CNET editors' review
-
CNET editors' rating:
stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating
- Reviewed on: 06/06/2003
- Released on: 01/12/2003
As we mentioned above, this phone's design leaves much to be desired. The keypad is especially bothersome; we had to mash the clunky buttons firmly in order for the phone to register our input. Also, while this phone supports a headset for hands-free chats, AT&T neglected to put one in the box.
Making and fielding calls with the AT&T 2325 is a pleasure. Even in our challenging Wi-Fi testing environment, it delivered good distance, and in general, callers sounded clear and crisp. Its battery life also impressed us. The set squeezed out the rated eight-hour talk time, whereas 2.4GHz competitors average around six. Standby time hovered in the two- to three-day range.
While stellar performance is the number one reason to buy the 2325, a solid feature set rounds out the package. To start, you can expand this system with up to three handsets; each costs a very reasonable $59.95. Registering those additional sets to the base is a cinch, and we especially like the customization options; you can assign each phone to display the name of your choice (so that you can, say, name each after members of your family), transfer calls between sets, and hold conference calls. You can also share a 50-number phone book across sets. You'll have to program each handset initially, but subsequent changes are reflected in all units. However, we do wish we could cram in more than 50 numbers; most phones of this class can handle closer to 100.
If you subscribe to voicemail or caller ID through a telephone company, this phone will work just fine. It also comes equipped with an answering machine that supports up to three mailboxes. The answering machine can hold up to 15 minutes of messages--not great but adequate. Additional handset features include a built-in speakerphone, a backlit three-line LCD, 10 customizable ringers, and three language options (English, French, and Spanish).
Overall, this is the phone to buy if you value performance more than looks and can live with a relatively small phone book. The Uniden DCT5280, a similarly priced 2.4GHz expandable system, offers a sleeker design and more features, but it's not as simple to operate.
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