Mom-Friendly Phone: VTech Expandable Cordless Phone

DS6151

The first phone I ever purchased was a Vtech. It was simple, cordless and lime green. I loved it! I don’t remember what happened to it, it disappeared when I moved from my second apartment to my townhome. But since then I had gone through a lot of phones … some just died. Others the kids destroyed. Then I got the VTech CS6129-31 which I absolutely love. It is pretty much a complete home communication system… and you can learn more about it here: VTech: Features Moms Love. Because, you see, this isn’t my story – it’s my sister’s story.

When I got the VTech CS6129-31, my sister inherited my old, not-VTech phone. It’s hard to carry a conversation with her, when all I hear is crackling and static. But VTECH just released a new expandable cordless phone, the DS6151. Since I need to talk to Karen on a daily basis, I asked if she would take the phone home with her and give me her thoughts. This is her review:

Without a doubt, my favorite feature is the one I haven’t been able to use yet. The DS6151 is expandable to up to 12 handsets, yet you only use one phone jack. The DS6151 only comes with one handset and the base, but the possibilities rock, especially as we prepare to move into a larger house.

The call waiting is a must-have feature. You have to know who is calling on the other end, business or pleasure. I run my husband’s business out of the house, so I have to know when to interrupt a call if it means everyone is going to get paid on time or if my husband needs a file ASAP. The Caller ID/ Call Waiting also stores up to 50 numbers, not that I get that many calls in a day – but it does allow me to call people back quickly when I just scroll through the numbers.

Both the Handset and the Base have speakerphones. Score! So if I am not in the same room as the base, my Handset can still be put on speaker and I can give the kids a bath while talking to my sister. Or I can cook with the handset on the window sill and talk to my mom. Pretty much, even though the DS6151 only comes with one handset and base, that feature makes the whole house speakerphone friendly.

It has two lines which is great since I work out of my home and can use one line for home and one line for office.  It allows me separate ringers so I can answer the phone accordingly without even looking at the caller id and guessing whether the call is business or personal.

My eyesight isn’t the best, so the large, tilted LCD on the base is awesome. It’s backlit too! And there is a large keypad on the base, so I can dial at my desk easily, no fingers tripping over digits on the handset. I think both of those features also make it superb for my dad, who also has bad vision and huge hands.

I can store almost all of my must-have numbers on this phone – this phone will store 50 of them for me! I found it super easy to program, too. Although, I definitely will need to save the directions to do it again! Easy – but you have to read the directions.

Of course it has a built in answering machine. There are separate mailboxes for each phone line. But the best part is that you have REMOTE MESSAGE RETRIEVAL ….call in from anywhere…. And you can get your messages from your handset! Not just the base! I LOVE IT!

Two final features which are smart, but I can’t use with one handset, are the ability to transfer calls between handsets and that you can conference a call between handsets. I know my sister has transferred me from handset to handset with her VTech phone, so it seems really useful.

I can finally call my sister, mom … everyone… with no interference. My old phone wouldn’t let me talk on it in various rooms of my home. Now the reception is crystal clear. I believe that’s because of its DECT 6.0 technology. Everyone sounds great, I can walk anywhere in the house with the handset … even outside to check the mail… and still carry on a conversation.

Appearance wise, the phone is sleek and modern. It fits in perfectly with my decor. I love all of the features I’ve used … and I am anxious to try the ones I haven’t used. I can’t wait to get more handsets to really put this baby to work. And I think the phone is perfect for moms at home. Why? Because it meets our demands of simplicity and multitasking, with all the hands-free options and with the handset having so many features that are normally only tied to a base.

The DS6151 is a 2-Line Expandable Cordless Phone. It is available now for just $79.95. The VTech DS6151 is available now at www.vtechphones.com and will be sold at Best Buy and OfficeMax retail stores nationwide in Spring 2010. Additional handsets are available for $29.95. They are item DS6101 at Vtechphones.com.

Features At-a-Glance:

• DECT 6.0 digital technology, which provides the best sound quality, security and range in cordless phones
• Expandable up to 12 handsets using only one phone jack – uses DS6101 accessory handsets
• Extra large base LCD with blue backlighting
• Digital answering system with two separate mailboxes for each line
• Handset and base speakerphone for “hands-free” conversations
• High-gloss finishing and large font for easy viewing
• Intercom, transfer and conference between handsets
• Voicemail waiting indicator
• Handset volume control
• Audible time and date stamp on recorded messages
• Available now at: www.vtechphones.com and Best Buy and OfficeMax stores nationwide (May 2010)
• Price: $79.95

One Buzz Reader will win this 2-Line, Expandable Cordless Phone (DS6151)

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY: Post a comment here telling me which VTech Phone best fits your lifestyle … other than the one mentioned here.

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:
To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add ErinTales to your Twitter and Tweet the contest. Leave your Tweet Link. (1 tweet per DAY is allowed)
• Blog about the contest – add a link to the Mom Buzz and the Sponsor (http://www.vtechphones.com)
• Enter the Select Comfort contest on the Mom Buzz.
• Sign up for Sponsored Tweets with my Referral: Make Money with Sponsored Tweets!
• Help my friend become the next Mamavation Mom so she can get fit this year! Visit Mamavation and vote for @LisaSamples in the Right-Hand Sidebar
• Enter to win a trip to Orlando from Suave.

Contest ends 2/04/10. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz received the DS6151 for review and the sponsor will handle prize fulfillment.