Sony SOHO Solution & Style...with Jog Dial

If you like a sharp, unusual-looking phone that happens to be well built and easy to understand, this Sony's terrific.

It doesn't just stop with the four incoming lines (via a pair of supplied dual line inputs). It has everything you'd expect in a SOHO phone: speakerphone, hold, mute, auto busy redial, intercom, paging, speed dial memories, standard headset outlet, ringer mute, etc.

The most obvious feature is that signature Sony jog dial in the upper right (identical to the two-line IT-M602 and the standalone TL-D10 Caller ID unit). Aside from wanting a Sony, I'd loved my TL-ID10 unit and was thrilled to find this machine. The jog is extraordinarily popular in Sony's expanded line of Japanese models, but not found too often stateside. You can quickly scroll though Caller ID numbers, menus and labels for your memory inputs.

The simple Caller ID setup feature that lets you input up to five local area codes, particularly useful for those of us in multiple area-code cities. You can use the callback feature without dancing around the extra '1' prefix some systems automatically add.

For those of us in areas regularly affected by power outages (like Florida), the 9v battery backup means you can still make and receive calls. When's the last time you tried that with your cordless?

Manual is extremely complete and useful.

The best part is the price. I found mine on eBay for $50...like new. Auctions run $50-90 (plus about $15 shipping). You're paying less than half original retail. Dark gray IT-M804 is virtually identical to the white two-line IT-M602.