Today's cordless phones offer a variety features, from base-keypads and answering machines, to large LCD screens and multiple handsets. (Panasonic KX-TG6443T shown above)

Cellphones are everywhere these days. Their portability and wide range of features make them extremely convenient — until you get home and you can't make a call because your cell phone won't get a signal. That's where the home telephone comes in.

Home telephones provide exceptionally clear calling, and aren't subject to "dropped calls" and "weak signals" like cell phones. This makes home phones especially reliable in an emergency situation. And today's cordless phones are slim, have a wide calling range, and a variety of features that make them more enjoyable to use.

Below, we cover some of the most popular features offered by cordless telephones to help you determine which particular model best suits your needs. But before you choose your phone, there are a couple of questions that you should ask yourself.

Multi-line phones give you the benefit of having one phone line for your home, and a second for your office, small business, or teenager. (Panasonic KX-TG6700B shown above)

Single- or multiple-line?

If you have a single incoming phone line, and you don't foresee adding any additional lines, a single-line phone should serve your needs well.

However, if your home has two or more phone lines, then a multiple-line phone may be just what you need. Whether you've added extra lines for a teenager's room or a home office, a multi-line phone gives you a greater degree of flexibility than separate phones for each line. Most multi-line phones offer features like 3-way conferencing, base-to-handset paging, intercom, and distinct rings for each line.

Which frequency range?

With most cordless phones, you can reasonably expect the range to extend throughout your home and perhaps out into your yard, under good conditions. Digital cordless phones also offer protection from eavesdropping, usually by means of randomly selected security codes which are continuously transmitted between the handset and base.

Cordless phone models generally use one of these frequency ranges to transmit their signals:

• 1.9 GHz — Currently the most common frequency, it was designated as voice-only to protect telephone users from the interference commonly caused by wireless home networks. This means that 1.9 GHz phones operate on a less crowded frequency than 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz phones, and can provide superior sound quality and range. Most DECT phones use this frequency range exclusively.
• 2.4 GHz — Compared to earlier transmission ranges like 900 MHz, the 2.4 GHz range is less crowded and slightly larger. However, 2.4 GHz phones have to compete with Wi-Fi® signals and other wireless devices. So if you have a wireless network in your home, you might need a phone that operates at a higher or lower frequency range.
• 5.8 GHz — 5.8 GHz cordless phones have a higher frequency range that's less crowded than the 2.4 GHz range. For this reason, 5.8 GHz phones are generally recommended for homes with Wi-Fi networks, in addition to the newer 1.9 GHz phones.

Another feature to look for in a higher-quality cordless phone is digital spread spectrum technology. An advanced form of cordless transmission, digital spread spectrum has a higher power output for greater range, and offers constant switching from channel to channel for more effective security.

Additional handsets allow you to have a handset in just about every room in your house — so no more scrambling to pick up a ringing phone in another room. (Panasonic KX-TGA641T shown above)

Telephone features

Here are a few of today's most common features that you'll want to look for.

LCD screen
Most of today's phones include an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) on the handset or base that gives you a quick and convenient readout of information such as channel number, phone number dialed, speed dial memory, Caller ID information, and battery strength. An increasing number of phones come with a color display, and some allow you to customize the background.

Caller ID
Most current phones have Caller ID, which displays the caller's name and phone number. Phones with Call Waiting Caller ID display info about incoming callers even when you're already on the phone. Many newer phones have taken this feature one step further by offering Talking Caller ID, which announces the name of the caller so you don't have to get up to read the phone's LCD. You must subscribe to Caller ID and Call Waiting Caller ID services with your local phone company. Rates vary with locality.

Multiple handsets
Multi-handset phone systems usually come with one or two handsets in the box, and then allow you to expand your system with additional handsets. You'll still only be able to use one phone line, but these systems give you the convenience of having a handset in just about every room in your house.

Illuminated keypad
Another popular feature is an illuminated handset, which makes it easy to see the keypad when dialing in the dark.

Speakerphone
Phones with a speakerphone let you answer a call or wait on hold without using the handset. Most speakerphones are in the handset itself, so you can take your speakerphone with you around the house. Some models also have a base keypad and on-hook dialing, which lets you dial out without using the handset.

Night mode
Night mode is a great feature to have if you're planning on putting a handset in your bedroom. It lets you turn off the ringer when you don't wish to be disturbed. But don't worry — most phones with this feature also have a light-up indicator on the handset, so you'll be able to see when a call comes through.

Most cordless phones use a standard mini jack to connect to a headset. They're great when you need to free-up your hands for cooking or computer work while you talk. (Panasonic KX-TCA86 shown above)

Bluetooth devices allow you to link your cell phone's line with your home phone system, so you can make and receive calls from your cordless phone using your cell's line as soon as you enter your house. (Cell2Tel™ Gateway shown above)

Built-in answering machine
Some phones also have built-in digital answering machines for added convenience. Digital answering machines store messages on flash memory instead of a tape. Your messages are easy to access and can be selectively skipped, repeated, or deleted — often remotely, as well as in person. Most integrated digital answering machines have a message capacity of 15 minutes or more, including the greeting, and some of them offer separate voicemail boxes so that callers can leave messages for specific people or departments.

Many integrated answering machines offer:

• call screening to let you hear who's leaving a message so you can decide whether or not to pick up.
• auto disconnect, which hangs up the line after a set period of time.
• time/day stamp to let you know when the message was left.

Optional accessories

If you don't like holding a phone up to your ear for too long while you talk, or if you have a hobby or small business that requires you to have your hands free for other work, then consider adding a headset to your phone. Most cordless phones have a mini jack that lets you plug in a headset headset, so you can walk around and keep your hands free while you talk.

Another great addition to consider is a Bluetooth® link. These devices use your compatible phone's built-in Bluetooth capability to wirelessly transfer your cell's calls to your cordless home phone. Some phones come with the device in the box, though it's usually available as a separate transmitter that you simply plug into your electrical outlet and your home phone's base. It's a great way to combine the benefits of having a cordless handset with your cellphone. It also lets you use your cell plan's free minutes on the weekend.