Stylish Corded Telephone?
Good Questions

Q: I am looking for a stylish, modern corded telephone! I still use a landline and would like a phone that would fit in my home office with the following features:

would like something high-tech and spiffy looking, like the BeoCom 1401 (but preferably under $100 if possible)
does not look like a commercial "office" phone (I don't need a big screen with 8 lines, or a VoIP phone)
the buttons have to be on the console, not on the handset! I want to be able to press buttons while still on the phone and hands-free/speakerphone would be a welcome bonus

Sent by Ella

The Jacob Jensen Telephone T5 can be had via eBay and some online dealers.

Editor - Unfortunately corded telephones are not only disappearing from the consumer channels, but those available tend to cater to businesses and usually sport industrial design stuck somewhere around 1989. Using your requirements as a guide, we soon realized there doesn't seem to be a perfect match out there, the closet being an import model designed by Jacob Jensen above (recommended by Unplggd reader, Alex Hoogeveen). Something like the Hulger Pappa*Phone is corded, quite handsome looking, but it is designed as a VOIP solution. Others like the Siemens Gigaset 2-line Cordless Phone offers most of what you require, but is cordless and nowhere as design-centric as the B&O BeoCom 1401 (perhaps your best bet, considering the price isn't too far off from your budget).

Anyone out there have recommendations for Ella and her search for a corded, modern and buttons-on-the-console solution?

Got a good question you'd like answered? Send your queries and please include a photo or two illustrating your question, and we'll see if the Unplggd team or our readers can help answer your question.

Comments (5)

Check out:
Jacob Jensen

Keep your eyes on ebay for older beocom phones. I know it's cordless, but the beocom 1 looks just stunning, and would be right at home on a desk. Plus, it can probably be had for around $60, all told.

I was on the same boat, looking for a stylish corded desk phone for our home. I found Crosley's vintage kettle phone in brushed chrome and got it for around $50. I got the lowest price available thru thefind.com

If you want to go retro:

ITT Cortelco still sells it's basic model table telephone in good old ash or beige. Google Cortelco 2500.

Also you can get modern versions of the Ericofoon, called Scandiphone, and some replica's of old English phones are available on the web as well.

Thrift stores! We are replacing all our cordless phones and re-wiring our house with phone jacks in every room. Mostly because the DECT phones seem to be untested health risks. We found when we looked at wifi, cell phones, cordless sets with remote bases, and microwaves (which we don't have)... the worst offender was a cordless. Since I take care of kids... out the window with the cordless, in with the corded. We even have one with a rotary... but it was only 8 bucks and has better sound than any of the newer corded phones. For a business, try state surplus places where they sell off all old state office equipment.