Binatone MA 760

== BINATONE MA760

==

THE PHONE

I got this phone about a year ago- from a car-boot! It cost me a fiver, However if this one breaks i'll definately replace it from Argos, where they are priced at around 22 pounds - which is a fab price considering they feature an answering machine.

The phone is black and silver in colour at the front and plain black at the back, The charger dock is also black and silver, with two lights on the front. The green one is to tell you that the phone is on the dock- although there is a loud beep that also tells you its connected on the cradle correctly. The red light is telling you that the phone is being charged or if the light is off, its telling you that its fully charged.

The keys are soft and made from rubber, making it an easy phone to use when dialling.

Its a cordless, Digital phone most commonly known as a DECT (these kinds of phones claim to have better reception, clarity and sound) The Digital display is not backlit and is a monochrome LCD.

I have to say that the battery is astounding! When I take the phone off the cradle, and use it alot, its easier to have it there near you, rather than getting up to get it and put it back- I often put the phone down on the coffee table and it gets left there for a period of a couple of days- the battery is still full!
If you are on the phone constanly it will work for upto 9 hours before it needs charging. The phone uses two rechargeable AAA batteries.

On the phone itself, is the loudspeaker button- this comes in handy an awful lot, especially if you are on hold listening to the naff music companies sometimes play- this way you don't have to hold it to your ear. The loudspeaker works from a large speaker at the back of the phone.
The phone is also handfree- so its possible to conduct a conversation while doing other things.

Its a comfortable handset to hold up to your ear and it is suitable to use with an hearing aid, if you are hard of hearing.

The handset can save upto 40 names and numbers, when the number you have saved calls- the name you have saved it as will flash up, so you can see the caller id, before answering.
It will also save the last 10 numbers you have dialled.

Some phones have the ability to write text messages now- this one does not.

As for when the phone is ringing- you have the choice of 5 ring volumes- beware volume 5 is very loud! Theres also 5 basic and traditional ringtones to choose from, but no polyphonic tones.

On the phones display is the battery level and the answer phone symbol, which flashes when you have a message. Lastly is the signal meter- you get a full signal when you are in the same room as the cradle- and it loses a bar when you venture into another room or upstairs. Although I haven't tried it- the phone claims to still have great reception upto 300 metres away.

The Digital display also tells you how many messages you have- even if you have none the display will say 'messages- 0' meaning at a glance you can always see whether someone has rung you and left a message.

While on a phone call the display will also time how long you have been on the phone for, and then when you have finished your conversation the timer will linger on the screen for several seconds so you can look at just how long the conversation lasted!

The phone can be paired up with upto 5 other handsets- good to know if you like a phone in every room!

On the Answerphone You can record your message to leave for callers, and then the caller gets 6 minutes in which to leave you a message.

The answer phone is worked all from your handset- for example press 1 for record, 8 for play etc etc.

OVERALL

Its a great phone, its small- so may not be good for the visually impaired as the print on the buttons is not big.

The reception is clear and the answer phone is an added bonus on a reasonably priced home phone.