A cordless phone with an answering machine built-in reduces clutter around your phone and gives you access to cool features like:

 

• Digital answering: Nearly all cordless phone/answering machine combinations use digital recording technology. Instead of cassette tape, incoming and outgoing messages are stored on a chip inside the phone. Recording times vary from about 14 minutes up to 30 minutes, so choose carefully based on your anticipated use.
• Voice prompts: Rather than having to remember a series of commands, your cordless handset will actually talk you through the operation of your answering device for message retrieval, rewinding, etc.
• Remote message retrieval: This feature allows you to play back messages through either using the touchpad on your handset or a remote phone.

Many of cordless phones come with built-in Caller ID displays to make it easier to see who is calling before you pick up the receiver. Caller ID is a service offered through your local phone company.  Most areas offer two types of service: number only or name and number. 

 

Because they are completely unattached to any type of socket, cordless phones rely on rechargeable batteries to operate. In addition to purchasing an extra battery for your phone, you may want to consider the following:

 

• Battery Life: Regular NiCad batteries only last about seven days before they need recharging. NiCads are also subject to battery memory problems if not used and recharged correctly. Consider phones with newer NiMH batteries, which give you longer battery life.
• Dual Battery Charger: Units that come with extra batteries and a charger separate from the handset allow you to charge one battery while you use the other in your phone.

 

Many cordless phones have a speakerphone built-into the base, giving you two phones in one. A few of these models also allow you to use the base and phone as an intercom system. A person can use the base to talk to whoever has the handset and vice-versa.

If you run a small business or simply have more than one phone line out of your house, you may want a phone that can handle dual lines. That way the same phone can be used to make or receive calls on either line. In some cases, you can transfer calls between lines and even make conference calls between multiple lines of your phone. Like many phone services, you must arrange with your phone company to have more than one telephone line/number.

Because you can take a cordless phone's handset anywhere, you can also end up leaving it anywhere, including under the sofa cushions or in the basement. Paging allows you to ring the handset from the base station, making it easier to find a misplaced phone.

 

This feature is simply another keypad on the base station of the phone. This is useful when your handset is charging on the base.