Prefatory note #1: The majority of consumers need only read the final ("Summary") portion of this review (i.e., feel free to skip immediately to Section 9).

Prefatory note #2: Despite my mediocre three-star rating, I "pretty well" like this phone even with its inexcusable quirks and omissions. (Based on my experience with this "functionally reliable" phone over the past six months, it isn't nearly as bad as other reviewers have claimed.)

Prefatory note #3: To see an enlarged photo of the actual product (which modestly differs from the wee image atop this Epinions.com page), you can use the following image URL:

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516M8Y7AM6L._SS500_.jpg

Prefatory note #4: Although the AT&T EP5962 is a "two-line" model, you needn't have two-line capability in your home or office to appreciate this phone. I myself have only one phone line, and I use the corded base unit's "LINE 1" input (together with its corresponding "MAILBOX LINE 1" button); however, either line input could work equally well with a single line.

Prefatory note #5: As with (presumably) all "AT&T" phones, this Chinese product was not actually manufactured by AT&T but rather by VTech Innovation, L.P., which does business as "Advanced American Telephones" and manufactures AT&T branded telephones under a brand license agreement with AT&T. Nevertheless, in my review I may sometimes loosely speak of this product as though "AT&T" manufactured it. Note, too, that this model is commonly called the "EP5962," not the "EP5962EA."

Prefatory note #6: Although new specimens of this product continue to be sold online via such vendors as Office Depot and Officemax, the model EP5962 has been cosmetically revamped and fairly recently issued as the AT&T model TL76108. But I've not yet had the pleasure of a hands-on test of the latter model. (Hopefully the sound quality of the built-in answerer component has been significantly improved in the TL76108.)


This review encompasses the following nine major sections (feel free to skip to any of the correspondingly numbered, boldface headings further below, especially the summary):

1. Preface: Don't Be a Sucker for a Pretty Face!
2. Why It Could Be Important to Own at Least One Corded Phone
3. AT&T's model EP5962: four devices in one pretty package
4. The "base unit" (corded telephone): noteworthy features and performance
5. The speakerphone: noteworthy features and performance
6. The digital answerer: noteworthy features and performance
7. The cordless handset: noteworthy features and performance
8. The user's manual
9. Summary

1. Preface: Don't Be a Sucker for a Pretty Face!

As of this posting (March 2009), brand-new specimens of this AT&T model, which was introduced over three years ago, are still being sold online via such vendors as Office Depot and Officemax; and the price at such locations continues to range as high as about two hundred dollars. That cost always seemed to me unaccountably high, given that--other than its "two-phone-line" capability and its exceptionally bright-and-legible, amber LCD/display--this unit doesn't offer much more than do sundry analogous products costing half as much (or even less). On the other hand, I always felt that the EP5962 base unit's styling was superior to that of the majority of "corded-plus-cordless" phones; and so you could say I was somewhat beguiled by the corded base's striking, "pseudo-businesslike" exterior.

But what finally persuaded me to spring for this model last year was the $79 price of a like-new, refurbished unit from a third-party seller at Amazon Marketplace. I learned (anew!) two lessons from that purchase: sometimes an impressive exterior masks several significant sins; and sometimes you end up with a bit less than you paid for (even at "50% off").

Now, this is still an appealing and generally pleasing phone, and I can't really say I regret having added it to my admittedly curious collection of corded/cordless models. But if you're neither a collector nor a hobbyist, I can only barely give this phone a lukewarm, qualified recommendation, especially considering its excessive cost. 


2. Why It Could Be Important to Own at Least One Corded Phone

One advantage of a corded phone is that its most basic features can remain functional during power outages. By contrast, cordless phones won't function when electrical power goes out; and a cell phone might not function, depending on whether cell towers are affected by the outage.

Be aware, however, that this particular AT&T model won't function at all during a power outage unless you connect it to an uninterruptible power supply or you keep a proprietary AT&T model 103 ("backup") battery installed in its corded base unit. (Such a battery typically costs ten dollars or less.) By contrast, some (more or less) comparable models' base units (e.g., the Uniden DECT2088, the Uniden CXAI5698, or the GE model 28871FE3) don't require any batteries whatsoever to make and receive calls via the corded handset during power outages. And even certain (only slightly earlier) otherwise comparable AT&T models' base units (e.g., the E5908 and the E5909B) didn't require any batteries; hence I find it perplexing that the designers of this model--not to mention still more recently introduced AT&T models (e.g., the TL74108)--incorporated such a seemingly unwarranted, and rather irritating, auxiliary power requirement.


3. AT&T's model EP5962: four devices in one pretty package

This "integrated" telephone product encompasses an impressive bundle of harmoniously functioning components.

First, the model EP5962 is, of course, a conventional, reliable, corded telephone, and an impeccably stylish one, at that. Second, it's a satisfactory, albeit not quite first-rate, speakerphone. Third, it's a reliable (albeit slightly sonically imperfect) digital answering machine. Finally, it also includes a durably constructed, satisfactory cordless handset with some noteworthy features, including speakerphone, illuminated keys, headset compatibility, multiple ringer tones, and the capability to remotely review or delete messages on the corded base unit's digital answerer.

Both the base unit and the cordless handset feature altogether pleasing, logical layouts of keys and buttons, although a few of the functions you'd expect to control via the base unit's button layout have been rather frustratingly relegated to the LED display's tedious menu.

I'll next consider the most salient aspects of this product as, respectively, a "corded telephone;" a "speakerphone;" a "digital answerer" (a.k.a. "answering machine"); and a "cordless phone."


4. The "base unit" (corded telephone): noteworthy features and performance

During the past year I reviewed two somewhat comparable products (although they both lacked cordless handsets), one from AT&T (model 1856), and another from General Electric (model 29586GE1-A). Those products required absolutely no batteries. That pleased me, for I've never been keen about periodically shelling out still more money for batteries just to keep a phone operational.

In that regard, I must admit that the subject of this review--the AT&T model EP5962--didn't initially thrill me insofar as both its base unit and (obviously) its cordless handset require batteries to operate. In the case of the base unit (yes, even though its handset is corded), you must purchase the same sort of battery as is used by the cordless handset (AT&T replacement model 103). That battery could typically cost you up to about $10 and must be installed in order for the phone to function at all if the included AC power adapter is disconnected from electricity. Via that battery alone, you'll only be able to use the phone to make and receive calls for about 30 to 60 minutes. And it takes at least 24 hours for the battery to charge in its compartment within the base unit. Note that that battery can also serve as a backup or spare battery for the cordless handset [for which one compatible AT&T model 102 battery is already included in the product box].

In light of the "backup" battery (for the base unit) being so specialized and costing so much, some users (including me) might not exactly be delighted with the concept of using such a battery merely to be able to make and receive calls via this phone during power outages; I myself have this phone's AC adaptor plugged into an APC uninterruptible power supply (that cost about $39 on sale). That would provide up to 45 minutes of full use from this phone in the event of a power outage. [I likewise use that UPS to connect and protect several other electrical products; hence it seems largely worth its cost.]

The above photo doesn't do justice to this strikingly styled, two-line product. Its predominantly "silver-and-black" base unit (including the fully satisfying corded handset that rests upon it) measures about 9 & 3/8 (W) x 6 (D) x 4 & 7/8 (H) inches and weighs 2 pounds, 2 ounces. Underneath the base are three jacks: two "line" jacks for the included telephone line cords; and a "POWER 8V DC jack" for one end of the included black, AC adapter's cord, whose length is around six feet.

Note that the base unit comes ready-to-use as a "desktop" phone but (unlike most other models) can't optionally be mounted on a wall. Thus you won't have to fuss with attaching any removable "pedestal." The base unit is already configured to provide a gratifying "downward-and-forward" slope, which makes its LCD/display quite easily viewable for virtually any desktop (or tabletop) installation.

One of the first features you're likely to notice is the pleasingly sharp and legible LCD, which measures about 2 x 1 inches and can display up to four lines of easy-to-read characters. Its legibility is so excellent that many users will likely feel there's little or no need to fiddle with the "contrast-adjustment" menu option (which is easy to use). Although this display's invaluable backlighting feature is automatically activated whenever you press virtually any key or button on the base unit, if your room's ambient lighting isn't particularly bright, you'll still want to keep a small, adjustable desktop lamp nearby for viewing the base unit's various keys and buttons, which aren't themselves illuminated (but note that the associated cordless handset's analogous keys are automatically illuminated during use).

The background color of the display is a bright amber; and the rather dark characters contrast quite pleasingly against that background; moreover, the phone numbers that you'll enter are displayed in a font and size that seems larger than those of most competing phones' base units. This only goes to show that it's not so much the overall size of the LCD window that counts, it's the legibility of the information displayed within that window. In that regard, this model is about as good as it gets.

Unfortunately, the user interface to manipulate such data within the LCD/display is, now and again, far from the most intuitive or easy-to-use. Indeed, whereas I'd grade this LCD nearly an "A-plus" for its legibility, I can only grade it a borderline "C" or "C-plus" for overall intuitiveness or ease-of-use.

Case in point, to perform the simple task of playing your "outgoing announcement," many phones' base units would require you to press only a couple of keys. But this model's base unit requires you to perform ten keypresses, which, to say the least, seems unnecessarily tedious. (Mind, some of those keypresses amount to mere repeated tapping of the same key; but it's nonetheless a bit vexing.) Now, if an intuitive "navigator-ring-with-central-button" cursor controller had been employed here [as on the competing Panasonic model KX-TS4300B corded phone], menu navigation might've seemed less tedious and more intuitive. Instead, a somewhat smallish-and-isolated button (to the left of the middle "MENU" button) is used to move the on-screen cursor "up," and an analogous little button (to the right of the middle "MENU" button) is used to move the on-screen cursor "down;" and you must repeatedly press that wee middle "MENU" button to select each on-screen option (amidst numerous mind-numbing options) as you maneuver the on-screen cursor to its seemingly elusive destination.

Another quibble I have not only with this but other, analogous AT&T models is that the LCD doesn't display the time and/or day (of the week), despite the fact that you must enter that information (via a menu "setup" option) in order for its digital answerer's ("male") voice to correctly announce the time for recorded messages left by callers. For the life of me, I can't fathom why AT&T's designers have continually opted to omit any "visual" clock. Instead, whenever the LCD is in its usual "standby" mode, about all you'll see on the display is the unnecessary word "BASE."

By contrast, the majority of competing models' base units display the time plus the day of the week and/or the month and date. The inexplicable absence of such basic information on this otherwise likable LCD constitutes one of my disappointments with this phone, though that shortcoming irks me much less than the digital answerer's surprisingly mediocre-sounding message-recording capability, about which I'll have more to say in a later section of this review.

The numerical keypad employs silvery, "slanted-oval" keys featuring dark, legible characters. The keys are molded of hard--not rubbery--plastic, which bodes well for the longevity of the keys' functionality and responsiveness.

To the right of the numerical keypad is a column comprising several buttons, including "mute," "volume," "headset" and "speakerphone." The "volume" key allows you to adjust the sound level of the corded handset and other features. The "mute" button prevents a caller from hearing what you say, while letting you continue hearing what they say. Whenever muting is activated, that button softly glows with an unmistakable red hue. The "headset" key (used if you opt to attach and use a 2.5mm headset), when pressed, likewise is redly illuminated. But the somewhat larger "speakerphone" key glows with nearly the same (light-amber or yellow-gold) hue as is used for the LCD's background.

To the left of the numerical keypad, you'll see prominent, silvery "MAILBOX" and "REPEAT/SKIP" buttons pertaining to the "digital answerer" component, which I'll discuss in a later section of this review. When illuminated, those keys conspicuously glow or flash with the same (light-amber or yellow-gold) hue as is used for the "speakerphone" key (as well as all other illuminated buttons that I've not already specified).

The layout might've included still more keys or buttons, were it not for the somewhat unusual approach that's used for the LCD/display. Just beneath (forward of) the bottom edge of the LCD window are three smallish buttons that correspond to whatever functions are currently displayed directly above them within the LCD/display. For example, whenever the unit's in its usual "standby" mode, the three displayed functions (from left to right) are: "RDL" (redial), "MENU" and "CID" (caller-ID). By pressing the corresponding button directly beneath a given function, you can call up a specialized menu or display pertaining to that function.

For example, if you press "RDL" (redial), the LCD will display the last five numbers (up to 32 digits each) in the redial memory (i.e., the last five numbers dialed). Alternatively, if you press "CID" (caller-ID), you'll be able to review your "call log," which can store up to 50 entries. Each entry can contain a number up to 14 digits, and a name up to 16 letters long.

But, given that I myself don't subscribe to caller-ID service, by far the most frequently used key (among that threesome beneath the LCD window) is the middle, "MENU" key. Whenever you select that "MENU" function, the LCD displays a hodgepodge of options that you might deem a perennial pleasure, a mixed blessing, or a continual curse, depending on your unique user preferences and sensibilities. Personally, I'm in the middle camp, that is, I consider the "MENU" function to be (at best) a mixed blessing. Let me illustrate what I mean with but one or two examples.

Whereas many competing phones use a dedicated key allowing you to play your (easy-to-record) "greeting" or "outgoing announcement," this unit forces you to press the "MENU" key and wade through a series of tedious, tiresome steps. You'll need to repeatedly press either the right or the left button (among that threesome beneath the LCD window) in order to scroll down or up the on-screen list of options; and once you've arrived at your desired menu selection, you'll need to press the middle "MENU" key again to finalize (enter) your selection. Altogether, you'll need to perform ten keypresses just to play your previously recorded announcement (unless you only want to hear it immediately after you initially record it)! Perhaps the designers of this phone felt that eliminating the conventional, dedicated "announcement" key would make the base unit's layout outwardly less cluttered and more elegant; but the other edge of the proverbial sword is that using an ordinarily simple function becomes surprisingly (and unnecessarily) complicated on this phone. Of course, the good news is that most users won't frequently feel the need to play or re-record their announcement. Nevertheless, the approach used for accessing and hearing your outgoing announcement amounts to the least "intuitive" one that I've ever seen used on any comparable corded base unit.

Somewhat analogously, setting the answering system's "time and day" information requires that you press the "MENU" key, and then select the "MAILBOX" option, and then scroll down another couple of lists of on-screen options. Performing all the requisite steps (requiring a total of at least 16 keypresses) for resetting the clock's "time and day" seems, admittedly, only somewhat more tedious that the alternative approaches used by some competing products' base units, but there it is, and "it all adds up." The irony is that, contrasted with many less outwardly impressive, bottom-line or mid-level phone models, this "high end" (ostensibly "deluxe"), two-line model ends up being about twice-as-tedious to set up or adjust, at least for some of the ordinary functions.

Regarding the system clock, not only is it slightly tedious to set up, but also this phone (unlike some past/present competing-brand models but quite like all comparable "AT&T-brand" corded models' base units I've seen) doesn't allow you to input the date. Worse (I repeat), its LCD's standard ("standby-mode") display doesn't include any "clock" (much less any "calendar") information. In fact, virtually the only thing that is (normally) prominently displayed is the word "BASE." Again, it's long puzzled me why AT&T's presumably intelligent designers would (evidently) suppose that that superfluous word is nearly as useful as the inclusion of (at very least) "time-and-day" data would be. It would have been nice if this phone's designers had included a visual clock (including the day and/or date), as is the case with most competing models.

Like the cordless handset, the base unit includes a 2.5mm headset jack (on its right side). There's likewise an associated "headset" button (at the rightmost portion of the key layout) that redly illuminates whenever you activate that listening mode.

One of the most likable features of this phone is its "DIRECTORY" of (up to) 50 extremely legibly displayed names-and-numbers. Although there are, regrettably, no "one-touch" speed-dialer buttons, you can pretty quickly and easily locate any desired name in the directory. Just press the "MENU" key twice; thereafter, you can use either the "UP" or the "DOWN" key (directly beneath the LCD) to scroll through your complete list of names-and-numbers, or you can "search" for a name. For example, to search for the name "Jones," you can press the numeric keypad's "5" ("JKL") button, and the various names beginning with the letter "J" will be displayed, one at a time, as you proceed to scroll through the list.

The eminently adjustable "ringer" is another of this phone's most admirable features. There are six available melodies and numerous volume levels (melodies and volume levels are selectable via separate on-screen menu options). Note that you can select differing ringer melodies for the two different lines, such that you can easily tell which line is ringing.

Like most--but not all--competing phones nowadays, this AT&T model includes "on-hook dialing," allowing you to dial a call before lifting the handset or pressing the speakerphone button.

However, unlike most competing phones nowadays, once your call is connected, the LCD does not display the elapsed time of the call (it merely displays the currently connected phone number). The omission of such a basic function seems inexcusable for such a pricey model.


5. The speakerphone: noteworthy features and performance

On the one hand, the AT&T EP5962 base unit's speakerphone sounds better than "bottom-end;" on the other hand, it's far from state-of-the-art. On the whole, I'd label it "satisfactory." Fortunately, it's only relatively slightly afflicted with the intermittent distortion (especially whenever a talker's voice modulates to its maximum volume) that can be heard with the digital answerer, which I'll discuss in the next section of this review. The parties in a live conversation shouldn't have any trouble whatsoever detecting each other's most subtle vocal nuances using this speakerphone, nor is there any unduly "metallic" edge or veneer to vocal tone (I can't always say the same about the digital answerer).

The tiny microphone port used for this speakerphone (as well as for recording your "outgoing announcement" and/or memos) is located virtually front-and-center on the upper surface of the base unit (to the right of the appealing little "AT&T" logo plaque). Thus the microphone is, at least, optimally positioned to provide virtually distortion-free sound, which, nevertheless, it doesn't quite do.

Activating "speakerphone mode" prior to dialing a number is simple. Just press the aforementioned conspicuous "speakerphone" button, which will immediately glow with a pleasingly light-amber or yellow-gold hue, and you'll simultaneously hear a dial tone via the speaker. You can then manually dial a number (or easily select one that you've previously stored in the unit's handy, 50-name "directory").

Alternatively, you can first dial (or select) a number and then press the "speakerphone" button.

During a conversation, you can instantly switch from using the handset to using the speakerphone. Just press the "speakerphone" button and then hang up the receiver. Conversely, you can instantly switch from speakerphone mode to handset mode. Just pick up the handset (speakerphone mode is thereby deactivated).

In sum, the base unit's easy-to-use speakerphone component amounts to a more than acceptable--virtually, if not fully, a first-rate--performer. Its sensitivity and sound quality should satisfy you and your callers.


6. The digital answerer: noteworthy features and performance

Let me open this section of my review of this "two-line" phone by quoting the opening paragraph of page 28 in this product's 50-page "User manual":

"The digital answerer can record up to 99 messages for each line, depending on how long each message is. Individual messages can be up to 4 minutes long, but total maximum recording time for all messages is 25 minutes. Messages will remain available for replay until you delete them."

To activate the base unit's answerer, you simply press the "ON/OFF LINE 1" (and/or the "ON/OFF LINE 2") button, which is located directly above the conspicuous silvery cluster of four contiguous buttons (which is shaped somewhat like an alien spaceship in an early video game!) to the left of the numerical keypad. Within that cluster of contiguous buttons you will find the following functions: "REPEAT" (the left button); "SKIP" (the right button); "MAILBOX LINE 1" (the upper-center button); and "MAILBOX LINE 2" (the lower-center button). Either/both of those "mailbox" buttons illuminate whenever there are messages in memory; and if there are "new" (un-played) messages in the memory of one (or both) of those so-called "mailboxes," the appropriate "MAILBOX LINE 1/2" button will flash. (Note: The illuminated hue is not the typical "red" that most answering machines use; instead, it's light-amber or yellow-gold.)

Note that (in addition to the flashing "MAILBOX LINE 1/2" button) you can simultaneously have an audible "message alert tone" activated, such that you'll not only see but also hear when "new" messages have been received. This signal consists of a single beep every ten seconds. Although the beeping is somewhat subtle and intermittent, you're bound to notice it (provided you're not blaring heavy metal music or hosting a boisterous bash).

Unfortunately, unlike some competing products, this answerer's flashing "MAILBOX LINE 1/2" button--and, optionally, message-alert tone--aren't simultaneously accompanied by an LED or LCD indicator telling you how many new (or old) messages have been received. You'll need to press the aforementioned "MENU" key and then perform a few additional keypresses in order to see the words "PLAY NEW MSG" (which is only displayed if "new," un-played messages are in memory); however, even then, you still won't be told how many new messages have been received. To discover that, you'll simply have to play (listen to) your messages. This message-notification setup strikes me as merely acceptable, not ideal, especially considering (again) the price of this ostensibly high end, somewhat "business-oriented" model.

In any case, when you play your messages, the newest message will play first, and the oldest last. (This playback sequence is opposite that used by many competing products.) During playback each message is labeled with the following information (which simultaneously appears on the LCD screen): the message number; the word "new" (or "old"); day and time; and message length (in seconds). [Note: Caller-ID information, if any, will also be displayed.

Setting up the answering system's several "menu options" via the on-screen "menu" function is fairly easy to understand, if somewhat tedious to execute. Just press the middle "MENU" key (directly below the LCD/display window); then select "MAILBOXES;" then select "SETUP MAILBOX 1" (and/or "SETUP MAILBOX 2"); etc. The following functions (among others) are available:

"Answer-only" mode. This mode allows callers to hear a special (separately recorded) outgoing announcement but not to leave any messages. The "canned" (prerecorded) "announce-only" announcement is: "We're sorry, messages to this number cannot be accepted." However, you can easily override that by recording your own "Answer-only" mode" announcement.

Number or rings. You can set the number of rings (before the answering system answers an incoming call) to any of the following options: 2 rings; 4 rings (the default setting); 6 rings; or "toll saver." Here's how the "Toll Saver" option works:

If the system has received any new messages, it answers after the second ring; but if there are no new messages, the system answers after the fourth ring. You can hang up after the second ring and thereby spare yourself any pay phone or long-distance charges.

Call screening. Regarding the base unit, if its answering system is activated and its volume isn't off, you'll automatically hear the "outgoing announcement" followed by the incoming message (if any) that the caller chooses to record. You can opt to "intercept" the call by pressing the speakerphone button or by lifting the corded handset from the base unit.

By default, this "call screening" feature is "on." However, you have the option of switching it off (and back on again) via a menu option.

Remote access code. Many users will appreciate this answerer's "remote-access" capability. In other words, wherever on earth you might roam, you can always easily access this phone's answerer by entering a four-digit "code." [Note that the "remote-access" feature won't be accessible if you're dialing in via a "pulse" ("rotary") phone.] The default security code is "5000;" you can change that with another four-digit number.

Message alert tone. (Select the "AUD ALERT ON/OFF" option.) I largely explained this feature earlier in this section. The "default" option for this feature is "OFF." But I strongly suggest that you change it to "ON," such that you'll be doubly assured of never missing recently received messages from callers.

Regarding the "outgoing announcement" (that callers hear before recording their messages), the unit comes with the following prerecorded, default announcement spoken by the system's reasonably articulate, synthetic, "male" voice:

"Hello. Please leave a message after the tone."

But you can override that prerecorded (and permanently available) announcement by recording your own announcement, which is very easy, provided that you skip the tedious menu-driven option and, instead, use the following, alternative approach:

Press and hold the "RECORD" button, then press the "MAILBOX LINE 1/2" button to record an outgoing announcement for the selected line (i.e., either Line 1 or Line 2). The system will automatically replay your message once; and you'll see a temporarily displayed on-screen menu allowing you to re-play or re-record your message. Unfortunately, once that a temporarily displayed menu disappears, the only way thereafter to hear (play) your recorded announcement will be to wade through the somewhat tedious menu-driven approach that I already discussed above (in Section 4 of this review). It's not difficult, just surprisingly tedious.

Now, I found the sensitivity and effectiveness of the unit's built in microphone (whose tiny port is on the upper surface of the base) to be all right for speakerphone use. That makes me suspect that it's not primarily at fault for the rather mediocre, unnatural sound of this digital answerer component. Instead, it's evidently a too low "sampling rate" (during digital-recording) that causes this model EP5962's answerer to sound notoriously less than perfect. This shortcoming generally made it necessary for me to try two or three successive recordings before producing an outgoing announcement ("greeting") that sounded reasonably articulate. With such an ostensibly "high end" product, recording that announcement should have been effortless with the very first attempt.

Not only does the user's own recorded voice sound a bit annoyingly "metallic" (very slightly distorted), but also the recorded voices of callers (messages) sometimes sound comparably mediocre whenever they intermittently modulate to peak volume level. The sound quality is by no means unacceptable, but it is a tad disappointing, even by the standards of recently introduced, competing products costing a fraction of this model EP5962's suggested list price. To me this constitutes the single biggest (and most surprising) shortcoming of this (purportedly) "high end" AT&T model.

All in all, this unit's digital answerer component will get the job done dependably. As long as your standards for sound quality and ease-of-use aren't particularly high, you'll probably find this unit's reliably functional answerer reasonably satisfying and friendly. But it could've--and should've--been still better, given the pedigree of this two-line, somewhat "business-oriented" model.


7. The cordless handset: noteworthy features and performance

With its battery pack installed, the included "5.8-gigahertz digital" cordless handset weighs 6.7 ounces and (including the short antenna extension) measures about 7.5 (L) x 2 & 1/8 (W) x 1.5 (D) inches. As you can see, it's a slightly heavier and larger handset than many users are accustomed to nowadays. That said, it's still sufficiently comfortable to hold, and its overall styling and amber LDC make it reasonably nice to behold.

A hard plastic "belt clip" is also included in the product box for (optional) attachment to this handset.

Additionally, any industry standard 2.5 mm headset can be plugged into a corresponding jack on the side of the cordless handset to allow hands-free headset conversations.

I was quite satisfied with the performance of the cordless handset. I tested it in all areas of my multi-level suburban house (including the basement, garage, and back yard), and I never noticed any diminution of volume or sound clarity in any of those locations. I enjoyed using this handset in its standard mode; and I even more so enjoyed using its excellently audible and adjustable "speakerphone" mode.

[Mind, while listening to callers via the cordless handset, I didn't find its sonic clarity to be quite "100%" the equal of the top-notch corded handset's tone; nonetheless, the cordless handset's tone (via the base unit's radio signal) was more than "close enough" to satisfy this reviewer's "somewhat picky" sensibilities.]

Unlike the cordless handset(s) of some competing, comparably "integrated" products at this price level, this handset has an illuminated numeric keypad (with semi-opaque keys), making nighttime dialing easy.

Unlike some comparable products (including the more recently introduced AT&T TL74108), the cordless handset and the base unit do not wirelessly communicate with each other such that they share precisely the same directory or "phonebook" of (up to 50) "speed-dial" numbers (and corresponding names). This means that the corded base and cordless handset directories are entirely separate; each can store up to 50 name-and-number entries. Whether you construe such discrete directories to be an advantage or a shortcoming will depend on how you intend to use the base versus the cordless handset; but I suspect that the majority of consumers will deem it a shortcoming, especially given that the EP5962 is supposedly a high end model (and is priced accordingly).

[Note, however, that you can use the cordless handset to review or delete messages on the corded base unit's digital-answerer component. That's a noteworthy capability insofar as the majority of comparable ("corded-plus-cordless") products don't include it.]

This handset's brightly illuminated, light-amber LCD display is sufficiently sizable (1 & 3/8 inches wide x 6/8 inch high) and has agreeably crisp resolution. Indeed, when (for example) I behold a directory number on the cordless handset's backlit LCD, it's essentially the same fully pleasing experience as I derive from the base unit's own, larger, identically colored display. The alphabetic characters include both uppercase and lowercase letters, making this unit much more appealing than some other comparably "integrated" products at this price level.

As with the corded base unit, the cordless handset includes six selectable ringer melodies (as well as numerous volume settings). Settings are selectable for each of the two phone lines, which allows you easily to tell which line is ringing.

Initially, you should allow the cordless handset to charge for at least 10 to 12 hours before extensively using it. After removing it from its charger base, "talk time" is said to be about eight hours, and "standby time" is said to be about three days, which times accorded almost exactly with my actual experiences using this product.

[By contrast, the cordless handsets included with my GE model 28871FE3 (using "DECT 6.0" technology) could go for almost twice as many days in standby mode before requiring recharging. Thus, I can't say that I was much impressed with this AT&T cordless handset's real-world "talk/standby time" between charges--even though I was very favorably impressed with its durably constructed, illuminated keys and its ability to access the corded base unit's answering-machine messages, which are capabilities that the GE model 28871FE3 lacks.]

Therefore, whenever possible, you should return the handset to its dedicated charger unit, which comes with its own 8-volt power adapter.

Now, theoretically, you could easily add up to seven additional (for a total of eight) cordless handsets (AT&T model EP590-2, sold separately) to the EP5962 system, which (including the base unit's own corded handset) would provide nine handsets to use throughout your home or office. It must be noted, however, that separately sold compatible " EP590-2" handsets are not only presumably hard to find at bricks-and-mortar stores, but also they're typically overpriced; in fact, I've seen individual ones selling at Amazon.com for nearly $70, which is nearly the amount that I paid for my entire ("refurbished") EP5962 system! Therefore, I can't honestly declare that (affordable) "cordless expandability" is the most compelling selling point of this system.


8. The user's manual

AT&T did a suitably nice job on the "User's Manual" included in the rather large and colorfully designed product box. This 50-page booklet is entirely in English and is profusely illustrated with black-and-white sketches (grayscale images). The logically presented, step-by-step instructions setting up and operating the base and cordless units are easy to follow.

The main sections are:

"Getting started" (pages 2 through 9);
"Telephone operation" (pages 10 through 19);
"Directories" (pages 20 through 23);
"Caller ID Logs" (pages 24 through 27);
"Answering system operation" (pages 28 through 37);

There are also 11 Appendixes about such topics as: "Display screen status icons;" "Alert tones & Indicator lights;" "adding new handsets;"
charging a spare battery;" "In case of difficulty;" "INDEX;" etc.

But, hey, why not peruse the complete manual yourself, on-line? Here's the web address for the authentic "PDF" edition:

http://telephones.att.com/docMgt/public/art/21609/EP5962_manual.pdf

Note: the actual, printed booklet measures nearly 5.5 x 8.5 inches.

Finally, although the EP5962 manual (unlike analogous manuals for other AT&T phone models) curiously neglects to include any "warranty" information, I presume that brand-new specimens of this phone are warranted for AT&T's customary one-year period. [By contrast, "AT&T-refurbished" specimens (like mine) are generally only warranted for 90 days.]


9. Summary:

The AT&T model EP5962's most noteworthy virtues include: its eminently adjustable, selectable ringer melodies and volumes on both the base unit and the cordless handset (separately selectable for the two respective phone lines); its corded base unit's (as well as its cordless handset's) exceptionally bright-and-legible, amber LCD display; and, not least, the base unit's strikingly handsome styling.

However, here is a summary of the seven things (in no particular order) that I most especially deem less than ideal (albeit tolerable):

1. The digital answerer's user-recordable greetings sound somewhat "metallic" (as though you've been partially assimilated by the Borg of Star Trek!).

2. The LCD-menu-navigation approach is rather unintuitive and tedious.

3. The digital answerer includes no visual "message counter" specifying the number of new or old messages.

4. The base unit's (as well as the cordless handset's) LCD doesn't display the current time, day, or date.

5. The base unit's (as well as the cordless handset's) LCD doesn't display the elapsed time of the currently connected call.

6. If the base unit isn't connected to AC power, even its corded handset won't function at all unless there's a proprietary (roughly ten-dollar) AT&T battery installed (inside the base unit).

7. The 5.8GHz cordless handset's real-world "talk" and "standby" times, though acceptable, are only approximately half as long as those I've derived from competing models.

The EP5962 is a somewhat perplexing--and unaccountably overpriced--model that seems partly a "home" and partly a "business" phone and yet isn't quite ideal for either purpose or setting. On the one hand (despite its fairly sizable directory's capacity of up to 50 name-and-number entries), its utter lack of "one-push" speed-dialer buttons makes it seem out-of-place in the typical business office. On the other hand, its two-line capability and roughly two-hundred-dollar list price make it seem inappropriate for the majority of "home" consumers. And the intermittently slightly distorted sounds of its digital answerer (not to mention the somewhat tedious and unintuitive LCD-menu-navigation system) aren't likely to delight anyone.

Nevertheless, this unit takes, stores and plays callers' messages dependably enough; it's a satisfactory, albeit not quite first-rate, speakerphone; and--as you'd expect--it works splendidly for ordinary, live conversations via both its (corded and cordless) handsets. And--I reemphasize--the brightly backlit amber LCD display (on the base unit as well as the cordless handset) displays names and numbers exceptionally legibly. Best of all, the base unit's exterior is one of the handsomest of any corded phone I've seen. Now, if only that "high end" countenance weren't belied by a subtly rasping answering voice and a rather exasperating menu navigator, this might've been at least a "four-star" product.

Whatever you do, don't pay full price for this model. If you're absolutely determined to own it, consider a "refurbished" or "opened-package" unit, and pay no more than eighty bucks. Frankly, it's not a steal even at that price, considering the availability of more recently introduced models that are nearly as pretty and don't share its slightly frustrating (albeit altogether tolerable) foibles. You might also try AT&T's recently introduced, (at least cosmetically) updated version of this product, the model TL76108. However, not only have I myself not yet tested the latter, but it, too, appears to be unaccountably overpriced.

Recommended: Yes