A cordless phone is a portable phone which comes with a wireless handset and the base station is connected to the fixed telephone line. These base stations are provided with antennas for the communication with the handset and the communication takes place via the radio waves of limited range. Unlike the traditional phones with cord these cordless phones require power supply in order to charge the battery of the handset, a separate cradle is provided in the base station for its charging. A wide variety of cordless phones are available in order to provide more sophistication for the user.

The glossary items included with the cordless phones are,
2-line capability:
Not all the cordless phones are provided with this capability. This capability allows two separate phone lines to be connected to the same phone.

1.9 GHz cordless:
This frequency of operation for the cordless phones is designated for voice transmission alone and protects the telephone users from the interference. They are operated on less crowded frequency and provide good quality and range.

2.4 GHz cordless:
This cordless operates at a higher transmission frequency when compared to the older 900 MHz, the advantage being clear transmission and great coverage.

“Any-key” talk:
This feature in the cordless phones allows the user to answer any calls by single touch of any button on the cordless handset. This helps answering calls in the dark, even sensors are kept to detect whether the phones are used in dark or in well lighted areas.

Answering machine:
Answering machines are usually embedded with the base stations. In these answering machines the voices for auto answer are recorded if there are any incoming calls and there is nobody to answer it. Generally these are digital because the recordings are stored on a chip rather on the magnetic tape.

Base keypad:
The base keypad is present in the base station of the speaker cordless phones. In which there will be no need for the handset for dialling.

Base to handset paging:
The base to handset paging allows the user to send signals from base station to the handset. This signal gives a beep sound on the handset as a result it helps the user to find the place of the handset where it has been placed or misplaced.

Base unit:
The base unit generally comes with several functions such as speaker phone, keypad and answering machine. They also come with the charging cradles for recharging the handset and antennas for sending and receiving the radio waves.

Call Block List:
This list allows the user to store the caller information and later if the same caller tries again to the same phone then they will get a busy signal and the phone completely blocks that caller.

Caller ID:
Caller ID registers the details of the particular user such as his or her number, the time of call, the date of call etc. The caller ID also allows the user to register the missed calls and reply for the same at a later time.

DECT technology:
DECT is the Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications technology which allows the user to use many handsets for a single base. They use the voice dedicated 1.9 GHz frequency which reduces the interference and this technology also allows the intercom calls.

Digital spread spectrum:
Digital Spread Spectrum abbreviated as DSS, this advanced form of transmission offer greater range with high output power and also has improved security.

Dialling tone:
The dialling tone is the tone which the user will hear as soon the user picks up the handset.

Expandable multi-handset system:
This Expandable multi-handset system is a unit which allows the cordless phone unit to have multiple handsets and they works without any problem until all the handsets are compatible with the base stations.

Engaged tone:
This tone is also called busy tone. The busy tones will be beard as beep sound which alerts the caller that the user is busy with another call or he/she has hung up the phone.

Headset:
Headset helps the user to have a hands free conversation. The cordless handsets are usually provided with the head set jackets to which both ordinary and Bluetooth headsets can be inserted.

Intercom:
This feature is present in all the cordless phones which allow conversation between the handset and the base unit. This is a handy feature as the user can easily converse with a person in another room.

LCD screen:
The Liquid Crystal Display screen is present in the handset or in the base. This helps in the display of battery charge, caller information (Caller ID), signal strength, channel number and menus to adjust contrast and brightness of the screen.

Memo recording:
The memo recording unit is present in the base unit which allows the user to record instant messages when they are not able to find paper and pencil to write the content.

Night mode:
This mode in cordless phones allows the user to turn the ringer off in the handsets. These phones also comes with the LED indicator which blinks whenever a call comes as a result a user can still find that he/she is receiving incoming call.

Out-of-range alert:
This alert on the cordless phone indicates the user when he or she goes out of the range of the base unit as a result the user cannot continue the conversation. The indication usually will be a beep sound.

Privacy mode:
The privacy mode is present in the cordless unit having multi handsets. This mode does not allow other handset users to overhear a conversation taking place in any of the other handsets.

Redial:
The redial button in the handset allows the user to dial the last number again by a single press of the button in the handset.

Speaker phone:
The speaker phone allows the user in a hands free conversation. The speaker is generally present in the base unit.

Voicemail boxes:
The voice mailboxes allow the caller to record their message in the receiving phone. There will be a special device on the receiver’s phone so that the user can get the messages whenever they are free.