After a few years of a drought in the 2-line cordless phone market, the first of the 2-line DECT 6.0 phones have arrived. For the technology averse, there's no need to feel overwhelmed though. These new 2-line DECT cordless phones really aren't advanced wizardry. Telecommunications manufacturers have been painfully slow at bringing a home office cordless phone to the North American market that combines reasonable range with minimal or no interference. What's reasonable range? Well, you should have the ability to freely roam around a 5000 plus square foot home with multiple floors, right? You also shouldn't have to be concerned with WiFi interference or be worried about eavesdropping...all issues alleviated with DECT 6.0. A 2-line cordless phone that enhances a professional image and just plain works - has been long overdue.
What's the deal with this DECT stuff?
"DECT" sounds like something got caught in your throat, but it's just an acronym for Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications - a voice-dedicated digital wireless communication technology that operates at 1.9 GHz. It's been around for a couple years in the U.S. and the technology has been popular in Europe for over 10 years. With some rapid searches online, you'll see reviews singing the praises of DECT 6.0 for 1-line phones (realize that "6.0" refers to the edition of DECT and not 6.0 GHz, which confuses some). Prior to DECT, it was next to impossible to find a quality sounding 2-line cordless phone that performed flawlessly at +100 ft and also had no interference with other wireless devices, microwaves, your neighbor's phone or wireless network. All other technology being equal, the lower the frequency (ex. 900 Mhz), the longer the physical range you'll get with your cordless phone....and likely, the more interference (static) you'll also get. The higher frequencies, like 5.8 Ghz, have the opposite effect of minimal interference, but a shorter physical range. DECT 6.0's inherent ability to balance more-than-respectable range and little interference is a great fit with a 2-line phone. Who likes to hear a digitized voice (ร la a bad cell phone call), especially those who frequently make important phone calls? On average, a 2-line phone customer is also going to require more handsets and this typically comes with a requirement for more physical range. Again, DECT plays to this need quite well. Added benefits of DECT include improved efficiency/longer talk time, enhanced security and exceptional value compared with phones operating at other frequencies.
What to look for?
While there may be specific requirements for your large home/home office, research on the not so obvious subtleties are just as critical. Look for online reviews and ask you favorite retailer for their suggestions based on customer feedback and returns, including subjective items. Subjective qualities you won't find in a sales slick include the craftsmanship of the handset or keys, ease of use, and even call clarity. Early 2-line DECT 6.0 models feature expandability (up to 10 handsets), headset jacks, speaker phones in the base and handset, ease of call transfer, and menu simplicity. While DECT 6.0 is an ideal match-up with a 2-line phone, DECT does not guarantee superb voice clarity or premium build quality. As always, be sure to do your research.
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