Share via


Why don't cordless phones have a global phone book?

I want to get a new 4-handset cordless phone, ideally 5.8GHz, but as far as I can tell, none of them have a global phone book.

They all store the phone books in the handsets, and most give you a way of copying between handsets, but none just store it in the base-station for all handsets to use.

One I found (AT&T I think) that actually has a base-station stored phone book, but it only works when using the base station!

Anyone know of a multi-handset system (even 2.4GHz) with a global frigging phone book? Why is this such a bizarre requirement? Am I the only person who wants this as a feature?

Comments

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    Mine all do, Philips DECT models have a 'shared' phone book - in European models at least...

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    It's been ages since I've added/removed phone numbers from my phone, and I believe that it has a global phone book, but I can't recall:

    http://siemens.onlinephonestore.com/?page=shopSLASHbrowse&category_id=3b1b78ff6dfbf487b9ea7f25fd5c3d68

    Definately, each phone is personalized and has it's own ringtone, personal phone book, etc..

    What would be nice if there was a wireless handheld phone base station that synched with exchange/outlook.. keep dreaming I know...

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    I'll update when I get home if it does or not..

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    According to a review on Amazon, the 42xx series will automatically download the phone book (from the base station I presume). I have a 2400 system now but its getting long in the tooth, I will research this more. Thanks!

    FYI Some Panasonic phones will sync with Outlook via a service called openLCR, but it looked a bit suspicious to me (looked like they changed your long distance co as a part of the deal but not 100% sure).

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    Looks like those are European only. Shame.

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    Northwestern Bell SYL-2400 Bluetooth 2.4GHz Cordless looks like it can download from Outlook.


    http://2getitnow.com/td_syl_2400.html

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    This phone has several:
    http://weblogs.asp.net/alexbarn/archive/2004/06/16/157476.aspx?Pending=true

  • Anonymous
    June 16, 2004
    I downloaded the PDF manuals for 4200 and 8800 series phones, both offer easy ways of copying the phone book between handsets, but no automatic way. Still looking...

  • Anonymous
    June 17, 2004
    I have this Olympia phone and it shares the phonebook among all four handsets.
    http://www.olympiaphones.com/adtemplate.asp?invky=13898&wid=488414

    Olympia also has a new phone with bluetooth that can synchronize its phonebook with outlook. http://www.olympiaphones.com/adtemplate.asp?invky=913462&wid=488414

  • Anonymous
    June 20, 2004
    Thanks Wade! I picked up the bluetooth/Outlook Olympia phone yesterday, and it does have a global phone book! Lets see how it goes. No-one sells locally it here except Fry's.

  • Anonymous
    June 22, 2004
    I have a philips phone and it lets you store numbers in the base station or the handset (base station is default).

    I think it is this one, though is looks slightly different...
    http://www.johnlewis.com/stores/product.asp?sku=230171203&str=135&trsid=2231&m=-1

  • Anonymous
    June 22, 2004
    Someone needs to design a "wireless" cordless phone. Take a multi-handset cordless phone's basic "architecture", cut the plug into the wall, and replace it with a GSM or CDMA cell chip. Then I loose the last reason for keeping POTS service in my house (well other than 911).

  • Anonymous
    August 28, 2007
    My Panasonic KXTG5672B cordless phone does not have a default global phonebook.  However, it is a matter of a pushing a few buttons to copy from handset to any handset.  I prefer it this way as different users may want different phonebooks. What I would really like to see in a cordless phone, though, is muliple numbers for one named entry.  That is Joe/home/cell/work/fax/etc. instead of the lowsy one number per one name entry ie: Joe/home then Joe/cell then Joe/whatever, etc.  This old way is nutty and very inefficient.  I don't think that there is a cell phone around today that uses this old method.  It's archaic.

  • Anonymous
    October 18, 2009
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    February 15, 2010
    motorola MD781: i listed some of its specs for you...hope it'll help you:    * 5.8 GHz signal with digital spread spectrum transmission; expandable to 8 handsets, 1 include    * Digital answering system with up to 15 minutes of message space    * 50 private and 48 shared phone book memory locations    * Customized ring based on caller ID subscriber's service    * Battery back up for power outages; speakerphone, dual keypads

  • Anonymous
    March 26, 2011
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    January 31, 2015
    The comment has been removed

  • Anonymous
    August 01, 2015
    Also how about a simple way to copy the phonebook from an old cordless handset to a new one when you have to buy a new basestsation. I now have 4 different handset phone books to put into 5 new handsets GRRRR!!!