| A cordless phone is a communication device | | | | but they require a connection with a local wired |
| comprised of a base station and a cordless | | | | service instead of mobile phone network, and do |
| receiver. This device is connected to a landline | | | | need to plug into a wireless access point, such as |
| (POTS) and operates up to (typically) one hundred | | | | a base station. Using electromagnetic waves, |
| feet from the base station. Cordless phones | | | | wireless phones work on a 2.4 GHz frequency |
| serve the convenience of not being restricted by | | | | band via digital technologies or 802.11a/b/g |
| the tangle of a phone cord. | | | | standards-based wireless LAN technology. The |
| As for power, cordless phones are unlike regular | | | | difference between wireless phones and cordless |
| telephones in that they require household mains | | | | phones, however, is that wireless phones are |
| electricity. The cordless phone receiver is | | | | initiated by connecting to the public switched |
| powered by a rechargeable battery when resting | | | | telephony network (PSTN) via a call management |
| in its base station. | | | | function. Base stations may or may not have the |
| Cordless phones use seven frequency bands that | | | | capability of performing this connection. Most |
| have been allocated by the Federal Trade | | | | digital systems associated with wireless phones |
| Commission: | | | | have encryption incorporated into its |
| ·1.7 MHz | | | | programming, so privacy is usually an expected |
| ·27 MHz (allocated in 1980) | | | | and guaranteed feature. |
| ·43-50 MHz (allocated in 1986) | | | | As the progenitor to cell phones, cordless phones |
| ·900 MHz (902-928 MHz) (allocated in 1990) | | | | are a more convenient form of modern |
| ·1.9 GHz (1920-1930 MHz) (allocated in | | | | communicative technology than standard or |
| October 2005) | | | | conventional telephones. These portable devices |
| ·2.4 GHz (allocated in 1998) | | | | are easy to set up, simple to use, inexpensive (or |
| ·5.8 GHz (allocated in 2003) | | | | at least affordable), and include multiple |
| Of those listed, the 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 | | | | "user-friendly" features, such as privacy |
| GHz bands are used by all phones, including | | | | encryption and distinctive ringing. It's no wonder |
| cordless phones, in the United States. | | | | why cordless phones are so popular and |
| Wireless Phones | | | | commonly used today! |
| Wireless phones are similar to cordless phones, | | | | |