SIEMENSPlug and Play Corded Phone with Proximity Sensor (ES5040)

Overall good desk phone, with some limitations. Enjoy the light up LEDs, proximity sensor, tilt display, and simple clean format. Clear calls using with Obihai VOIP.Observations from 1 month of use:- Review manual, not everything is intuitive; original European design adjusted for US- Does not accept replaceable batteries, basic functions work without power adapter- Clock, redial, missed calls, and 6 speed-dial numbers DO remain after disconnecting power adapter- Proximity sensor activates LED lights when moving hand over base at 1 foot, or approaching at 2 feet (approximate), easy to enable or disable- Have not used auto-answer via proximity sensor feature- Lock feature useful when children are around; easy to enable or disable- Ringers are digital tones and do not vary much despite 10 selections and 3 speed adjustments.- Buttons are a firm push- Able to switch between handset and speaker by lifting handset, and pushing speaker button thereafter- Hanging up handset when using speaker ends call (unexpected)- Mute button mutes all lines by default, more of a hold function. Able to switch to mute your audio input using info from 7/18/12 review, not mentioned in supplied manual (select option 2 instead of 0 or 1 in mute menu)- All (US-based) inbound calls display 1 in front of the number. Include a leading 1 for speed-dial numbers or they will only register as missed call.- Missed speed dial numbers illuminate corresponding speed-dial button instead of missed call button.- (As described in manual) When viewing missed calls, # button switches between number and date/time; redial button exits menu; speaker button or handset calls number 2 seconds after activation- Redial button does not include option to view time call was made, different from missed call operation- Call timer measures outbound calls, but NOT inbound calls- Includes manual and sheet of opaque labels to place under speed-dial buttons, enough for multiple changes

The caller ID information is very limited since only the phone number will appear on the read out. The proximity sensor is cool but has little or no use. We ordered the Uniden 1360BK for comparison and prefer that model's read out and ease of use. We hooked both up to a OOMA office system and the Uniden 1360BK worked right out of the box, while the Siemens needed some adjusting for the dial tone timing.

This phone is ok as a simple phone, but it is cheaply made. The handset does not work on the unit I bought, so it is a cheap speakerphone. Not recommended.

For many years I used a Siemans phone, with two extensions, that was made in the USA. It was the best phone I have ever owned but got damaged and I bought this model as a replacement. When this phone arrived I was somewhat surprised by the light weight and the lack of a quality feeling about the material. However, it was just twenty two bucks (no extensions) so I should not expect too much. An actual manual is provided with the phone which seems to be a rarity thse days. The instructions are easy to follow - connect the handset to the phone and the power cable from the phone to the outlet with the furnished cords. My last step was to connect the third furnished cord from the phone to an Ooma Linx instead of the suggested wall outlet. When I finished the installation I gave the phone a test run and to my utter surprise the voice quality of this inexpensive phone is excellent. A lot of my purchases that were made in China are pure junk but to be fair this is one of the good items.My use of a phone is at my home for the convenience of the family and friends. I don't care about the mute button or conference calls or anything much other than voice quality. So, my review is based primarily on voice quality although I do like the feature where the phone lights up when I arrive in its vicinity. That is pretty neat, especially at night while strolling in the dark. It reminds me of my garage door opener which lights when I start to enter the garage. But I digress. There are many more features as well which are all explained in the manual. I give this phone 4 stars because it serves my needs better than expected for the price. I take away one star because of a lack of heft to the weight of the phone which makes it somewhat unsteady. For home use you cannot go wrong with this phone.

Cons: 1.Speakerphone "mute" button is actually a "hold" button. It mutes audio from both ends. Dealbreaker for conference calls. 2. The caller ID is only 1 line so you only see what number is calling, not number and name. Inconvenient. 3. Buttons are clicky. The dial buttons are large and clunky, they aren't a "smooth" press.Pros: Good sound quality. Great backlit display with large tilt radius.If the first 2 cons on the list didn't exist I would keep this phone.