If you still rock the POTS and are hunting for a new cordless phone that’s not heinous looking (seriously, why are most cordless phones so ugly?) and won’t pick up interference from the other wireless signals around you (my 802.11g client picks up no fewer than 22 networks, to say nothing of the signals from other cordless products), check out these five newly available VTech DECT phones. DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) technology was recently approved for use in the U.S. and has better call quality and range than 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz and doesn’t suffer from wireless network interference.
The 6031 is the base model with an MSRP of $49.95 and features like handset speakerphone and volume control, caller ID that stores the last 50 calls and a blue backlit keypad and display. The 6032 adds an answering machine, the 6041 loses the answering machine and gains a handset, the 6042 (pictured above) gets the answering machine and two handsets and the top-of-the-line $99.95 6053 gets you three handsets and the answering machine. Plus, they all look pretty great, with a bit of the RAZR’s looks added to the keypad.
The 6053 can be found nationwide at Costco and Sam’s Club, while the others can be tracked down at Wal-Mart, Target, Radio Shack and online at VTech’s Web site.