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With the popularity of smartphones, traditional home phones may seem to be a thing of the past. However, there are still numerous reasons you may want to buy the good old home phones. First, they are quite cheap. Then there’s the health aspect. Smartphone addiction has led to many health issues, including thumb tendonitis and mental health issues. The notifications on smartphones are quite a nuisance. For these reasons, people still prefer traditional home phones.
Types of home phones
Corded
Though these phones are not as popular as they used to be, they remain a reliable option for home phones. Corded phones provide a secure phone connection. Their power comes from the telephone exchange. Therefore, you will have phone services during power blackouts. The sound quality is excellent. Due to their design, you cannot move around the house while making a call.
Cordless
Cordless phones are preferred as they allow you to move around as you make a call. Since these phones don’t have a cord connecting them to the Telco providers, they use radio frequency to connect to Telco providers. Cordless phones come with a base to hold the phone. According to this blog post, one of the crucial factors to check when buying a cordless phone is the call quality. Most phones have poor call quality. Therefore, don’t purchase a phone without testing the call quality.
Features to consider when buying a home phone
Most home phones come with impeccable features. Here are some of the features you should look out for when buying a home phone. You might need some or all the features listed below in your ideal home phone.
1. Display caller ID
Most phones have already included this feature. However, you should still ensure your home phone has it. Caller ID enables you to save phone numbers with a name. You can see who is calling you or those who called you while you were away. With caller ID, you can choose to show or hide your phone number.
2. Answering machine
Most of the home phones available in the market today have an answering machine. However, you will have to decide which answering device is ideal for you. Some phones have answering controls on the headset and some on the base of the phone. Those phones with all controls on the base take up more room and offer approximately 20 minutes of the recording period. Other phones offer more recording time.
3. LED screen
Home phones with an LED screen allow the phone to light up as it rings. Thus, it is easier to see the number calling you and the numbers you are keying in.
4. Contacts memory
This feature allows you to save names and numbers on your device. This allows easy access to the frequently contacted numbers. This feature is often used to store frequently dialed numbers, such as those for relatives and friends.
5. Battery duration
This is the time you can make calls before recharging the battery. If you intend to make a lot of calls, you will need a home phone with a longer battery duration. However, for those who need a phone or emergency purposes, then you may not pay so much attention to this feature. This feature is only available in cordless phones.
6. Hands-free
This feature enables you to use the phone without holding it. Phones with the hands-free function have a speaker that allows you to speak and listen without placing the phone on the ear.
7. Call blocking
Call blocking features come in handy when faced with unwanted calls. Most phones come with this feature, but the implementation is different in each. You should be able to block or silence any anonymous calls. Some phones allow you to clock up to 50 phone numbers. Some phones have a sophisticated implementation of call blocking that allows you to block international calls.
8. Range
It defines how far away from the base you can take your calls. Most phones provide a range of up to 50 meters in closed space and up to 300 meters outdoors. It would be best if you chose the range depending on the size of your property.
Conclusion
When it comes to buying a home phone, everyone has personal considerations. Some may prefer a phone with a higher range, while some may prefer a phone that goes for long without recharging. This guide has highlighted the features you should consider as you choose your ideal home phone. In addition to the features listed above, you should consider the reputation of the manufacturer before purchasing a home phone. Read customer reviews to see what other people have to say about the product.
