This is new DECT Technology, and it works well!

This Panasonic is part of the new DECT technology. If you are not familiar with it, let's look at the Wikipedia definition:

"DECT or Digital Enhanced (formerly European) Cordless Telecommunications is an ETSI standard for digital portable phones, commonly used for domestic or corporate purposes. DECT can also be used for wireless data transfers. DECT is recognised by the ITU as fulfilling the IMT-2000 requirements and thus qualifies as a 3G system. Within the IMT-2000 group of technologies, DECT is referred to as IMT-FT (Frequency Time)." Well, that's a little involved explanation, but what it boils down to is that it is a new technology with very little interference, and most important, will NOT INTERFERE if you have a wireless network set up in your home or apartment. Some cordless phones interfere with a Wi-Fi network, but DECT phones, by any manufacturer will not! Operating in the 1.9GHz frequency range, your phone will not conflict with other wireless devices such as computer routers, wireless keyboards, microwave ovens and other common household devices.

For those folks who always e-mail me to say they want the features, here they are:

Features
Up to 17 Hours of Talk Time
Comfortable, Easy-to-Use, Large-Button Handset
DECT 6.0 Technology Means Less Interference
Spanish LCDE and Voice Prompt
Expandable up to 6 Handsets
Up to 3-Way Conference Capability
Wireless Network Friendly
Phonebook Sharing
16 Minute answering machine capacity
Built-In Clock with Alarm on Handset
Backlit LCD on Handset
Digital Speakerphone on Handset
Call Waiting Caller ID
50-Station Phonebook and Dialer
Headset Jack and Belt Clip Included
Wall-Mountable Base Unit
2 Handsets, 1 Base and 1 Charger Included

Panasonic has been producing phones for many years now, and is no newcomer to this business. Why did I purchase this phone instead of others made by manufacturers like Philips, VTech and others? I've had Panasonic cordless phones before, and they have always been good solid performers.

This set comes with 2 handsets, but you can order more if needed. There is another Panasonic, model #KX-TG1034S that comes with 4 handsets, so look into that instead of buying this and spending more money. It may pay if you know that 2 handsets will not be enough for your particular installation. The Panasonic DECT phones with an answering machine built in give you 16 minutes of record time.

Lets take a quick tour of the phone so you can get a good idea if it fits your needs and budget. Both handsets have a standard keypad to dial with. Nice large white numbers on black keys. Very easy to read. There is a standard small LCD display on top of the phone which shows the number you have dialed, and handles Caller-ID as well. I found that it is a little difficult to read in darker areas, but thus far has not presented a major problem for me.

The very top of the phone has an orange LED which lights up when the phone is charging in its cradle, or when it is ringing. The phone itself has dedicated buttons for PHONEBOOK, MENU/OK, PAUSE/REDIAL, TALK, OFF, SPEAKER PHONE AND MUTE/CLEAR.

PHONEBOOK-Pressing this button shows you the numbers stored in your phonebook, just like in a cell phone. The nice thing about the system is you can program the phonebook on ANY of the handsets, and it will show up on all of them! The DECT handsets all communicate with each other, so if a call comes in all the handsets will show you the CALLED ID for the call.

MENU./OK-This simply brings up the menu on the phone to adjust caller ID, answering device, alarm, Phonebook settings, handset settings, set date & time, set telephone line, customer support. All of these settings help you to adjust the phone and handset to function the way you set it up. I can go on for pages and pages here of what these features do, but to save time and space, I suggest you go to the Panasonic web site and the listing of cordless DECT phones. To make it easier to find, here is the listing for the correct web page:

http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Phones-Fax/Telephones/DECT-6-0-Phones.list.75070_11002_7000000000000005702

Let me clarify one thing I mentioned earlier. The LCD display is a little difficult to read if the phone is sitting totally idle, however if you press any keys or receive a call, the backlight comes on, making it quite easy to read the LCD display, even in total darkness. I just wanted to clear that up in case anyone interpreted the fact that there is no backlight, when in reality there is.

The main base unit, with the digital answering machine built in, has the usual buttons for that type of device:

VOLUME UP/DOWN, LOCATOR, (which rings the handset in case you misplaced it), ERASE, STOP, REPEAT, SKIP & ANSWERING MACHINE ON. Typical self-explanatory buttons for any type of answering machine. This one will record 16 minutes worth of messages.

The handset itself is fairly light, and presents no problem if you hold it for a long period of time. The orange SPEAKERPHONE icon turns the handset into a speakerphone, which surprisingly, works quite well, to my amazement!

There are 2 other dedicated buttons on the bottom of the handset, labeled FLASH/CALL WAIT, and INTERCOM/TRANSFER. Flash simply momentarily hangs up the phone and releases it. The Intercom button can transfer a call received on one handset to any other, and also acts like an intercom system if you want to talk to someone on another handset in your home.

Panasonic claims that you get 17 hours of talk time with the phones. I haven't put it to the test yet, but I will, and will update this review to report my findings. The answering machine records pretty clear digital messages with little distortion!

I was an audio engineer for many years, and I am very aware of sounds and speakers. The voice quality on this phone is very good with good clarity. I have not had any interference at all thus far. Maybe due to the fact it is a new technology and there are not many DECT phones out there yet, or the 1.9 Ghz, frequency that it uses really is interference free. Time will be the big test on this one as more and more people purchase a DECT phone.

So far I've had no problems at all with this phone. Handsets are light, easy to use and have a good speakerphone built into them. If you need a new cordless phone, buy this one, or one of the other Panasonic DECT phones, you really won't be sorry!