BT Diverse Cordless DECT Home Phones

11/08/2008

BT Diverse Phones

The BT Diverse range of cordless DECT telephones has been embraced in particularly by small and medium sized businesses who need to create relatively small telephone networks but don’t want or need to invest in a switchboard system. Their professional quality has also earned them admirers from home and home office users seeking reliable, durable and well specified handsets. Even entry level models offer impressive functionality whilst at the top end expect full colour screens, integrated digital answering machines, call transfer and internal call capabilities.

Capability for scalability

One of the Diverse range’s greatest strengths is its scalability, the way it can satisfy multiple user needs cost effectively. Even the lowest priced model, the BT Diverse 6110, can support up to five handsets (you can save money by buying twin or trio bundles with further expansion through purchase of additional 6100 handsets). Rise through the range and you find the Diverse 6210, Diverse 6250, Diverse 6350, Diverse 6410 and Diverse 6450 which not only host up to six handsets but are compatible with the BT Diverse Range Repeater, a cunning device which picks up the base station signal and re-sends it, typically doubling its range. Up to three Range Repeaters can be added to a single base station to extend the signal in different directions and create a low cost network of up to 18 phones.

A range of two halves

Casting a broad brush over the range the six core models can pretty much be broken down into two groups although all are united by common features such as LCD screens, headset compatibility, SIM card readers, polyphonic ringtones, caller ID and SMS texting capabilities. The lower priced models still offer impressive functionality but the key sacrifice is an integrated digital answering machine which features only within the higher end grouping of the Diverse 6250, Diverse 6350 and Diverse 6450.  Take the cheapest option, the Diverse 6110 which, bought wisely, is a sub-£30 model. That meagre sum buys you all the common features listed above plus the ability for all handsets to accept and transfer calls, 12 hours talk and 120 hours stand-by time, orange colour screen,  a choice of 10 ringtones and a 50 name and number phonebook.

BT Diverse Answering Machine

Delve into the higher end grouping and you uncover more features. The aforementioned answering machine featured on all the top three models is easy to navigate and offers 20 minutes of quality digital recording. Which model you opt for depends on your own needs and wants. For example the Diverse 6350 comes as standard with a corded handset which also acts as the base station for a cordless companion, so you’ve got a two ‘phone set up from day one (and you can add Diverse 6200 additional handsets and/or the Range Repeater to then extend further). If you simply want a piece of cordless message taking kit, then opt for cheaper Diverse 6250 which offers the same features as the Diverse 6200, such as 100 name address book, but without the cordless ‘phone.  And if you want a classy full colour screen and a phonebook capable of holding a whopping 200 names and numbers, then head for the range-topping Diverse 6450.