipating heavy call volume, opt for a phone with multiple lines.
Key features:
- Has one line, meaning only one call can be answered at a time, and calls cannot come in when an outside call has been placed.
- Available in corded or cordless styles. Corded models generally offer clearer reception and are more secure. Cordless models, however, are the most flexible, as the user is able to talk and move around without the restraints of a cord. Cordless models have a talk time of between 4 and 10 hours for each battery charge and some have an intercom/handset locator, which helps to find misplaced handsets.
- Some models have a built–in digital answering machine, with a record time of between 10 and 22 minutes, and up to three voicemail boxes, which are essential with multiple users.
- Some models offer caller ID (requires local service, not available in all areas), a speakerphone for group calls, and an LCD display, which shows information relating to the call, such as number dialed.
- Most have a hold function and handset volume control. Some have speed dialing capability, with a memory of 3 to 50 numbers.
- Most models are headset compatible for the user’s convenience and comfort. A headset (sold separately) is used in place of a handset, freeing the user’s hands and eliminating the need for cradling the handset between the user’s ear and shoulder.
Multi-line phone
Ideal for: Small or medium–sized offices that need to manage more than one line and do not want callers to get a busy signal. With up to four lines and more powerful features than a single–line phone, a phone with multiple lines can accommodate larger workgroups. Users can access any incoming call from any phone; outbound calls can be made from available free lines at the same time.
Key features:
- Has 2 to 4 lines, depending on the model; each line has a different phone number. Some have distinctive rings for each line. Corded models generally offer clearer reception and are more secure. Cordless models, however, are the most flexible, as the user is able to talk and move around without the restraints of a cord. Cordless models have a talk time of between 4 and 10 hours for each battery charge and some have an intercom/handset locator, which helps find misplaced handsets.
- Some models have a built–in digital answering machine, with a record time of between 10 and 22 minutes, and up to eight voicemail boxes, which are essential when multiple people use the phone.
- Some models offer caller ID (requires local service, not available in all areas), a speakerphone for group calls, conferencing capability for calling several people at one time, an LCD display, which shows information relating to the call, such as number dialed.
- Most have a hold function, and handset volume control. Some have speed–dialing capability, with a memory of 10 to 100 numbers.
- Most models are headset compatible for the user’s convenience and comfort. A headset (sold separately) is used in place of a handset, freeing the user’s hands and eliminating the need for cradling the handset between the user’s ear and shoulder.
Cordless phone
Ideal for: Small or home offices, or for people who need to move from place to place. Radio waves are used to transmit sounds between the handset and the base unit, which is plugged into the phone line.
Key features:
- The higher the frequency, the better the sound quality and security, and the less interference the phone is likely to encounter from other electronics and machines in the vicinity.
- Choose from three frequences: 900MHz, 2.4GHz, and 5.8GHz. In general, the higher the frequency, the less interference it will get from other machines. To a certain degree, a higher frequency can also translate into a longer range.
- 900MHz model can be either analog, which provides adequate levels of clarity, or digital, which provides a bit longer calling range. Both have shorter ranges (up to 500 or 1200 feet from the base) than other cordless phones, but they're the most competitively priced and can be used in homes and small business .
- 2.4GHz model employs digital spread spectrum (DSS) technology, works up to 2200 feet from the phone base, and operates on a range comparable to 5.8GHz phones. If you or your business has, or plans to install, a wireless (Wi–Fi) network, you should opt for a different frequency.
- 5.8GHz model employs digital spread spectrum (DSS) technology, works up to 2200 feet from the phone base, and operates on a newer, less crowded frequency than the other phones, which may lessen interference. Can cost about the same as many 2.4GHz models.
- 2.4 and 5.8GHz models have the clearest sound quality, with almost no echo.
- Business and household electronics that could potentially interfere with a cordless signal include: 900MHz — garage door openers, retail anti–theft tags and sensors, and some microwave ovens and baby monitors; 2.4GHz — microwave ovens, baby monitors, and Wi–Fi networks; 5.8GHz — the new generation of faster Wi–Fi networks (also known as the 802.11a standard).
- Operates off a battery that generally lasts 4 to 10 hours on a single charge. Look for a dual–battery system, which allows for swapping in a new battery rather than interrupting a conversation for recharging. Some phones offer a low–battery indicator for convenience.
- Most cordless phones have a hold function, handset volume control, and speed–dialing capability, with a memory of between 10 and 120 numbers. Some models have an intercom/handset locator and work with caller ID (requires local service, not available in all areas).
- Available in single– or multi–line systems. Many multi–line cordless phones come with multiple handsets or the ability to add extras (sold separately) without additional phone jacks.
Business phone system
Ideal for: Small to mid–sized businesses that manage multiple calls and require a group of phones that are connected to each other. Typically the most expensive, fully featured type of phone system, but the least likely to be replaced due to its expandability. Easy to add extra phones as a business grows.
Key features:
- Has 1 to 4 lines, depending on the model, all with the different phone numbers. Has distinctive rings for each line.
- Has a handset that attaches to the base unit with a cord, a cordless handset, or one of each. Corded models are generally clearer and more secure. Cordless models, however, are the most flexible, as the user is able to talk and move around without the restraints of a cord.
- Cordless models have a talk time of between 7 and 10 hours for each battery charge, and some have an intercom/handset locator for finding misplaced handsets.
- Easy to expand. Some cordless models allow for the addition of multiple handsets to the base unit without requiring an additional phone jack. Multiple corded units can become a full–functioning system, with page, intercom, and call transfer capabilities.
- All systems have hold function, handset volume control, and conferencing capability for calling several people at one time. Most have speakerphones, which are useful when multiple people need to be on a call and LCD displays which shows information relating to the call, such as number dialed. Some have built–in digital voice mail with 14 to 100 minutes of message time. Caller ID is frequently an option (requires local service, not available in all areas). All have speed dialing capability, with a memory of between 20 and 100 numbers. For added convenience, look for a system that has voice–activated dialing and voice–announced caller ID.
- Most models are headset compatible for the user's convenience and comfort. A headset (sold separately) is used in place of a handset, freeing the user’s hands and eliminating the need for cradling the handset between the user’s ear and shoulder.
Conference phone system
Ideal for: Meeting rooms or offices where conference calls are held. Some models are expandable, but don’t offer the range of features or privacy of business phone systems and aren’t intended to be the only system in your office.
Key features:
- Either standalone base unit with microphones and powerful speaker that connects to a telephone line or separate component that can be attached to any conventional office telephone, turning it into a speakerphone.
- Has either 180° or 360° microphones. Look for 360° microphones for full room coverage and full duplex audio, which allows you to talk and listen at the same time. Echo cancellation technology eliminate echoes, background noise, and clipped speech to provide clearer, more productive calls.
- Made for conference calls of between 1 to 12 people. For larger gatherings, additional external microphones on 6–foot cords are available on some models (sometimes sold separately).
- Some models have an adjustable ringer, mute button, speaker volume control, remote controls, and extra jacks for recording devices, which increase their flexibility.
