Kris Tarr

Oh yeah! Gadget testing time…

Today, on my way home from work, I popped by an electronic store and picked up a new gadget to play with this New Year’s Eve. It’s VTech’s IS6110, wireless 6.0 Digital Internet Messaging phone.

Here are the list of features listed on the box:

Instant Messenger
Multifunctional device allows the user to instant message, instant voice, and make and receive standard landline calls.

Qwerty keyboard
Responsive keyboard allows user to quickly type instant messages with ease and comfort.

Full color LCD in handset
Extra large, high resolution color display for clear and easy viewing of instant message chats.

Here is some more info on this cute little phone:

Features

• DECT 6.0 Digital technology provides the best sound quality, security and range in cordless phones
• Read away messages and text multiple buddies simultaneously
• Click to talk allows IM voice chats with buddies
• Includes Qwerty keyboard
• Free instant messaging services with MSN, Windows Live Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger
• Interference free for crystal clear conversations – won’t interfere with wireless networks and other electronic devices
• Protect yourself from identity theft with digital security – your call is digitized and encrypted, making it nearly impossible for someone to eavesdrop
• Caller ID/call waiting – stores 50 calls
• Extra large, high resolution color display for clear and easy viewing
• Handset speakerphone – enjoy hands-free conversations
• Recordable ring tones – record directly from your PC or any type of stereo equipment
• 50 name and number phonebook directory – easily store and dial frequently called numbers
• Voicemail waiting indicator
• Handset volume control
• Last number redial
• WiFi friendly – won’t interfere with wireless networks
• Trilingual prompts – choose between English, Spanish or French
• Page/handset locator
• Selectable ring tones
• Headset compatible (2.5 mm)

Model No. : IS6110
Replacement Battery : 891326/891330

Though I just setup the phone at home so haven’t had much time to play with it (it’s still on the base charging), I already know a few things about it that I do not like:

• VTech added a privacy feature which prevents people from reading your conversations while the phone is logged into your favorite chat program. The sad part is that this feature cannot be turned off so if want to access your MSN or AIM account on both the computer and the phone at the same time, you are out of luck. I’m working on a hack already…
• This is not a WiFi device and its base unit is not directly connecting to the Internet, instead it connects to the Internet through USB port of your computer. So if your computer is turned off, you cannot use the IM features of the device. Without your computer turned on this phone is nothing but a fancy cordless phone with a cool color screen, mp3 ringtones and a cool phone directory.
• The only way I found to log on and off my Internet Messaging accounts is through the software that came with it, which as I mentioned above, will lock down my IM program that is currently running on my computer…

Other than the problems above, it’s a cool little phone with lots of features. I’m sure that even if I wanted, I couldn’t find a cool 6.0 digital phone with color display, mp3 ringtones, IM features and more for less than $40.