Panasonic Expands 2.4GHz Digital Spread Spectrum Line

SECAUCUS, N.J.— Panasonic has expanded its GigaRange line of 2.4GHz Digital Spread Spectrum phones by three SKUs with the shipment of three models that bring the opening price of the digital technology to a suggested $99.95 from a previous low of $129.95.

The company also introduced two new fax machines, the KX-FPC161 and KX-FPC165, with built-in 900MHz analog cordless phones to replace the KX-FPC91 and KX-FPC95, respectively.

The three new GigaRange cordless phones are the KX-TG2401, KX-TG2451 and KX-TG2481. They began shipping in August and feature one-touch dialer for a user's most frequently dialed numbers and a handset-based navigator key to access stored caller ID and phone directory information. The multifunction navigator button lets users scroll up and down through the caller ID log for the caller's information.

Additionally, all three models have a 24-Channel Auto Scanning System to automatically find a clear channel before the user removes the handset from the base.

Powered by a (NiCad) battery, the cordless phones offer up to 11-day battery life in standby mode and up to 4.5 hours of talk time. Other features include navigator control of volume, ring level and other functions.

Also included on the $99.95-suggested KX-TG2451 and $129.95 KX-TG2481 is call waiting/caller ID. When an incoming call is received, the caller's name and number appears on the telephone's three-line, backlit LCD display, even if the user is on another call. The caller's name appears twice as large as usual until the call is answered. Up to 50 names and numbers can be stored and retrieved.

The KX-TG2451 and KX-TG2481 feature a 50-station phone directory and a 10-station speed dialer on the $79.95-suggested KX-TG2401.

The KX-TG2481 adds a two-way paging/auto intercom function and built-in all-digital answering system, which can record up to 15 minutes of messages and lets users hear, save or delete individual messages. A Slow Talk message-playback feature plays messages back 30 percent slower for easier transcription. Other features include flash memory message backup, voice menu/time day stamp and automatic interrupt.

All of the new telephones have a lighted keypad, reversible handset charging, handset locators, low battery and out-of-range indicators, flash/pause/redial, three-level handset volume control and are wall mountable. All are available in metallic black and silver.

Panasonic has also begun shipping two new plain paper facsimiles, the KX-FPC161 at a suggested $179.95 and $219.95 KX-FPC165.

Both models incorporate a fax, copier, a 900 MHz analog cordless handset, caller ID, two-line, 16-character LCD and storage of 50 of the user's most frequently used fax/phone numbers. Both also have automatic fax/phone switching for distinguishing between fax and voice calls.

The step-up KX-FPC165 adds a digital duplex speakerphone, a built-in digital answering machine, a 14.4Kbps modem and handset display of caller ID.

The FPC165's built-in all-digital answering system featuring 18 minutes of recording time for incoming and outgoing messages. This model also has two private mailboxes, two-way recording, memo message, remote turn on and skip/repeat/slow/quick play of saved messages.

Both models have 50-sheet paper trays, 20-station sequential broadcasting and Quick Scan, a feature that saves the document into memory and then sends it from memory to a recipient. A 28-page built-in document memory is designed for broadcasting lengthy documents to multiple locations and also acts as a back-up feature should the unit run out of paper as a fax is being received. A 10-sheet auto document feeder is also included.

Up to 50 copies can be made from one original and images can be enlarged or reduced. To save time, both models can collate multiple sheet documents so that copied pages stay in the original order.