GE 27990-GE3 2.4GHz Cordless Phone with Digital Answering System #27990GE3
Written: Sep 12 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Small, lots of features, good quality sound.
Cons: The buttons may be too small for some people.
The Bottom Line: I think this is a great phone and we paid a really good price. It works well and looks good.
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| jo.com's Full Review: GE 27390GE3 Cordless Phone (27930GE3) |
I am reviewing the General Electric 40-Channel 2.4 GHz Cordless Telephone with Digital Answerer Model # 27990 (GE3-found on the bottom of the phone). I am specifying this so thoroughly because it has taken me weeks to figure out which phone I had. There are many similar with similar numbers so watch for that when you buy a phone that is recommended. We finally have a phone that works!
About the phone
There is a lot I like about the phone but before I get into what it does, I’ll tell you what it looks like. You can see the picture and it looks just like that. The base is mostly silver with black. The phone is mostly black with silver. Both the phone and the base are smaller than cordless phones with answering machines that I have had in the past. The phone is more like a cell phone measuring 6” in length by 2” in width. The base measures 5 ½ “ in width by 6 3/4 “ in length. The base on which it sits measure 3 1/4 “ at its widest. It is really lightweight.
I said we finally have a phone that works and that is true. We have gone through phone after phone only to not be able to hear or not be heard or lost someone in the middle of a conversation. I don’t necessarily think that less expensive items have to be of inferior quality, but in my experience, our $20 phones just didn’t work! This GE was a great price. It usually sells for $80 and we got it on sale for $60. It is being sold online at various sites as a “back to school special” still at the $60 price.
The features and what it does
This phone has more features than we need but I have found the ones I never thought I would care about come in handy.
I’ll tell you about the phone first and then the answering machine. The phone has the usual talk and redial buttons. In order to use it all you have to do is press the talk button before dialing and then to hang up either press the talk button or put it back in the handset in the base.
It fits really nicely in the handset. It stands up at an angle.
The only thing I had to get used to was that the talk button is close to the redial button and I often went for the redial button when I wanted to hit talk. I have gotten used to that, though. The phones I have had and I still have one made by Southwestern Bell is a traditional size with the talk button very large and at the bottom of the handle of the phone.
It has 15 buttons. I am sure you don’t want to hear about them all so as an electronics layperson I will just describe the buttons that were new to me.
It has a memory button that will store up to 10 numbers.
This phone has the ability to ring in 2 different tones.
There is no inherent advantage in that. It is just a technology, I think, that since cell phones have it, they have put it on regular phones as well.
One really interesting and new feature (to me) is that I can screen my calls from the handset. Let’s say I am in the basement and the phone rings but I can’t hear the message unless I run upstairs. With this handset I press the ans button which accesses the answering machine. I can then listen as the telemarketer leaves a message and then press the ans button to stop listening or I can press talk to speak to my friend.
Also the antenna is part of the phone. There is just a little piece that stands up at the top. This is the antenna and you can visually see the very top of it flash when the phone rings.
There is a volume control button.
About the answering machine
The set up was really easy. Even I could do it. In fact I undid it to bring it into my office for this review. I just unplugged the piece from the power jack and unplugged the other line that was in an electrical outlet. I think I can put it back when I’m done! The phone does have to be charged for 12 hours before using it.
After it was set up you can then set the speaker volume, set how many times you want the phone to ring, and record whatever message you want. You are now ready to use it. I will tell you some of the functions the answering machine has:
The place where it shows how many messages you have blinks. You can play and stop the messages, you can restart the current message, and you can use the skip function to go to the next message.
There are 3 different ways to erase messages and one of them is from the handset (the phone itself).
It has a “leave a memo function.”
You can also access the answering machine from the handset and you can access your messages from any phone that is tone-dial compatable and it is easy to use.
It comes with a security code of 123 which we have changed.
It also has a digital security system which protects against false ringing, unauthorized access and charges to your phone line. When you place the phone into the base the security code gets verified.
There is caller identification on this phone. A nice feature is this: if you don’t get your call waiting - on my other phone the call would be gone – on this model the phone gets the message. I have many times ignored my call waiting and then forgotten about it. No problem because the next time I pick up the handset I hear 3 beeps which remind me I have voice mail.
The battery model number is 52522 and costs $14.95 to replace it. It is 3.6V 600mAh
Warranty
There is a 1-year limited warranty that covers defects in material or workmanship. G.E. will replace the phone with a new or refurbished one at their option.
My final thoughts
I really like my phone. I like the small size but if you have trouble seeing or holding small items, this may not be the phone for you. I can carry it around like I do my cell phone and put it in my pocket if I am going outside or downstairs. I like the features – it has more than I’ve had on other phones and it meets my needs. I think it is a really attractive looking phone.
The quality of the sound that I hear is excellent and I am told that there is no problem with static or with hearing me on the other end. I am recommending it.
If I have left out anything that is crucial to this review, please let me know. If you have any questions, I will either answer them or find out the answer to them.
Recommended:
Yes
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