The Bottom Line
The Siemens Gigaset C450IP phone has the VoIP/PSTN duality as strong point. For those of you that still use the two systems and like flexibility, this phone makes it easy for your to seamlessly switch to and from VoIP (using an Ethernet connection) and landline PSTN. Concerning the features and looks, the phone does not have anything greater than others, but it robust and easy to install and use, with relatively very few problems and great user manuals. It also has good voice quality.
Pros
- Dual mode - easy to switch to and from VoIP and PSTN at one single button press
- Usable with up to 6 handsets
- Very easy to set up, without requiring a PC
- Good quality by Gigaset's Quality of Service
Cons
- Phonebook cannot be accessed via web or downloaded to a PC
- Traditional look (well, tastes can't discussed, can they?)
- Only one ringtone for internal and one for external calls
Description
- Dual access: Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) and PSTN
- Plug and Play - the phone can just be unpacked and installed in a minute, without configuration with a PC
- Illuminated keypad and color display
- Can hold up to 6 handsets
- Internal antennas
- Battery power: 150 hours standby, 10 hours conversation
- Handset range: 50 m indoor and 300 m outdoor
- Memory can hold 100 numbers
Guide Review - Siemens Gigaset C450IP IP Phone Review
The phone is a good starter-level phone, with the possibility of switching from VoIP to PSTN and vice versa at the press of a button, with both the landline and Ethernet cords connected simultaneously.
The installation and setting up is a breeze, and you don't even need a PC for this. The user manuals are quite explicit and offer explanations in languages other than English.
The phone quality is quite good, as it is featured with Gigaset's Quality of Service mechanism.
The 101x64 pixels and 4096 colors of the display make it quite nice, and graphical menus make it even nicer and richer. The features include SMS, polyphonic ringtones, handsfree calling, 100-record phone book among others.
Physically, the phone has a base station which can control up to 6 headsets that can still work at a range of 50 meters indoors and 300 meters outdoors.
