Customer Reviews

AT&T 972 2-Line Speakerphone with Caller ID (Espresso)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Disappointed with this model -- it's been in use for about a year, during which I've found the speakephone to be fritzy and the handset to struggle to pick up my voice lound and clear unless I'm speaking *directly* into the pickup. But, this model fills a niche for home offices ... basic features without too many other bells and whistles.

October 12, 2005

When I purchased the AT&T 972, it had been on the market for about four years. I received and installed this phone in early October.

The features that caused me to select this phone in the order of importance are:
1. Two line phone
2. Speaker phone
3. One touch and two touch dialing

The two line phone works with one cable or two cables.

The speaker phone works well. The person you call knows you are on a speaker phone, however, it is very clear. Having two people communicating on my end is not a problem. The volume control could be better; see below.

The eighteen one touch and two touch dialing capability is excellent. These buttons will dial any number, overseas or domestic. This phone stores up to 24 digits for each number and you are able to put a pause in the sequence which is handy for some situations.

To make labels for the one touch dialing, Microsoft Arial 11 Bold worked out well. To make the upper and lower labels easy to distinguish, I inserted two spaces before the lower name. The plastic cover over the one touch buttons is easy to remove yet is secure when you install it.

Things that could be done better:

The display is not back lit.

The volume control is alll programmable from the same volume up, volume down keys.

Below is a description of how the volume control works in different functions. I so wish there was a little mechanical switch for each ringer volume control.

The ringer volume for each line is controlledd with the phone hung up. The volume control adjusts the ringer of line 1 or line 2 according to which line is selected. Each time you press volume up or volume down, the phone produces one ring at the new volume and beeps when you reduce the volume to ringer off.

While on the speaker phone, the volume up or down keys will adjust the speaker volume. Once set, it seems to be correct for all calls. The volume change is in a small range but very adequate even for people with a slight hearing loss. For a reason known only to AT&T, a beep, beep, beep occurs when you change the volume; thus it is my recommendation you take it to the highest volume before you make your first call.

Hand Set - the same volume control works with the hand set as described with the speaker phone.

Other features you may like:

The hand set has a good feel to it and operates properly.

The button sizes and shapes are ideal.

Flash button to actuate call waiting or three-way calling.

Display Dialing allows you to call a number in your Call History List. When returning calls, you can go through your call list until you reach their name and number. Then press Display Dial to call that number. If the hand set is on the hook, the speaker will be turned-on.

This phone has lots of good features for a good price--when they work! The speakerphone on line 1 works great. You can hear and be heard from several feet away. When I use it on line 2, the speaker fades in and out, often so low you can't hear your party. The headset jack has a short in it, so you have to fiddle like crazy to find a position where the headset doesn't crackle (then if you accidently move the plug you have to start over). It has a cool feature that ends a call when the other person hangs up, saving you from having to hit a button to end the call when you're on speakerphone or headset, but unfortunately it occasionally will end a call BEFORE they hang up--embarrassing! The caller-ID will not let you back up to see a number you've already seen--it's just gone. The voicemail waiting light sometimes doesn't blink when you have voicemail. That's all I can think of right now. Anyone know of a good quality 2-line speakerphone that will hold up to every-day home-office use?

This phone worked well, but, in less than 6 months, the speakerphone faded in and out, to the point where it was not possible to hear the incoming message at times. I obtained a replacement, but the replacement phone did the same thing. Other people have reported similar experiences in their reviews.

We've had nothing but ongoing problems with this phone. The biggest one was the phantom interefence noises that would eminate from the phone in the middle of the night! They'd go away if you jiggled the cord enough and then suddenly come back a month or two later. The hands-free option no longer works and now it's extremely difficult both hearing and being heard on it. And we've barely owned it a year!

I've been very pleased with this phone, with one major exception...the headset capability. Although the phone says it works with "industry-standard" 2.5mm headsets, I was unable to find one with sufficient volume. When I called support, I was told that I needed an AT&T brand headset. I've ordered one and am hoping that solves my problem - but I am frustrated at the time and money I've wasted trying other brands in the mean time. Alternatives like Plantronics are NOT compatible with this phone.

First let me say that the speakerphone produces plenty of volume, much better than most other phones I have tried. This was especially important since I often participate on nightly conference calls overseas where low receive level is often a problem.

However, there is one major problem that might be related to poor design or manufacturing variation. (I have 3 of these phones). If another person picks up an extension in another part of the house while using the 972 speakerphone, the 972 speaker will cut in and out often introducing an annoying clicking sound for all parties listening. The amount of muting and clicking is differs significantly between the 3 phones I own. In the worst case, the speakerphone is totally muted and I can't hear anything.

I bought two of these phones for my home office. I thought the menu-driven interface was a nice touch, but it cannot overcome the poor sound quality of the handset. The microphone on the handset is hyper-sensitive. My S's hiss and my P's pop so loudly that it almost hurts, and it's distracting to hear myself breathing while listening to the other person. I'm returning this phone for something better.

The phone works OK, all features are fine, but when you are using 1 line and someone else uses the other line, you can hear them and they can hear your conversation. I thought that this was something in my house wiring but fond out that this is not the case, (and by the way, I am using 2 different phone companies).
Well, if you want something with that price, you expect to have some issues.
I would give it 3 star rating.

The AT&T 972 has some nice features to talk about (nice button arrangement, easy to access incoming/outgoing calls list, programming speed dials, etc.). The big problem is that it falls seriously short in outgoing voice quality from the handset and/or the speakerphone. The incoming side seems to be fine on the handset and speakerphone, that is, you can hear them just fine. The problem is that people I call say that my voice sounds "tinny" or is "clipping" (cutting off the high frequencies) when I use the handset. Using the speakerphone, no one could understand me unless I spoke with my mouth right next to the speakerphone. Obviously, this will not work for anyone.

So, I would not recommend this phone to anyone that needs to conduct a conversation over a speakerphone. It will not work and you will have wasted your money.