Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I just bought the KX-TG7624. The manual that comes with it covers both the KX-TG762x and KX-TG764x series. Seeing the differences detailed in the manual, I've decided to return this one and buy the Panasonic KX-TG7645M DECT 6.0 Link-to-Cell via Bluetooth Cordless Phone with Anwering System, Metallic Gray, 5 Handsets. I'm giving it five stars because I believe it is a good product, but it doesn't fit my needs as well as the upgraded model. In my mind, the dream feature of these Link-to-Cell phones is being able to answer your cell phone from any phone in the house. That is wonderful. Our house has spotty cell reception in some areas, so being able to position the base in a good reception area and answer the phone in the garage or basement is pretty nice. I looked at the Panasonic website and even tried the "compare" function there before I purchased. The phones have so many similar features that I overlooked some of the key differences between the KX-TG762x and the KX-TG764x models. That last digit just tells you the number of handsets, so the KX-TG7622 has two handsets and the KX-TG7624 is the same phone with four handsets. The next to last digit is important because it tells you whether some important features are included. The KX-TG764x is a bit more expensive than the KX-TG762x and has at least six upgraded features as follows: (1) The 764x allows the handset to power the base unit during a power failure. The 762x does not support this so a power outage renders the set useless. [As of this writing, this difference is not mentioned on the Panasonic comparison tool on the Panasonic website.] (2) The 764x base unit is a phone also, so you can make or answer a call using just the base unit. The 762x base unit is not a phone on its own. (3) The 764x base unit has a better display that shows date, time, phonebook entries, caller information, and messages recorded on the answering system. The 762x doesn't have this display. (4) The 764x allows you to make intercom calls from the base unit to/from the handsets. The 762x supports intercom function between the handsets but you cannot use the base station as an intercom. (5) The 764x has a headset jack on each handset. (6) The 764x has belt clips included with each handset. Of these differences, there are just two that stick out to me as important. The power outage operation is a fairly big difference to me. My area experiences somewhat frequent power outages, although usually short duration. I'd really like to be able to receive phone calls or at least not be immediately knocked off the phone. I'm not sure yet how well that would work since the power outage mode apparently has a significantly reduced range. The cell phones would still work in an outage, so there is a backup but I might not have the cell immediately at hand. The headset jack on the handsets is a nice feature. I plan to use the phones as part of my home office setup. I have conference calls that can last a couple of hours at a time. While Bluetooth headsets are an option, the simplicity of a wired headset can be a nice, reliable alternative. All in all, I think this unit delivers a great package for basic usage. We have been using Panasonic cordless phones for about 15 years. If this phone lasts like our previous Panasonic phones, I definitely expect a good 5+ years out of it. I'd rather go ahead and get the higher featured one now. Dec. 2011 update: I've been using the Panasonic KX-TG7645M phone set for about five months and thought I'd add some comments. The phones themselves work great with our home phone line. No sound quality issues. The base is located in the kitchen on our main level. I added the Panasonic KX-TGA405B Range Extender for Cordless Phone Systems in my home office on the second floor. I highly recommend the range extender if you have any range issues at all. For the price, it really boosts the signal so that we can talk anywhere in our house, including the basement/garage. Well worth the money spent on that. The Link-to-Cell feature is not quite as seamless and consistent as I'd envisioned. The automatic pairing with the cell phone doesn't seem to work all the time with our Samsung Fascinate phone, but it seems pretty consistent with a BlackBerry. I suspect that this may have a lot to do with the particular phone you are using, so I'm afraid that will be a "your mileage may vary" kind of thing. I use the headset jack a lot for conference calls. I knew it was an important feature to have and experience has proven that to be true. We have begun to use the intercom feature a bit more. I actually labeled the phone that is in my office so that I can return it there when it wanders. Keeping the phones in the same location is key to using the intercom. Otherwise you never know where in the house you are calling!