Customer Reviews

GE - DECT 6.0 - Ultra Slim speakerphone with digital answering system

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

 

 

QUICK SUMMARY: My 2.4 AT&T branded was starting to drop connections to the base station. Suspecting that the 2.4GHz frequencies were overcrowded I was looking at the DECT (1.9Ghz) phones as a possible upgrade. CallerID is very important to me, as I screen alot. So a full display is critical. The GE does this nicely, with the number and CID info fully displayed. No "scrolling" displays like in other phones. There is a VIP function, so you can assign a "known" CID to an alternate ring. The only feature that I miss from the AT&T is the voice announce of the incoming CID. The answering machine is basic enough for me and is available from the phone or the base station. Visually nice to display with a minimalist design and not bulky like the other units. Voice quality was good on the phone and the speakerphone on the phone was loud enough to hear it easily a few feet away. The base unit always displays the blue "charge" light when phone is in cradle. The base unit can tell when another phone in the house is using the line and will display an "In Use" light. I plan on getting the extension unit when they become available in August'07 so I can use the baby monitor option.

PROS: Attractive slim design. CallerID display is complete and accurate. Good/Average voice quality. No noise or dropped connections. Easy to use.

CONS: Too slim if you are using phone for long periods. Speakerphone is adequate but "volume attack" is noticable at times. No speakerphone on base only on phone.

I needed to replace my old Panasonic 5.8 GHz system due to battery issues with the 3 handsets. My requirements were pretty simple, I needed an answering machine and 3 cordless handsets to use throughout the house. I also wanted the latest technology, cool looks and solid performance. Price was not an obstacle.

I chose this GE Ultra Slim DECT 6.0 system. I purchased the base station and 2 add-on handsets. It's Ultra Slim design was definitely an eye catcher, and is one of the best looking phone systems I have seen. I REALLY wanted to like this phone. Unfortunately the phone did not perform in the most basic of its functions . . . as a PHONE! While in my Office near the base station calls were clear and uninterrupted. As soon as I left that room and wander throughout the house, the handset first became static filled, then eventually began frequently dropping portions of the conversation, rendering it almost completely useless as a cordless phone.

I returned this design and replaced it with another GE DECT 6.0 system, and experienced the exact same problems! I was leary of the DECT 6.0 technology, but decided to give the Vtech DECT 6.0 system a try (looks just as good as the GE Ultra Slim), and it performs tremendously well - better even than the Panasonic 5.8 GHz system it replaced.

CONCLUSION - Vtech DECT 6.0 works well, GE DECT 6.0 system did not in my home.

I've never had a cordless phone/answering system before. So, I like that I can listen to my calls from the handset and not have to stand at the answering machine.

I didn't love the phone at first, but have gotten used to it over time. All in all, I am disappointed in the handset, and will not be buying more handsets as I planned to when I bought this expandable system.

Pros: The batteries last nicely between charges. You can assign different rings to different callers. You can use handset to operate answering system. You supposedly can buy more handsets. Very, very cute (mine is red). Answering machine is clearly audible. Small footprint. While on table top, you can see how many messages from across the room, because of it's vertical design. Works well throughout my (larger) home, without interference or static. Handset has speaker phone and caller ID. Small lightweight phone fits in your pocket.

Cons: The phone book is hard to navigate, you can't prop it on your shoulder (people won't hear you, and it's so small it'll fall) People complain they can't hear you, but that resolves over time as you learn to hold it in it's necessary position. No place to plug in a headset. I haven't seen expansion phones for sale. No speaker/phone on base. No caller ID on base. No option of belt clip for phone.

I've tried cordless phones before. They either did'nt cut it in my 4 story home or my teenagers would drop them and of course they would break after bouncing on the carpet once. The GE 6.0 performs admirably ! It stands up to abuse, sounds as clear..well more clear than a land line, and I got a surprise the other day when I was walking my dog and had forgotten to take the handset out of my pocket. My daughter called from Nevada and the phone rang in my pocket while I was 2 blocks away from my house ! When I answered, the sound was perfect. No different than if I had been standing in the living room. WOW ! Plus the choice in ring tones is very fun ! The way the phone is set up, it has all the features yet is easy to understand if you are tech impaired like I am.

In the past I have used nicer Uniden and Vtech phone models, and got used to their good looks and quality functions. The last phone I had was a Vtech 5.8 (the chic long thin model with the color display) but it started dying on me after a year. So I decided to take a gamble with GE, a brand I've never tried, primarily because it looked cool. I got the base unit and then one expandable unit.

The phone worked OK for a while (about a month and a half). Even when it was working optimally, it was just OK, a step down in quality from the others I'd had. I like the buttons, which have an unusual rubbery surface, and the look is extremely thin and sleek, if not a bit light and flimsy feeling. But the voice quality is poor, as is the speakerphone. The speakerphone was extremely quiet, and the speaker is on the back of the phone. Thus if you are trying to type on the computer as you listen to the speaker, you will have to flip the phone on its front to hear anything--which is kind of awkward since the mic is on the front. The phone ring options were limited. Screen display is simple - it's fine, nothing special. There are certain options it doesn't have, which are kind of annoying because I was used to having them on the higher end phones -- ie. when a call comes in and you want to ignore it, there is no button to press on the handset to silence the ringer. You just have to listen to it keep on ringing.

A month or so into having the phone, the reception suddenly tanked. Although I could hear everything the other side was saying, people suddenly had trouble hearing me, getting "dropped" portions of the call almost every few seconds -- as frustrating as a cell phone in a bad reception area. I bought another DECT 6 phone, though, and it's having the same problems, so it might be the DECT 6 frequency. I'm going to go back to 5.8 and see how that works.

But either way, this phone is not thrilling and you will be slightly disappointed in its quality if you're used to nicer cordless phones. Get this if are ok with something REALLY bare bones and basic.

I just received new phones that I had to purchase to replace the GE Ultra Slim phones I purchased just over a year ago. We are literally known as "the people with the phones that don't work." Shortly after purchasing the ones, one would only work on speaker, one wouldn't charge, the speaker/ringer would not work on another, and another just completely died.

Pros - Sleek and slim, looks nice, stores phone numbers and some extra features, decent range etc.

Cons - Everything else. Cannot hear anything from the other end since voice clarity is absolutely appalling! Okay, I don't want to waste too much time on this review, because it's such a waste of time speaking about this ridiculous equipment. I'm so frustrated with this POS bought for $70 from Walmart. Dect 6.0 is supposed to be interference free, but GE went one step ahead so that it has interference even with fluorescent light bulbs! It only stores 3 numbers for redial and I find this also very limited. This is a phone I bought for style over substance and what a nightmare it turned out to be. It's nothing wrong with the technology I suppose, just a bad product. (And yes, I've owned this for over a year now).

Enough said. Get something else, may be anything else!

----------------- Update as of 03 Aug 2011 ---------

Now that I've changed to a new home the voice quality has increased quite a bit. It probably was the fault of the old copper line in the house. Now we use this as a VOIP phone with Vonage and the phone works much better than how it was.

We owned this item and several individual handsets and they suffered flood damage after Hurricane Ike. I was happy to buy the same again - the range is excellent vs. non-DECT phones and the styling and size on these GE phones is really sharp compared to most cordless phones. I think GE now have a stainless finish model - but I'm happy with black. The handsets are really small and light - without feeling cheap.

I think this phone is fantastic. I had a panasonic for years. And, about 2 years ago bought a GE cordless for $15.
That phone was fantastic. I took one look at this slimline and fell in love. I think GE has better designs than Panasonic. The speaker phone is clear, clear, clear, and loud. I mostly use the speaker phone as to not get radiation vibes. Gorgeous looking. Love the blue with the lighted effect. Can't put it down. And, so far crystal clear as promised. I have only had it a few weeks. Granted you have to buy each phone separately at least in my case. However, I was smitten and couldn't resist.

Couldn't be happier. Great design and so far great quality.

I like the expandable to 6 and the very slim features. The negatives are related, somewhat. The ear volume and ringer should both be capable of being louder.