However, don’t count a cordless phone out just yet. We’ve listed 5 reasons why they can still be handy to have around, from cheaper bills to avoiding nuisance callers.
1. Nuisance call blocking
Handling nuisance calls, and more importantly blocking them, is an incredibly useful feature in an age where scam calls are ever on the rise. However, while it's easy to block a nuisance number on a smartphone once you've identified it, they're not nearly as capable as stopping scammers from getting through in the first place.
We test how well cordless phones are able to block the most common sources of nuisance calls, including:
International numbersMobile numbersWithheld numbersUnavailable numbers2. Ease of use
Manufacturers are getting good at responding to the needs of consumers with accessibility considerations. Our exhaustive testing sees ergonomic experts weigh in on how easy it is to set up the phone, add contacts and make and receive calls.
3. Cheaper calls abroad
Telecom companies offer packages that can make calling other countries a lot cheaper if you have friends or family abroad you like to keep in regular contact with. Examples include BT’s International Freedom add-on, covering 36 countries including the USA and most of Europe, and currently priced at £11.23 per month. That's reasonable when you consider it would cost £3 for just a 30 minute call to the US without it. Plusnet’s Anytime International Calls at £11.76 per month to top international destinations.
Some mobile providers do offer international add-ons as well. For example EE’s mobile International package is £13.03 a month – but here you’re limited to 500 international minutes. As such, landline packages could make for considerable savings in the long run.
Making international calls without setting up a calling plan can be costly, but even then it’s typically cheaper to do so with a landline phone. For example, calling the US on a Vodafone contract would cost £3 per minute, vs 78p per minute on a standard BT plan without the international add-on.
4. Hearing aid compatibility
Cordless phones often include some kind of hearing aid compatibility, so connecting hearing aids should be pretty straightforward. Most models will communicate with the Telecoil/loop system, so make sure your hearing aid is on the loop setting.
5. Call quality
The call quality you get with a mobile phone is only ever as good as the signal reception of the area you’re in. While phone companies continue to roll out coverage to reach signal not-spots, some areas still don’t get a great signal, which can hamper call quality – particularly when indoors.
Landlines don’t depend on this signal so, depending on your area, you could get better call quality than from a smartphone. In our testing, we ask audio experts to listen to calls on the speakerphone and assess the sound quality of incoming and outgoing messages left on the answering machine. Models that perform well here will be easy to make out whether you’re using the phone or loudspeaker, while low scorers tend to experience distortion on calls and messages.
Digital voice and the landline switch-off
There’s a big shake-up on the horizon for home phones as companies have been starting to transition to digital voice. The traditional phone network, with its physical infrastructure that’s been in place since the Victorian era, is being replaced by fast fibre broadband connections.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/why-a-cordless-phone-is-still-handy-to-have-around-the-home-a8mr70u9eN2C