You can't use the handset out of the box; you have to register the handset with the docking base first. It was a simple process overall, requiring you to navigate to a Register option on the handset and press down the Page button on the base. A similar process registers the Cell Phone Dock--just hold down the Page button until it's set. You can also customize the names of the handset, dock, and any other accessories.
Using our Motorola V330 and the SD4581 cordless phone, we managed to make and receive calls from T-Mobile's network in San Francisco. Calls were clear throughout the house as long as the cell phone was situated so that it gets good reception. Making calls was not a simple push-and-play act, however; the extra steps were maddening, and we would have preferred a dedicated cell phone button as on the RCA product. We liked that you could share your cell phone's contacts list with the handset's phone book, and you even have the option of downloading your entire contacts database into the handset. There are also 15 ring tones to choose from, so you can differentiate between landline and cell phone calls. The handset also offers a walkie-talkie function if you have other handsets that go with it.
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