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User Opinions: Parafone


colecchioIt's OK

Thumbs Up

Got one. The speaker works fine. It needs an activation button on the unit, like the Visor Phone. It's also a pain in the ass to get back to the hang up screen if you leave the phone app. Other than that, it's a good module.

SLDubinWorth the Convenience!

Thumbs Up

I pre-ordered my Parafone before it was shipping. I can't say I'm disappointed. Unlike the review. I have absolutely no difficulty with the built in speaker. As for the outgoing quality, people on the other end can't tell it's a cordless and I just love the convenience of using the speed dial or simply tapping the number in my address book. I'm wondering if the reviewer is using an older Visor. Some of them were sensitive to RF interference and Handspring had a replacement policy for those units similar to what was done with the Visorphone. The only negative that I agree with is that there should have been a hardware button to getback to the Parafone program. I'm so used to my VisorPhone it's frustrating. I have mapped my ToDo List to the ParaFone which resets to it's default when I pull out the module. I'd also like to add that Customer Service is excellent. A real tech picks up the phone by the third ring! They also answer their e-mail. Go for it.

SunnyIts cool module, great use at home

Thumbs Up

I recently upgraded from my Visor Solo to a Prism and the Solo is now put to use at home. I beam all my common phone number that the family uses. Its gives me the functions of the Visor phone on my cordless phone. There are a few drawbacks: 1)The missing button to pick up an incomming call is a drawback (my Visor Phone has it) 2)If am not using the base unit for sync (I beam them from my prism) I cannot disconnect the USB cable. The price is on the highside, it would be great if was in the $70 range.

dennyaIt's not perfect, but...

Thumbs Up

I reviewed the Paraphone as well, and ended up buying one after the review. It has its problems, but the ability to tie in the Visor with your Palm address book is worth dealing with them. Most of the complaints in this review are right on. A few comments, though: 1) I had NO problems understanding conversations using the Parafone's speaker. I wonder if the reviewed unit was defective, as I found the speaker perfectly clear on both the review unit and the one I bought. 2) RE: 900MHz vs. 2.4GBz. Although the range criticisms here are valid, 900MHz has a HUGE advantage. If you're using 802.11b wireless networks in your home (and, presumably, Bluetooth too, since it's on the same frequency), 2.4GHz phones "stomp" on your network frequency. Someone gets on a 2.4GHz phone and suddenly your network is down to till they hang up. So if you're using WiFi/802.11b, 900MHz is a better choice. And while 2.4GHz has a better range, I find 900MHz works all the way out to the back yard... My solution to the "hang up quickly" problem was to program one of my less-used app buttons (ToDo) to launch the Paraphone app. Agreed, though, that the thing needs a "hang up" button on the module. While you can get a 2.4GHz phone for this cost, it won't have the ability to use Caller ID to put a phone number into your Visor's phone book with two or three stylus taps.



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Product Details
Name: Parafone
Company: Arkon Network
Frequency: 902-928 MHz ISM band
Dimensions: Handset module 94mm×8mm×29mm approx., Base 164mm×130mm×106mm approx.
Operating range: 300 feet (indoor), 1000 feet (outdoor)
Talk time: 3 hours talk / 3.5 days standby time
Price: $119.00





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