Verizon V500AM-2 Cordless Phone with Two Lines and Extension Handset (Silver)

by Verizon

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 3.6 inches ; 2 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B001DC5T1Y
• Item model number: V500AM-2
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

The Verizon family of DECT 6.0 phones have taken all of the conveniences of standard phones, significantly improving their preformance to bring you the next generation of cordless phones. Intercom and polyphonic ringtones in, addition to longer physical range, clear sound quality, security coding technology and enhanced battery life, the Verizon V500AM family delivers a stylish, sophisticated, yet easy-to-use basic DECT 6.0 cordless phone with answering machine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Surpasses all my expectations, but not perfect, February 14, 2009

By 

Keith McCasland "McCaz" (Orange County, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Verizon V500AM-2 Cordless Phone with Two Lines and Extension Handset (Silver) (Office Product)

I bought the V500AM-2 from Amazon and an extra headset at another site. I already had a 2-line phone system (gigaset 8825), but was getting a lot of complaints about noise from WiFi and microwave. I tested the V500AM phone by making a call on one handset using line 2 to the other handset using line 1. Standing next to the microwave: no noise. This phone is so quiet that if the other person stops talking you think the phone has gone dead. I tested distance across the street and down the block. Great distance! When you go too far it gives a beeping warning in the handset. Who needs to go further than inside the neighbors house?

Update on phone distance: One reason it worked so well going across the street is that my base unit is on the second floor at the front of the house. Using the phone at ground level in the backyard I can go out of range if at the opposite corner of the house and more than 50 feet back. I had hoped to get my whole yard, and if I had my phone centrally located it would have worked. Still pretty good though, and the little beeping sound as you go out of range keeps you from losing the connection or even any clarity (just don't keep going away when you hear the beeping). The distance warning beeps are just loud enough to hear but not overwhelming to the conversation and the other party cannot hear it.

So here are the other pros and cons, comparing to my original gigaset 8825 system:

Pros:
The V500 handset fits very nicely in my pocket since it is flat or it can be clipped on.

The V500 has much better battery life, and has no interference in the signal.

You can choose which line to use for outgoing calls (could not do that with gigaset).

Speakerphone on base unit is really good, person on other end cannot tell you are on speakerphone unless you turn your head away.

Directory is central, adding an entry on any handset adds it to all handsets and the base automatically.

It lights up! In my office I turn the volume to 0 and I know it is ringing when it lights up. Great when on one line and the other line starts ringing.

"Quiet" button allows silencing of incoming calls that you intend to ignore.


Cons:
The V500 has actual handset naming, but the intercom feature only knows the other units by their intercom number (not name), whereas the gigaset let you centrally name the handsets for intercom purposes.

The base unit display and keys are impossible to read if placed any distance back on the desk because the back of the unit is not raised much. Not a big deal to me, I do not use the base much except to hit the flashing line button when a call comes in to talk using speakerphone.

Cannot (easily) return calls which come from outside your own area code. The phone does not understand prefixing numbers with a "1", so calls that are missed that come from another area code cannot be returned since is missing the leading "1". Adding these numbers to the directory requires editing the number to insert the 1. These problems stem from the product originally coming from Europe. I wish I could hope for a firmware update.

Notes:
I'd love to be able to buy another cradle, then the base unit's handset could be used remotely. This product is made by Siemens, marketed by Verizon. Although the user manual says you can go to[...] for more product info or help, you won't find any reference to this phone anywhere on the Verizon site (at this time). Calling the support number in the user manual will get you a Siemens support person located in Ireland.

Summary:
Overall I love this phone and will expand out to the full set of handsets possible. Once I have my directory loaded with my contacts, the "cons" become minor issues.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Really not thought through, March 11, 2009

By 

Tech Consumer "Tech Consumer" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Verizon V500AM-2 Cordless Phone with Two Lines and Extension Handset (Silver) (Office Product)

I have owned this product for about a month now and it continues to disappoint me.

Here's what I don't like:
1 - you can't return a call from the call log - 1+ before the area code is missing from the number
2 - you can name the handsets but you have to page them by number
3 - the range really isn't that good - I can get out of range in a NYC apt
4 - support is terrible - Verizon doesn't support it, Siemens doesn't - I called the support number they took my number "in case we got cut off" we got cut off and they never returned my call.
5 - if I want to put a call on hold and pick it up on another handset, it doesn't work - at least I think so - that's what my support call was for
6 - periodically, I have to remove the battery from a handset and have it re-find the base. That's very annoying when I go to pick up a call and the handset has "lost" the base.
7 - this may be petty, but I don't want "Verizon" in big letters on my phone.

On the plus side, when it works, it is very clear. I wish I had gotten a Panasonic instead.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good product, June 20, 2009

By 

MDhomeowner (Ellicott City, MD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Verizon V500AM-2 Cordless Phone with Two Lines and Extension Handset (Silver) (Office Product)

Pros - Good functional product. No interference with other wireless devices in the house

Cons - no color display, better selection of ring tones