Why I chose this phone.
I bought a Panasonic phone that I was very happy with last year but it didn’t come with a called ID. I had an old caller ID separate. My caller ID LED was not working well. I had to press the screen to see the information correctly. This was becoming annoying. Also, the caller ID required 4 AAA batteries. Every few months I was replacing the batteries when the LED screen became too dim. Therefore, I started researching online what types of corded phones were available that had the features I wanted or needed.

The reason I purchased this AT&T phone is that my ancient separate caller ID was not showing the information clearly and my Panasonic phone I had purchased last year did not come with a caller ID. The caller ID required 4 AAA batteries and the phone required 3 AA batteries for the display. Every few months I had to remove both from the wall to replace the batteries. This was an inconvenience.

The selection for corded phones is limited. It seems most people are purchasing cordless phones. Since I like a corded phone in the kitchen, this was my choice. I have cordless phones in other rooms. I like changing phones, but usually I have a reason and because the prices for new phones are relatively cheap unless you opt for exclusive features and multiple lines. This model has 1 phone line only.

Where to purchase
I visited the AT&T website http://att.com/store/ for their corded models and decided on this model 1855 which came in a color I liked, white. I didn't want one with many features and eliminated black phones.

There are 12 national retailers that sell this phone, although they may not have it in stock in all the retail stores. They do show you what it sells for, unfortunately I didn’t see this before making my purchase. You can also purchase this online (see below review for online stores and prices).

While I was at Staples’ retail store buying a mouse for my computer, I noticed this phone and decided to purchase it there for $39.99. I returned this phone because I didn't do my homework first to check out prices. But before opening the box, I found it $10 less at Sears and I did return the one I purchased at Staples. I refuse to be overcharged. Online this phone is $29.99 at many sites.

Super Easy Set-Up
The box contained 5 pieces for the phone, a 29 page manual in English, a small directory card, a Quick Start guide and a wallet card. It was set up for desk use but I took the back part off and placed it to the back bottom of the back of the phone to place the phone on the wall mounting plate which was there from the other phone and switched the handset cradle tab for wall use.

Putting the phone together was very simple. The manual illustrated the steps. The phone line cord fit neatly wrapped around the tabs on the back. I plugged it in and I must say the phone is more stable than my Panasonic. I decided to read the book to learn the features.

Features
Now it was time to learn the new features. Some of the features must be set-up with the ON/OFF (answering machine) button which is on the top left. Voice prompt will say “The machine is on/off.”.So I had to familiarize myself with doing that. The basic features are; speakerphone, answering machine and caller ID. The phone itself is not that complicated. On the very top center is the message window display which shows the functions as they are programmed or changed. To the left of the phone there are 6 small buttons (FLASH, REDIAL, CLOCK, REMOVE & ON/OFF). Below the message display window is an oval set of buttons that are used to SKIP, REPEAT and PLAY/STOP buttons used for the answering machine.

MACHINE OFF Features (red light OFF- this feature is on the screen only)
1 Contrast - (1-5 levels)
2 Memory Capacity (50 numbers stored in the caller ID log)
3 Repeated Calls (shows them combined or separate)
4 Caller ID/Call Waiting (if you subscribe)
5 Language - (3 (English, Spanish and French) which is only for the display and not audible)
6 Home/Local area codes (needed to dial a number from the memory)

MACHINE ON Features (red light ON - voice prompts)
1 Announce (if you don’t wish callers to leave a message if going away for several days)
2 Rings (2/4, 4/6 for tollsaver & up to 7 rings otherwise)
3 Remote Access (3 digit code for retrieving messages while away)
4 Priority Call (3 digit call for a special ring from priority callers)
5 Accept Blocked Calls (no, I do not accept blocked callers)
6 Call Screening (if you wish to hear the person leaving the message)
7 Selected Ring (the 4 ring tones which are not that great)
8 Announce Monitor (to hear the announcement the caller hears)
9 Announce Number (to hear the caller’s number)

What I like about this phone
The handset is a good size that rests on my shoulder and feels comfortable for those times that I may be doing something around the kitchen. I don’t have to worry about dropping it. It’s sleek design looks well on the wall. The message alert light is bright red and visible from a distance. It also shows the number of messages on the machine. There is another small red light which lights when a new calls is received whether they left a message or not. This small red light will go off when I review the calls.

The price was a good value for the features. Although, you should check the price before making a purchase to avoid the mistake I made.

It has a pre-recorded male generic announcement which is fine with me. You can record your own though. The machine can hold up to 99 messages with a total of 19 minutes.

I’ll be saving money without needing batteries for both my caller ID and phone. This runs on AC current, the adapter is included. The manual is very simple to follow with diagrams along the way.

The volume control, clock setting and mute button are around the keypad and easy to adjust. All the features basically work by press & hold to make changes and a light press to check the settings.

The phone comes with a 1 year warranty. This model is their top seller.

What I don’t like about this phone
It doesn’t have a HOLD button. I miss the “HOLD” button. This was useful when answering a call in the kitchen, but wanted to use a phone in another room. Other AT&T more expensive models have added features if you want to go for the extra bucks.

I would have liked to store more than 12 people on the memory. It has 3 (M1-M3) one touch dialing and 1-9 speed dialing numbers to store in the memory.

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WARNING!
DO NOT use a corded phone during a thunderstorm.

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Overall

AT&T is a reputable company that makes quality products I trust.

I think this is a reasonably priced phone. The features are relatively easy to learn. This phone saves me from purchasing batteries which many phones require. The sound of the rings is clear and sharp. I’ve have no complaints on the overal funtions and usability. I like when I pickup the handset, the last call dialed displays and I can redial or I can search from the log to dial a number in the history. Saves me time from looking up the number.

The wallet card I can use to check my messages with the 3 digit remote access code. I've never done this so I need the card which gives instructions on how to do this.

It is a few weeks since I installed it and am quite pleased with the phone and have learned all the features. It's not the best with the most features, but it has all the features I need.


Recommended: Yes