Customer Reviews

56598 Motorola 2.4GHz Digital

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

My favorite feature is having access to all features, including all answering machine functions, from the handset. Although I don't yet have any of the MD41 expansion handsets - those will also be able to get the messages off of the base unit's answering machine. Throw in all the other features like paging other handsets, handset to handset intercom and monitor, a handset handsfree feature that works as well as any speakerphone I have ever used and the days of needing phone line run in every room are over.

The software is very well thought out throughout the feature set. Quality of calls is excellent although I have yet to be on the receiving end of a call from the MD 481.

Two dislikes would be that the useful belt clip can NOT be removed and the warning stickers on the back left a goey residue that was nearly impossible to remove. I would also not describe battery life as spectacular.

Warning: If you want to keep the silver paint on the back of the handset don't use Goo B Gone to remove the sticky residue.

I bought this with two expansion handsets 6 months ago. The "on" button stopped working (can't answer or call out). Swapped it with another handset and the 1 doesn't work on that. Two down , now the last one won't answer or pick up either. Three phones, none work. Am shipping to Motorola at my expense for repair.

Pros: These phones are very cool, I hated taking them back. The list of features is the best of any multi-handset system and the product design is stunning. The intercom function is outstanding. This is the only phone/intercom system where you can dial another handset -- have the other handset automatically pickup -- and switch to speakerphone so you can tell the kids in the basement dinner is ready.

Cons: The phones don't work. The sound quality when used as a regular phone is terrible and the speakerphone isn't that loud either (what can you expect from a tiny speaker). Worst of all the battery needs to be charged several times a day.

I purchased a Radio Shack model that is half is cool, but the sound is great and the batteries last forever (or at least 4 or 5 days with frequent use).

I've been using this Motorola phone with an extra handset for just about a year now. It's been a pretty good experience, but for two issues. One, that the battery life is poor. Even using a fully charged handset, you need to recharge after using the phone for about an hour. On conference calls lasting 2+ hours, I've actually had to change instruments midway. Two, the keypad is getting pretty bad . . it's almost impossible to use some of the keys to dial numbers. Paying $100 for a phone that lasted just a year . . . not such a good deal.

I am a Motorola employee who purchased this phone via the employee purchase plan. Conveniently after the warranty expired, the phone was defective. The numbers on the phone keypad stopped functioning. Do not purchase this phone or any other Motorola cordless products due to their very poor quality.

I bought the Motorola MD400 series phone because it has more features than any other cordless, including telling you when the line is in use (even by another brand phone).

But, as I've read elsewhere, the battery life is abismal. Within an hour of talk time, you can run the batteries down, compared to about 5 hours with Panasonic. After the first phone call, the battery level drops a notch!

Not a fluke. I exchanged this phone three times! But the battery life was the same. So I called Motorola who sent me a new battery, agreeing that the life is too short (obviously, this person never tested their own product). Same result. Poor battery life AND there is a constant static noise in the background -- more than the average cordless. Furthermore, the Motorola almost seems to compress the audio so that the end of some words fades out making it difficult to understand the caller. I'VE READ ALL THREE OF THESE ISSUES ELSEWHERE by other would-have-been customers.

Great features, but lousy quality. This last exchange is going back for good.

I really like the design of this phone and the features it offers. I found it easy to configure and use. You can put 4 AAA batteries in the base station to keep it going through a power failure. However, the audio quality on both the answering machine and the handset is terrible. Messages that are left are barely intelligible. If the person you're talking to is speaking LOUDLY, then audio quality is acceptable, although there is some static. If the other person isn't loud, though, it requires a lot of concentration to listen to them.

No doubt part of my problem is that I also have a wireless LAN, which shares the 2.4GHz frequency. If my laptop is on and communicating with the wireless LAN, the phone becomes unusable, even though the phone base station and the LAN base station are at opposite ends of the house *and* on different floors!

I've been a long time fan of Motorola products, but this is one that I'm going to be returning.

The phone is great except for the battery life. It is very clear, and the hands free option is wonderful. I really like the ability to add additional handsets so you do not need a phone jack in every room. Well, it's been a month and my additional handset does not even stay charged for 24hrs. This is without talking on the phone. If you talk on the phone, good luck running to your second handset. I guess this is why they added the feature to transfer your call to another handset. Trust me, you will need it. I had never had a cordless phone that has such a short battery life. It's such a shame because everything else about the phone is great. Too bad I ALWAYS have to place the phone back on the charger after a phone call or risk the phone turning off due to the short battery life.

1. Horrible voice quality. Lots of static and poor sound differentiation.

2. Answering machine will randomly stay on, preventing further incoming calls. Motorola's solution -- unplug power for 10 minutes each time this happens (4 times a week on average). Thanks guys.

3. Battery life is between 1 and 2 hours! Terrible.

4. At least it looks cool.

When I got this phone, I loved it. It has different rings, intercom, hands free, etc... I replaced all the phones in my house with the expandable phones that you can purchase. I spent alot of money doing this. After a little over a month, the "on" button on the phone stopped working. I tried returning it to the store, it was over a month since I had purchased it, so they told me to go to Motorola. Motorola told me to send in the whole phone, charger and all in to Motorola. Shipping paid by me. Now the other phones in my house are useless until I get the replacement in from the company. I hope this helps! Good luck!