Telephones

Guide Note

A telephone is a communications device that allows people to speak to each other over far distances. Telephones, for use in the home, are attached to a telephone jack in the wall. They have a base and a handset which can be connected with a cord, these are called corded, or not connected, these are called cordless.

There are also cell phones which are phones independent of a house. These are very mobile, can be carried wherever a person goes. There are some limitations as not all areas allow for a good satellite connection, such as mountainous regions and tunnels.

Fast Facts

1. Developed by: Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Elisha Gray, Innocenzo Manzetti, Antonio Meucci, and Johann Philipp Reis
2. Common uses: Sound communication over long distances
3. Price range: $4 to over $1000
4. March 7, 1876: Patent for improvements on the telegraph for Alexander Graham Bell is granted
5. March 10, 1876: Bell made a transmission asking Mr. Watson to "come here"

Buying Guide

These days a regular corded phone cost only slightly less than a cordless. The major difference between the two types is the flexibility and the battery.

A cordless phone allows you to go anywhere in the house while talking on the phone. This is very convenient for multitasking. The disadvantage is that the phone can easily get lost. Most do have a paging mechanism if this should happen so that you can follow the sound until you find your phone. Another disadvantage is that the cordless runs on a battery and this battery will wear down regularly. There will be times in which you are on the phone and it will have run out of power. Unless you have a second phone you will have to wait until the phone charges up again and then call back.

Corded phones tie you down. You must stay within a circle the radius of the phone cord for the length of time you are on the phone.

Top Brands

• GE
• Panasonic
• Thomson
• AT&T;
• VTech
• Plantronics
• Northwestern Bell