New cordless phone technology

One of the most promising developments is the arrival of phones that operate in a different frequency band than WiFi networks, Bluetooth, baby monitors, and other wireless devices. Skirting the congested 2.4- and 5.8-gigahertz (GHz) bands, these phones use the 1.9-GHz band, which is reserved for voice applications. The goal is to eliminate interference with other devices—and our tests showed it does exactly that. The technology, called Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT, often called DECT "6.0" for no apparent reason other than to convince buyers they're getting something better than a 5.8GHz phone), also deliver much longer talk time than we've seen before. Even phones in the heavily trafficked 2.4-GHz band have tackled some of the interference problem. In our tests, "wireless-network-friendly phones," from AT&T minimized or eliminated interference by avoiding portions of the band used by WiFi networks (though they still may cause interference to other wireless products).

In another trend, some cordless models can stand in for your cell phone. By placing your cell phone near the cordless phone's base, you can access your wireless service via Bluetooth technology and use your cordless handset to make or take cell calls. Besides the convenience of using one cordless handset for all your calls, you might get better cell-phone reception within your home. (For example, if you don't get cell service in you basement, you might be able to make or take calls from there using the cordless handset.) It also makes it easier to use whichever account offers unused talk time. But before you buy such a phone, make sure your cell phone is compatible by checking the vendor's Web site.

Other cordless models let you switch between traditional landline and Internet phone service, also known as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Such phones have a regular phone jack and an Ethernet jack for hookup to your home network. Heavy long-distance users can save big with VoIP if they have the required high-speed Internet access. Plans offered by cable companies typically include unlimited domestic calls for about $20 a month, plus comparatively low-cost international calls. Some phones have VoIP service, such as Skype, built in. Unlike cable-based VoIP services, Skype is a peer-to-peer service that lets you call any Skype subscriber in the world for free. Connecting with non-Skypers in the U.S. is also a bargain-$90 a year.

These new phones have just begun to trickle into the marketplace, so they represent only a few of the models in our Ratings. If you don't have to be on the cutting edge, you'll find plenty of other solid choices at good prices in our Ratings (available to subscribers).