Visual call indicators – if you struggle to hear incoming calls, handsets with a visual call indicator, such as a flashing light, can be invaluable. These are not commonly found on standard cordless phones, so you may have to buy a specialist handset. You can get these from charities such as Action on Hearing Loss or dedicated retailers. The BT 7660 Cordless Phone makes staying in touch at home easier, with no wires and ease of use, it's the perfect phone for all the family. Many of us pay little attention to our home phone bills, but you can save a decent amount by taking a few simple steps. A Sim-card reader – handy if you've got lots of friends or family members saved on your mobile phone. Simply pop the Sim card from your mobile phone into the reader and you can transfer all your stored numbers directly over to your cordless phone.

Do I need a wall-mountable phone? If space is at a premium, you can wall-mount some cordless phones. These are pretty rare, though. Most need to sit on a flat surface, and you’ll still need to run power and phone cables up the wall to the base unit. Keypad with sounds – some phones play an audible beep when a button is pressed and may even have a different sound for each button, helping you dial more accurately. A small number also have talking caller ID options, announcing who’s calling you so you can decide whether to take the call.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an answering machine? Most home phones now include an answering machine, although you can save a few pounds by choosing one without. If an answering machine is important to you, decide whether you want one with full controls built into the base, or just access through the handset. This base unit makes it easier to see and to access your messages, although it does add to the unit's size. Also consider how much recording time you need. Some models have as little as 11 minutes capacity, while the best will record an hour of messages. Finally, think about how you would like to be alerted to new message: most handsets and base stations have a flashing light, but some models will also emit a beep to make this extra clear. Hearing-aid compatibility – older analogue hearing aids can be affected by interference from cordless phones. To cut down on interference, look for a phone that’s compatible with hearing aids. This means that it has an inductive coupler, which works directly with a hearing aid to give a clearer sound. To use the inductive coupler, your hearing aid has to be switched to the ‘T’ (telecoil) setting.

Beyond that, there are some practical upgrades that might be worth investing in, such as longer battery life, extended wireless range or water resistance for use outdoors. More superficial extras might include a wide selection of ringtones or a colour screen.Some BT phones also offer a screening feature, which asks unknown callers to give their name before you accept their call, giving you more control over who you talk to. Just be aware that all these features rely on your having a caller ID service from your home phone provider. Are DECT phones compatible with new IP-based landlines? Finally, if you use your home phone a lot – especially to make pricey international calls – then you might save money by embracing new technologies. Some cordless phones can wirelessly connect to your broadband using ‘voice over internet protocol’ (VoIP) technology, enabling you to make free or very low-cost phone calls over the internet.