Siemens Plug 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

I bought this to replace a dect phone in the bedroom as I didnt feel comfortable having a mini cell tower by my head at night. The sound quality is very good on this phone (both headset and speaker, though speaker volume could be louder). Its a rather large, low profile phone with some heft, but its by far one of the best looking corded phone I've seen in a while (most phones look like cheap gaudy junk that you want to hide). Ringtones are a little less than to be desired but you can set the tempo as well as the tone and volume of the ring. The light sensor is cool, especially if the phone is bedside as you wont be fumbling for it in the dark of night. Just reach around where it is and buttons light up. The setup instructions are a little confusing from a human factors point of view. To set each function, the instructions tell you to hold down the "set" key and then press the desired number associated with the function that you want to change. I was holding the set key WHILE pressing a number and it was doing weird things. I almost sent it back. You need to hold down the set key until you see the word SET on the display, then release the set key and press the number. You'll need to keep the "quick guide" close to this phone to look up key combinations and cryptic display symbols. Buttons have a good tactile feel to them and it looks great lit up at night. Its a good basic phone, as another reviewed commented.

I guess I didn't read the reviews before purchasing, or I could have saved myself the trouble of buying and returning this phone. As one of the other reviewers said, the caller ID only has the number, not the name. Totally unhelpful unless you've memorized the phone number of everyone that calls you. Also, the proximity sensor seems like an OK idea, but it's just distracting when you are sitting at your desk (phone keeps lighting up when you move around). Finally, the display is so flat that even if the phone is sitting 18 inches in front of you, you can't read the display (or see the calling number) without leaning over the phone. Sound quality was marginal and on speakerphone the other person seemed to cut out frequently.

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.

Pros 1. Back-light for keys and LCD. The sensor will turn on the back light automatically wen a person approches. 2. Tilt display allows to adjust the angle. 3. With Caller ID 4. Good sound quality, I've made a few conference calls and voice with speaker phone proved to be good, no cut off of voice. Cons 1. Mute button is actually is "hold", it eliminates the voice from both sides, not good for a conference call 2. Low speaker volume. the volume is fine if seat close, but not very loud. Overall, it's a good phone, for family use, but not made for conference calls. I have it returned for this reason.

Obtained this from Amazon's "Warehouse Deals", and it was an excellent buy. We're using it with a Skype adapter, and the only quirk is that the caller ID function does not work with Skype, but that's acceptable, as there are ways around that. The speakerphone is very loud and clear, you can set different ring tones & volumes, and there are 6 "hot keys" for frequently dialed numbers. The proximity sensor is a very nice feature, particularly in low-light conditions. The display is easy to read, and the buttons are HUGE, which is a plus for elders or those who are on their way to becoming visually-impared (like me). Great phone.

I bought it for my basement office. It is dark down there and the lights work really well. Especially when you are walking towards the phone. It lights up. It has a lot of features. The few I have had time to try work great. I would choose it again.

The proximity sensor is too much sensitive. Keypad keeps on getting lit up unnecessarily which makes me conclude that the phone needs to be placed at an isolated location and with not many things around. Otherwise a good gadget for my parents with bigger keys, large display and back-lit keypad.