What kind of phone should you get for your home? Understanding the various features offered by cordless telephones can help you determine which particular model best suits your needs.

Single- vs. multiple-line

If you have a single incoming phone line, and you don't foresee adding any additional lines, a single-line phone should serve your needs well.

However, if your home has two or more phone lines, then a multiple-line phone may be just what you need. Whether you've added extra lines for a teenager's room or a home office, a multi-line phone gives you a greater degree of flexibility than separate phones for each line. Most multi-line phones offer features like 3-way conferencing, base-to-handset paging, intercom, and distinct rings for each line.

Cordless performance: Keep walkin' while you keep talkin'

With most cordless phones, you can reasonably expect the range to extend throughout your home and perhaps out into your yard, under good conditions. Digital cordless phones also offer protection from eavesdropping, usually by means of randomly selected security codes which are continuously transmitted between the handset and base.

Cordless phone models generally use one of two different frequency ranges to transmit their signals. Here are some of the types you'll find:

• 1.9 GHz — This frequency was recently designated as voice-only to protect telephone users from the interference commonly caused by wireless home networks. This means that 1.9 GHz phones operate on a less crowded frequency than 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz phones, and can provide superior sound quality and range. Most DECT phones use this frequency range exclusively.
• 2.4 GHz — Compared to earlier transmission ranges like 900 MHz, the 2.4 GHz range is relatively uncrowded, making it less susceptible to interference. 2.4 GHz phones also have a slight edge in range compared to 900 MHz models. However, they have to compete with Wi-Fi® signals and other wireless devices. So if you have a wireless network in your home, you might need a phone that operates at a higher frequency range.
• 5.8 GHz — 5.8 GHz cordless phones present even less possibility of interference from other devices, since their higher frequency range is less crowded than the 2.4 GHz range. For this reason, 5.8 GHz phones are generally recommended for homes with Wi-Fi networks.

Another feature to look for in a higher-quality cordless phone is digital spread spectrum technology. An advanced form of cordless transmission, digital spread spectrum has a higher power output for greater range, and offers constant switching from channel to channel for more effective security.

Telephone features

Most current phones have Caller ID which displays the caller's name and phone number. Phones with Call Waiting Caller ID display info about incoming callers even when you're already on the phone. Many newer phones have taken this feature one step further by offering Talking Caller ID, which announces the name of the caller so you don't have to get up to read the phone. You must subscribe to Caller ID and Call Waiting Caller ID services with your local phone company. Rates vary with locality.

Most of today's phones include an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) on the handset or base that gives you a quick and convenient readout of information such as channel number, phone number dialed, speed dial memory, Caller ID information, and battery strength. An increasing number of phones come with a color display, and some allow you to customize the background.

Phones with a speakerphone let you answer a call or wait on hold without using the handset. Some speakerphones are in the handset itself, so you can take your speakerphone with you around the house. Some speakerphone models also have a base keypad and on-hook dialing, which lets you dial out without using the handset.

Some cordless phones can be connected to an optional headset to allow you to walk around and keep your hands free while you talk. Another popular feature is an illuminated handset, which makes it easy to see the keypad when dialing in the dark.

Integrated answering machines

Many phones also have built-in digital answering machines for added convenience. Digital answering machines store messages on a computer chip instead of a tape. Your messages are easy to access and can be selectively skipped, repeated, or deleted — often remotely, as well as in person.

Most integrated digital answering machines have a message capacity of 15 minutes or more, including the greeting, and some of them offer separate voicemail boxes so that callers can leave messages for specific people or departments.

Many integrated answering machines offer:

• Call screening to let you hear who's leaving a message so you can decide whether or not to pick up
• Auto disconnect, which hangs up the line after a set period of time
• Time/day stamp to let you know when the message was left