Customer Reviews

IBM 3455 2.4 GHz Cordless Telephone with Call Waiting, Caller ID, and Headset

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I've used a Panasonic 2.4Ghz phone for a long time now and was never happy with it for two reasons. It wasn't loud enough and I would get an out of range message atleast once a week even by the base. This IBM phone has great volume and range. It's also more comfortable to use and just fits your head better. The one feature it lacks is a backlit LCD. It's really annoying not to be able to see the LCD, especially for CallerID, in the dark. That's the only complaint I have, otherwise the phone is great!

This is a great for for the money. Reception is clear and the range is nice - even in my apartment complex. The buttons on the handset require a slightly firmer press than most phones, which means that you won't accidentally disconnect the call when cradling the phone between your ear and shoulder. Even though the feature set is somewhat limited, everything on the phone actually works; for example, the Panasonic 2.4GHz phone that this replaced *didn't* support 10-digital dialing (only dialed 1+AC+number or 7-digit number only), so the "caller ID callback" feature was useless. Nothing like that on this phone. Also, the phone has a very logical setup - unlike the Panasonic that required unnatural key combinations to add a caller to your phonebook, the IBM is so easy that you won't even need the manual. Only downside is that there's no backlight on the LCD.

I should have read the reviews here more carefully before picking up this phone; all of the complaints are right on target.

1. Noise. My 3-year-old 900 MHz Lucent phone is quieter than this one, and I am replacing it because of the noise. The IBM phone will only try about 3 channels, and all are equally bad.

2. No way to turn off auto-answer. That is, if the phone is in the cradle when it rings, you have to pick it up to see the caller ID. That answers the phone automatically.

3. No backlight. You have to turn the light on to see the caller ID info.

4. Bad battery connections. Just touch this connector to make it flake out.

5. Terrible headset. This thing either:
a) falls off or b) pokes you in the eye with the short microphone boom.

You should save your money on this one. I purchased a Uniden TRU346 as a second attempt, and so far it excels in every way. None of the 5 problems listed above exist with that phone, which is 2.4 GHz digital spread spectrum (and a bit more pricey, but worth it).

IBM's engineers should be embarrassed over this fiasco.

I have been very pleased with this phone so far (we have had it approximately one month). The clarity has not been a problem. My one warning would be if you want a headset with your phone, do not choose this one. While most headsets fit completely over your head, this is a bizarre ear clip with microphone on a very short bendy stick. I could not get it to work. The telephone itself and all of the other features have not been a problem.

The phone seems to be fair but not that clear. I only ordered this phone because it had a headset. It is nothing like any I have ever seen. It fits over your ear not your head and you can not hear anything. I believe you need to show a picture of the headset in the future. The other features are fine caller ID and call waiting ID is very easy to use.

I thought digital phones were the new rage, in part, because of the improved sound quality. If this phone is representative of digital phones, then keep your old fashioned ones. My analog phone has much better sound quality. Also, this phone has very temperamental battery connections, making a continuous charge difficult to maintain. And, why would they make the caller ID display on the underside of the phone so that you can't see who it is until after you've picked it up?

We've had this phone for about six months now. I dread using it. I'll walk clear across the house to pick up another phone even if this phone is directly in front of me. Clarity on this phone is non-existent. If I am forced to use this phone, I can barely hear the caller, even on the highest volume setting; I always end up screaming at the caller to speak up, then they hang up on me. I have the same problems every time I use this phone. I HATE IT.

There is no way to turn off auto-answer. If the phone is in the cradle when it rings, you have to pick it up to see the caller ID. When you pick it up, it answers the phone automatically making caller ID useless.

Sound quality, both receiving and sending is very poor. Makes me think I am using a cheap cell phone. Have used $9 phones that sounded better.

Invest your money in a different brand.

I've had multiple cordless phones over the years, and this has turned out to be by far the best at the best price. Most of my other phones didn't have sufficient volume control for me to hear the caller on the other end. The clarity of this phone is great. I have also found the headset volume and clarity to be good as well. You must read the directions and make sure you do not place it near other electronic equipment, especially a microwave. It is susceptible to interference (as was every other cell phone I've had). Once I moved it, it has performed fabulously. It is light and very easy to program and add numbers. It is also very nice to be able to block ringing of unavailable and private calls.

The phone has great reception, but I have had problems with the headset and base unit. The base unit seems to get out of snyc with the headset unit, losing the channel sync. I have had to re-sync it many times. The re-sync proceedure is to unplag the base unit, and unplug the battery in the headset, then place the headset back on the base unit for about an hour. I have done this many times, and finally sent the phone back for repair, about 2 weeks ago. I had to also send a check for... shipping cost for the repair/replacement. I have not received my repacement as of yet.