Customer Reviews

AT&T E2562 2.4 GHz DSS 2-Line Expandable Cordless Phone with Answering System and Corded Base

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I spent 5 years wrestling the Siemens gigaset. This thing was so flaky and unreliable, that we eventually had to get another system. All the other expandable 2 line systems had some sort of major handicap, so we waited and waited.

Now, AT&T all of a sudden seems to get it right. I'm not saying that this thing is without its faults, it certainly is. But as far as the alternatives in this space, it seems to be the best one out there. As someone who avoided anything that even looked like it had some association to AT&T for the past 2 decades, I am surprised at how nice this thing is.

Sound quality is quite good, as is range. The handsets, a huge siemens weakness, are really nice. Easy software features, simple use, a decent speakerphone, easy dialing, and a usable intercom, plus they are simply nice looking and tactile feel is high end.

THe base is good also. The line selection thing is a tad awkward, but you just have to get used to it, then it will be fine. The speakerphone volume is poor, but it is not the end of the world. The commercial polycom and nortel speakerphones sound lousy also. The answering system is a huge improvement over the siemens, and the universal paging and intercom of the base to the handsets is really great.

All in all, very pleased. 1 more thing, the handsets use AA batteries in a goofy battery carrier. I note this because there are consistent complaints of battery life issues on cordless phones. It appears that you can substitute a high MAh NiMH battery, in other words no $30 proprietary battery, which can save hundreds over a few years.

So far, so good. Hope it doesn't die in 11 months like all other consumer electronics seem to....

I've had exactly the same problems as some of the other reviewers. The E2562 cuts off about a third of the callers who try to leave messages. When the first model did this, I called AT&T and they swapped out my unit for another 2562 model. It ALSO cut off my callers. So they offered me the previous model, the 2462.

I've still got both of them sitting on my desk not knowing what to do, because the 2462--you guessed it--cuts off my callers in mid-sentence. And by this time, I'm far beyond the return time for the unit. The only thing AT&T can offer me is a cordless model that is only one line. I need the corded base (to do interviews) and of course the two lines for my business.

Also after the third unit, the 2462, failed, the company had the nerve to say the problem must be in my phone line! Now that I read these other reviews, I can't believe I almost bought that.

My other complaints mirror others noted here--you can't switch lines with the handset off the base. You have to remember to do it before you pick up. The sound quality of the answering machine is poor. And here's another annoyance that probably wouldn't bother most people. I need to have voice mail through my phone company for my business line (I do long interviews on the phone and don't want my callers to get a busy signal). So I turned off the answering system on Line 2. But when you do that, the on-off button on the phone BLINKS--drives me crazy! I have to put a sticker over it.

Don't buy this phone. If you get a working answering machine with it, you'll be lucky. Look into other options. And to AT&T -- this phone system is far too expensive to be continuing to sell a system on the market that is as bad as this one is.

It only gets 2 stars instead of one because it's a sleek-looking phone. And the handset expansions work.

I purchased this phone with high hopes of it being able to handle both personal and business lines well, and in a discreet way. The fact is, the electronic features of this product are brilliantly thought out and the phone system functions with a high degree of intuition. It also has a quality "feel". The problem is, the voice quality (ultimately the bottom line) is poor (people complained) and the sound reproduction of the answering machine is simply dreadful - for me it was unacceptable.

Another problem, is that the two base units for the cordless handsets (not the handsets, themselves) that I got with this phone (I purchased an additional one) interfered with the VHF reception on my TV to the point of rendering it non watchable. As long as one of the base units was plugged into a wall receptacle somewhere in the house, it produced tremendous visual and auditory interference on the TV across the VHF spectrum (I use an antenna for off-air viewing) that made it impossible to view ANY programming. Unplug the base units from the wall (again, I'm not speaking about handset use) and the problem stopped immediately! Go figure!

This promising product needs further refinement to be viable. I returned mine for a refund.

This phone is just terrrible. The answering machine sounds like someone with marbles in their mouth. A $19 answering machine sounds better. What's worse than that is that inexplicably callers get cut off in the middle of their message. Also you can be assured that if line two rings while line 1 is taking a message the answering machine cuts off. Switching lines or using the built in address book is totally non-intuitive. It reminds me of the original calculators using reverse polish notation. (no slur intended) Normally, when one wants to make a call, we pick up the receiver and dial right? With this phone you must select your line, scroll through the address book to find the number you wish to call, go through the menu system and only then pick up the handset and it auto-dials. I could go on and on but lets just leave it at JUST TERRIBLE.

I actually find the sound quality and range pretty good, but I think the system is designed poorly. I can't tell you how many times I have been on the phone and wanted to scroll through my caller ID to get a number for someone I was talking to. No dice, it won't do that. There are a number of issues like that. I can't program it to prefer line 2 to make calls. You may think this is a not a big deal, except I don't like to reveal the line 1 number to my clients via there caller ID. So there went my private line.

Also the belt clip is worthless and after what seemed like hours on the customer support line they want to charge me $5.00 to replace it even though the phone is still under warranty. I'll try a different brand next time.

We tested Model 2462, two different bases, cut off messages. They sent us this upgraded model, E2562. Switching lines is very difficult at the base, however, not a problem that can't be worked around. But, when line one is placed on hold to answer line two, line one is disconnected. Not acceptable! Especially in a business environment. Too bad, because the voice quality is great. So far only one day of lost messages (hopefully a fluke).

That's right, ANOTHER review that the answering machine hangs up in mid-call. Some days it's fine, most days it's not. This is the SECOND unit I've tried; BOTH units began exhibiting this problem after a month or so of service. It seems the problem begins as soon as you throw the packages away...

Additionally; -the handsets don't easily register button presses, which makes dialing many digits difficult. -the ink labels on the chrome buttons have worn off (one of them being "OFF"!). -line 1/line 2 selection on the base unit is not intuitive. This "feature" doesn't add any special function and is counter-intuitive. -the power button blinks constantly, reminding you that... wait! It doesn't remind you of ANYTHING. -the handset units can't initiate a voice page to the base without someone at the base to pick it up.

Customer support: AT&T's phone systems website does not provide any telephone #'s. Additionally, AT&T recently merged with SBC. Just great, since SBC has to be one of the WORST companies in regards to customer service. It took me 6 phone calls, which included at least 10 transfers, to find out they didn't know anything about the phone or whom to call for support. It took 45 minutes for me to learn that everyone at SBC/AT&T is clueless. One rep even said, "We make desk phones? Really?".

Sadly, it is obvious that AT&T & SBC don't rate customer support, satisfaction or product reliability very highly. What type of QA department overlooks a phone/answering machine that DOESN'T RECORD MESSAGES????

Like other reviewers, I had the same problem with about 25% of line one calls cut off and the answering machine asking the caller for a security code. I tried 3 different E2562 phones including one replaced by AT&T. All the replacements had the same disconnect problem on line one. Line two was perfect on all phones.

The reason I'm giving this phone 4 stars is that I overcame the answering machine problem by using my phone providers voice mail for line one. The E2562 is far superior to other 2 line systems I've tried including Uniden and VTech. The E2562's sound quality, speakerphone quality and ease of use are the best I've found in any phone. The handsets have a good feel and battery life is excellent.

If you can live with the answering machine snafu, this is the best 2-line expandable phone system at an affordable price.

For the price I paid ($145) this phone has a looot of shortcomings. For e.g., if you pick up the receiver, there's no way to press the redial option. The redial option is only available on the screen when the phone is on the hook. Secondly, if line 2 rings and you pick the phone up, it goes into line 1. Instead of line 2 (duh..)
The cordless has a very short battery life has to be constantly recharged!!
Also, if you have a power cut, both phones don't work. I bought this one thinking at least the corded phone would work (GE has a model like that) but unfortunately, I was mistaken.

It's a good phone all-in-all, and serves the purpose of a 2-line corded + cordless set, but it's overpriced. Next time I'm sticking with GE!

Bought it for my new retail store and hate it almost as much as my customers who try to leave messages and just get cut off. It may have cost me sales, who knows.

One of the cordless handsets has a battery that is defective.

It is also common to think you have keyed in a whole telephone number only to find after a while of waiting to hear a ringtone that the key pad didn't register one of the buttons you pressed. We now spend time very deliberatley pressing the numbers to avoid wasting even more time.

The only reason I haven't changed it yet is that I work so many hours I have had no time. When I do buy a new one I intend to destroy this model with a mallet, or by rolling over it with my truck. I feel I need revenge and satisfaction. Terrible product.