The KX-T7885 is a 900MHz analog cordless, that works as a multi-line phone when connected to a Panasonic KX-T digital or analog phone system, or as a single-line phone when used without a system. It is a three-piece product with handset plus a separate base and a charging cradle.

The handset is both slimmer and narrower than the KX-T7880. The 7880 is compact, but slab-like. The 7885 is sculpted and very comfortable to hold and use. It looks and feels like a small cellular phone and uses a new compact battery pack.

The phone has good volume, excellent voice quality, and freedom from interference even in a very "electronically-live" environment. Range is several blocks in a typical suburban environment, or several hundred feet inside an office building. For maximum range, the base should be mounted as high as possible. (We have customers who have installed KX-TD7890 bases in bell towers, and just below the ceiling of an airplane hanger.)

The handset sits upright in a charging cradle like the 7880 and 7890, but there is no compartment for charging a second battery pack, and no provision for wall-mounting. The phone is available in black and white.

New features include the ability to select up to 12 lines, message-waiting indication, LCD display, vibrator alert and headset jack.

Auto Scanning automatically searches through 30 channels for the clearest one, while "Sound Charger" technology helps filter out background noise and enhance sound quality.

When the KX-T7885 is connected to a Panasonic phone system, the phone’s flexible keys with indicators can be assigned to access up to 12 outside lines, or system features. The buttons access 4 lines at a time, but their functions can be easily shifted to handle different groups of lines.

The display stupidly identifies the lines as "CO1," "CO2," etc., like the 7000-series analog phones. "CO" is the abbreviation for "Central Office" -- the place where the phone company generates ringing and dialtone and provides local call connections. Most phone-users don't know what "CO" is, and pronounce it as "ko" or "company." It would have been better if Panasonic had used user-friendlier  "L-1, "L-2," etc. designations for the lines, as on most multi-line consumer phones.

In its single-line telephone (SLT) mode, the flexible keys provide one-touch dialing for up to twelve programmed telephone numbers with the ability to store and speed-dial an additional ten numbers stored in memory. The Caller ID display does not work when the phone is used outside a Panasonic phone system.

Fixed keys are provided for Call Forwarding, Do Not Disturb (DND), Intercom, Hold, Transfer and Redial.

The handset has a three-line, 16-character LCD display.

• Top line

provides a row of telephone icons to show that the phone is "in use," is "in programming mode" or that there is a "message waiting" in the user’s voice mail box.

• Middle line

shows call status, (i.e. that a call is being received, etc.).

• Bottom line

displays call information, such as the status of lines currently in use.

Caller ID information is also displayed, enabling the user to screen incoming calls and either answer the call or let it be handled by voice mail.

Additional features:

1. You can use the ringer selector to choose from a step ringer (low, medium or high volume), or vibrator ring, or to assign different ring patterns for different lines. (I doubt that anyone could remember which sounds goes with which lines.)

Like the older 7880 and 7890, the new 7885 has a space-efficient three-piece design. The handset can sit in the compact cradle/battery charger that needs just electrical power but no phone jack. The wall-mountable main base unit can be kept out of the way, or in an optimum location to increase range.

Price is $349, with FREE "ground" SHIPPING in the US.  Call 1 888 ABLE 999 toll free to order, or CLICK to order online. Newer KX-TD7895 uses Digital Spread Spectrum technology for higher security and longer range, but ypu can't use as many phones in one location.

 Michael N. Marcus

Download PDF spec sheet