CAUTION THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS PHONE. I have received two of these, they work as described with one notable exception, there is a defect in the memory for the phonebook. The base unit message gives an error message "no battery". I tested the backup batteries, did the "hard reset" that Thomson support asks you to do and the problem stil exists. You can add numbers to the phonebook but they will not save over time. I went back to Thomson support and they acknowledge there is a defect and the only remedy is to ship the phone and all of its accessories back to them in Texas, at your own expense, and somewhere between 4-6 weeks later you should receive a non-defective phone. When I asked the support operator if this problem was unique to my phone or had she heard of it before and she said this defect has been occuring.

So...it worked well in all other aspects but not being able to add phone numbers in the phonebook is a serious flaw and they should have debugged this before final release to the retail market!!

I just purchased this phone (from WalMart) and am confirming that I am also seeing the "NO BATTERY" message on the base. I used a multimeter to verify that the four batteries I have in the base are correctly interconnected and delivering a total of 6.5v end-to-end. I have downloaded a small phonebook into one of the headsets, but have not seen the entries disappear yet.

I intend to return this unit to WalMart and try a 2nd or even 3rd unit (which I will verify in the store!). If I find the same problems, I will post another comment here.

Otherwise, the phone is full of features with the notable combination of the DECT 6.0 protocol, cellphone bluetooth connectivity (works really nicely with 2 cell phones simultaneously) and the expandability to 7 headsets.

If you are interested in one of these, I would recommend that you wait awhile or contact Thomson directly about the status of the issue before you purchase. If you must purchase now, I would purchase in a local store (versus on the internet) so that you can do an in-store test before purchase. Be sure to carry 4 AAA batteries with you. Unpack the base unit, intstall the batteries, plug in the power supply and verify you don't see the "NO BATTERY" message on the base with the backup batteries installed.

I just purchased this phone (from WalMart) and am confirming that I am also seeing the "NO BATTERY" message on the base. I used a multimeter to verify that the four batteries I have in the base are correctly interconnected and delivering a total of 6.5v end-to-end. I have downloaded a small phonebook into one of the headsets, but have not seen the entries disappear yet.

I intend to return this unit to WalMart and try a 2nd or even 3rd unit (which I will verify in the store!). If I find the same problems, I will post another comment here.

Otherwise, the phone is full of features with the notable combination of the DECT 6.0 protocol, cellphone bluetooth connectivity (works really nicely with 2 cell phones simultaneously) and the expandability to 7 headsets.

If you are interested in one of these, I would recommend that you wait awhile or contact Thomson directly about the status of the issue before you purchase. If you must purchase now, I would purchase in a local store (versus on the internet) so that you can do an in-store test before purchase. Be sure to carry 4 AAA batteries with you. Unpack the base unit, intstall the batteries, plug in the power supply and verify you don't see the "NO BATTERY" message on the base with the backup batteries installed.

As I stated in my last posting, I returned to Walmart to exchange or return my phone. While I was there, I tested two other units on the shelf - both had the same issue of not recognizing the batteries. So rather than exchanging, I just returned my phone and strongly suggested to customer service that I felt all their inventory was defective.

During the week that I did have the original unit, I also noticed that all phone book entries were lost as described in the posting by Tim McDade.

Why isn't GE (Thomson) issuing a recall and repairing the problem?

I got this phone a week ago and so far so good!
I have the no battery warning but I have not put batteris in yet. I have not seen that my phone book has disapeared, at least not yet.
This Has been a life saver for me, since I only get cell reception in a certain place in my home. I use my cell for work and now when I am home I can get and make calls very easily!

Paired with my phone no problem I have a Treo700WX (Sprint).

The only glitch I have had so far is that for some reason once only incoming cell calls were coming in but I could not make out going thru my cell. Unplugged the base and plugged back in, works fine. Haven't had the problem again.
Nothing is perfect, especially with electronics.
I'd give this phone a 9/10, Calls are extremely clear as well!

I, too, received the NO BATTERY status. However, another reviewer at epinions.com had this suggestion:

"Here's the fix on AAA Batteries - per Thompson (GE's handler) Duracell brands don't work and they told me to try another brand of batteries. I tried two different brands and problem still the same. The real problem is the Positive battery contacts are located too deeply. So I took my trusty dusty dremel tool and with a small grinder bit, chewed away at the little black tabs that support (too high obviously) the positive battery terminal. This took me all of 3 min. Not sure how this may affect warranty issues which may or may not crop up later, but so far so good for two weeks now. PS - Since the Dremel work is inside the battery compartment, you can't see a thing."

I used a tiny screwdriver and scraped the black tabs and now I no longer have the NO BATTERY warning.

Does this work like Doc-n-talk? If you plug the rj11 plug into an outlet that feeds ALL your other phones in the house, will they ring as well? I was going to get the D-n-T to replace me landline but have see this from GE. Seen it in Target for 150.00 today. If it supplies dialtone to any phone connected to the same nextwork these phones are hooked up to, it might be worth it.

This may be ignorant, but if I have terrible reception on my cell phone within the walls of my house, I will still have bad reception with this GE phone, right?

If that's the case, then I'm going to buy a cell phone signal booster for about the same $$$.

In reply to mikes question-the fusion phone isn't going to improve the reception on your cell phone.I would suggest that if you have good reception outside of your home you may want to try an antenna 1st b4 spending the $ on the booster-that may be all u need and it would be less expense.

j.fred,
I am now too having problems with the phone book. I am going to try this as well. I love the phone as I only get reception in a couple of spots in my house with my cell and work from home allot. This has been great because I can link up in that good spot and works great all over the house this way.

I also at times have a problem dialing out on land line and or cell. With the Landline it dials the number and then immediatley I get a dial tone. With the cell will not connect but is still in my cell phone and as soon as I turn the backlight on on my cell the call starts going thru, only on my cell phone though. I have to unplug the power on the Fusion to basically reboot the thing.
Wondering if this would help that as well.
Anybody else having this problem?

I had the same no battery problem with energizers. Used the Dremmel Trick mentioned above and now it works perfect.

Here is my problem...Twice already in countless number of times...I have called in for my messages by remote....

Played back messages on different mailboxes.... saved some, deleted others.....

Hung up the phone...called back later & phone has a busy signal....Get back to the house & find message saying "Line in use"....Unplugged power etc.. then everything is normal..

Called customer service ..said to send phone back for exchange...

I was thinking of buying this phone but was wondering if any one has used this phone with the two bluetooth cellphones and a VOIP phone system (Vonage, Comcast, etc.) If so please let me know thank you.

I just picked this phone up yesterday and it is WONDERFUL, because I only get cell phone signal when my phone is on the window sill. Put it there, turned on the bluetooth and BAM worked great!!! :)

Not getting the no battery error (And I got mine at walmart), but I'm getting a NO DATA and CALL FROM HOME message. I'm using Broadvoice as my VOIP provider and I'm wondering if it is picking up a pulse from that device, making it think a call is coming through when there isn't one.

Other than that the phone is great.

Steve

Check out battery sizes too. Not all are the same length and if you use long batteries for a while in some battery holders, the springs get compressed and stay that way. Then shorter batteries don't make contact.