AT&T E5965C 5.8 GHz 6-Line Cordless Phone

Pros: Ability to retrieve messages from handset. Keypad and LCD on base. Expandable.
Cons: High price, Cannot parallel program extra handsets, Answering machine clarity.

The AT&T E5965C is the latest top of the line cordless telephone in the AT&T consumer telephone roster. (The "E" stands for "Elite"). The E5965C telephone, and all other AT&T branded products produced since 2000, have actually been manufactured by a ...

Pros: Newest, clearest sounding, best telephone with the most convenient features-read description for more PROS.
Cons: Only stores 50 directory numbers and 10 redial-that's good, but it could be more.

Let’s just start by saying that I absolutely love telephones! I always try to purchase the best telephones within my budget. I recently had the Panasonic KX-TG2217S cordless 2.4GHz phone. I did not even have it for a month before it gave me problems. ...

Pros: Clear Reception, Answering Machine, Features
Cons: Hard To Read Display

I bought my phone back in January, and I am very happy with it. My cordless phones that I had before always had reception problems, and could not keep a charge to save a life. AT+T has solved these problems with this model, and they have been a leading ...

Pros: good range and features
Cons: pricey with multiple handsets, limited graphics for the color screen

I chose the 5965C as it was the highest rated in Consumer Reports as well as the phone system my in-laws bought after they had battery problems with the similar Panasonic product. The system has a great mix of range, features, and style. The product has a speakerphone feature on the handset as well as the base and caller ID on all the units. It also has a vibrate/ringer off feature which is great. The color screen is not a huge bonus as the pre-loaded pictures are pretty low tech. If you could download pics or incorporate a picture caller ID as on many new cell phones, that might be a reason to upgrade to the color model.
The unit I bought was from Costco and came with an included 2nd handset for $139 on sale. A 3rd additional handset, bought at another store, cost almost $100 more.

Pros: Expandable up to 8 hand-sets
Cons: All of the above....plus high price!

I'm not sure if I just have a defective phone, but I can tell you I have had nothing but trouble with this unit since day 1. The biggest problem is that the phone just dies after about 10 minutes of use. The phone sits in the base charging all day, every day and the battery indicator always indicates a full charge, and yet it still dies. In addition, the display on the base system consistently reads "Extension In Use" even though there's no one on the phone. The caller ID announcement works most of the time but not always. I have replaced the batteries with brand new ones even though the first set were fairly new, and it made no difference at all. I even called my phone company to have them check the line to rule out outside problems. I have no choice but to discard the unit and just buy another one. I cannot see how this system could have been rated highest by Consumer Reports....I HATE it.

Pros: Looks, GREAT quality handset speaker phone, nice menus, good sound, user friendly, easy to use.
Cons: Only FAIR quality BASE speaker phone. Buttons are abit hard to push.

I have had MANY cordless phones, 900mhrtz, 2.4 ghrtz, both as phones alone and combination phones and answering machines. So this is nothing new, but the AT & T is a new brand for me.

I decided I liked the major features, looks and cost, and would hope for the best on the quality of the speaker phone and a few other things which I don't use very often anyhow.

All in all I am very happy with my purchase, after two weeks of use, and the price is not bad if one shops around on the web and at discount stores. I read other opinions and agree with some of the more petty "cons," regarding the phone, but because they are such a small part of any phone system like this (and I have yet to find one that pleases me in all areas!) that I ignored them. I will keep this and use it until something better comes out, then try another brand perhaps, but this is fine for now as a back up-additional phone for my home office.

Pros: Voice quality on outgoing and incoming message good. Lots of options.
Cons: No way to turn off the beep at the end of a message.

This model may be good for home use but in my office I need a quiet machine that doesn't beep when a message is left and there's no way to turn off the initial message alert beep that sounds at the end of an incoming message. Also, in order not to hear the incoming message at all one has to turn off call screening entirely, it cant be done with the volume control because the caller can still be heard on the lowest volume setting. its not a good choice for people who need a machine that makes no noise at all. Otherwise the voice quality on the answerer seemed as good as any digital machine I've had and the phone clarity was fine.

Pros: Good audio, phone range in house excellent.
Cons: Operation not intuitive. Handset & base directories and phone logs separate. Poor handset keyboard reliability.

Wanted a 5.8GHz cordless. Researched it to death and the AT&T E5965C was a strong finalized based mainly on a generous feature set, good range and audio. About six months after purchasing, the "0" on the handset stopped responding to touch. I went to AT&T's web sit and found the customer service number. Guess what, there is absolutely NO way to talk to a person, none, zip. So, I packaged up the phone and sent to the repair center. About 4 weeks later, I received a refurb replacement. This was a month ago. Now, I'm seeing the same contact issue on the handset with the "4" and the "7." This kind of QA is deplorable. I'm thinking this thing is going to get relegated to some little used room or the bottom of our local land fill. First time, shame on you, second time, shame on me.