Motorola MD7001 2 Line 5.8GHz Digital Expandable Cordless Handset & Charger Accessory for MD7000 series

Comment: Disappointing Motorola product. I have always had Motorola cell phones, so I assumed that the cordless phone would be just as durable and valuable. I purchased these phones with the desk phone for my small business. Big mistake.

After a few months the battery life shorted, and the range was horrible. I couldnt get from one place to another without losing reception. and have to charge the phone constantly. Even in the middle of the conversation, the phone would die out.

And the big problem is, i cant simply change all the phones in my business after having invested the money and time to set these phones up. UGH!

If this review helps someone save some time and energy, it wwas worth writing.

Comment: Well, here I am. I bought this phone for our home-office with the goal of having two phone lines (business and private) readily available on ONE phone. Great idea and the Motorola fit the bill.

Anyway, after the purchase (actually it must have been a previously returned item at Amazon, but never mind), we were really happy with the phone. Yes, it's ergonomic and has some nice features (nice ring-tones, 2 answering machines, one for each line - perfect), but then it came: "out of range" messages all over on the hand-held... what the heck???!

So, as it turns out, the folks at Motorola didn't do a good job with the firm-ware (outsourced/offshored to India? Well, Motorola, maybe you should re-think your business-model, or maybe you just got bad contractors in Bangalore, India...), because the device needs a lot (A LOT!!!!) of hands-on interaction: So far, I've replaced the handheld batteries thrice (yes, that's 3x $15 at Radio-Shack! It seems, that the "message waiting" indicator = green blinking hand-held antenna drains the battery, hmhmmmm) and I had to unplug the base-unit several times (including taking out the batteries) to get rid of that nasty "out of range" message...

But bottom line is: I L-O-V-E that phone! It's ergonomic, it's beautiful, it has a lot of features at a reasonable price, that's why I gave it 4 stars. But anybody looking for a Zero-Maintenance phone, my advise is: STAY AWAY AS FAR AS YOU CAN!

Hope that review helped.

Comment: I spent hundreds to buy a set of these (5 handsets and one base unit model MD7080) and scrapped them after less than a year for the following reasons:

1) The sound is over-compressed and "fuzzy-sounding" even when close to the base unit (within 20 feet in the same room). Further than 50 feet or through walls it gets even worse. If the person on the other end doesn't speak-up loudly and clearly you will have difficulty understanding them.

2) Controls are non-intuitive and difficult to read: Multiple-line use is confusing (conference-calling or answering a second line while speaking on the first) and I find it difficult to remember even though I'm in the computer consulting business and have a fairly strong technical aptitude. If you you have even a mild requirement for reading glasses you will need them to read the button labels (tiny print and low-contrast).

Unfortunately I kept these too long to return them. I won't even sell them on eBay because I value my eBay seller reputation and wouldn't want to rip anyone off or deal with the hassle of returns.

Comment: I can say that no problems with the phone, and what you see is what you get. Reach average. Battery life normal. Heavy for a phone.

Comment: The quality of the phone is very good. BUT, there is no privacy feature. If I am making a call on line 1, anyone can pick up that same line and listen in or join in. It has happened many times, someone will be using line 1 for example, I will dial a number and press the line 1 button only to find out that it is already in use and interrupting and annoying the other person. I am checking to see if I can return for a refund......