Rating: 
Summary: Undoubtedly the best available multiphone system
Review: We have had our Siemens 8825 for only a few days. So far its doing almost all of what I think a phone system should do.First of all, as one of the other reviewers stated, read the manual and be prepared to spend 2 to 3 hours on understanding the system, otherwise do not buy this phone system. Several others have missed the " Automatic Line Selection" feature which allows you to disable the automatic selection of line 1 (factory default) and choose manual (i.e. either line) or selection of line 1 or 2 individually for each handset. I recommend all Users go to Appendix C: the Base Station Menu Tree to quickly understand all the features of the system. The manual needs work; the feature of auto line selection is not in there. My only complaints are the lack of two obvious features: mute on the hansets which diminishes the otherwise excellent speakerphone on each handset. Also, the inability to stop the answering machine once it begins recording from any of the handsets (you can do that from the base. Also, to make the cool voice announce Caller ID truly useful, Siemens should have made the feature work on each handset (as set by the user) as well, instead of only at the Base. Otherwise an amazing system that actually delivers.
Rating: 
Summary: Great reception, great range... terrible UI!
Review: I was really scared after I read all the horror stories in Amazon, but decided to go through with my purchase anyway. If you want to save some time, avoid reading all the rants--they're basically about people hearing clicks near a microwave (duh), high costs of replacing bad units after the warranty expired (duh), and the fragility of the phones when dropped on marble floors (duh). Somebody even complained that tech support charged him near full-price for this system after his old Siemens broke!
There were, however, some legitimate shortcomings of the phone system in some of the less outspoken and more conservative rewards that did catch my eye. Most of these shortcomings (mediocre range, dropped calls, interference, mushy keyboard, etc.) were not significant enough to deter my purchase, so I proceeded with my purchase.
After four months of almost-hourly use, I can't deny the system's robustness, amazing features, crisp and clear sound, and good range. However some of my gripes are enough to stop many prospective buyers-the first and most important complaint is the user interface. The "soft" buttons (i.e.-their function changes according to the available options) are a constant source of frustation for the members of my household that cannot read without glasses--and considering everything besides receiving or making a call requires them, it certainly becomes annoying. Then the keyboard itself--it's not backlit and the mushy keys provide little (if any) tactile feedback; to boot, there's no "beep" corresponding to each digit, but rather, a dry sounding "click" that makes it impossible to know whether you've pressed 3 or 9. The menus themselves are not very intuitive and miss some basic features, like adding a previously dialed number to the directory.
If you, however, can get past these triffling inconvienences, I highly recommend this set of phones--the many versatile features definitely overcome the system's faults--if you don't suffer the horrors of short-sightedness or having marble floors in your house (!).
Rating: 
Summary: Steer Clear of Siemens!!!
Review: German engineering isn't all it's cracked up to be. I had a Siemens 4215 that died 14 months after I bought it. The handset just stopped charging. I called Siemens and they basically told me that their POS was no longer under warranty and they had no way of repairing it, even at my cost. I thought about buying this unit but just decided to go with the 5.8 Panasonic. Siemens products simply self destruct. I'd take the 2nd wireless handset and the extra 40 bucks in my pocket rather than having a Siemens unit.
Rating:
Summary: Quality A Question
Review: I purchased this set after seeing and using a friends system. Only needing a 2-line answering system, having a two person household, but a new startup home business the idea of the multiple mailboxes was the way to go. Everything about the system's functions and capabilities has been what I was looking for. However, the bad news. Since I live in area where there can be occasional power outages or fluctuations in electricity I keep this unit plugged into a UPS system. Returning from a business trip I noticed that the remote units were no longer "registered" with the base unit. Following all of the directions in the manual and then calling technical service for their help in restoring the defaults. It has been determined that the base unit has failed and needs to be replaced. This system is only 16 months old. For the amount of money that this unit costs, it seems a high price to pay when the manufacturer doesn't offer a fix, an option to repair, or some type of adjustment in purchasing a new base unit.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent ...if you read the manual!
Review: Pros:
Alot of options on base for each line or both. You can forward calls to different mailboxes for different reasons such as block calls and the caller will get a different msg or for 4 different people. Can forward calls to individual handsets throughout the house. Prefered default line or choose line to place a call. Auto select line when you pick up the receiver or manually choose. You can set each hand set to receive and or place on one or both lines. That means use the phone system for the whole house (handset in each room) but the 2nd line won't wake the other people up nor can they dial out on it ...if you choose. Perfect clarity, no microwave interference even 10' from the microwave! Full duplex speakerphone on base (only). Integrated antenna means it doesn't get stuck in the pillow or couch (try that with a panasonic "lol"). Corded base means a useable phone in a power outage. Cons:
Dial pad buttons don't light up (fine for business day use but not night home use). Base not wall mountable (fine for business desk but I prefer wall mounted in kitchen). Handset speaker phone is 1/2 duplex. You have to spend at least an hour with the manual and phone for the initial setup. I would have given it 4 stars for these reasons but there were so many stupid reviews because people didn't read the manual (lazy?). price ($200 good and $300 bad). If this system was 5.8ghz, had lighted buttons and handsets were as small as the SL series, it would rule over "all" other cordless phones...period!
Rating:
Summary: nearly perfect phone - a few flaws - Siemens Gigaset 8825
Review: This is a great multi-line, multi-handset, cordless phone system. It's a big improvement over the previous generation from Siemens (the Gigaset 2420), and it's far better than the Panasonic system that I bought (the KX-TG4000B). Gigaset 8825 features that I love:
1. HANDSETS -- The handsets are "dense" - just heavy enough to feel solid and high quality - much better than the old, light, "plastic", cheap ones from the Gigaset 2420 system. The handset speakerphone is a feature I didn't think I would want or need, but it works great. The ability to give each handset your own "name" (like kitchen, or family room, or upstairs bathroom) makes the intercom capability much more useful than trying to remember where handset #3 is!!!
2. BASE STATION -- The speakerphone works fine - almost as good as a Polycom speakerphone. The "MUTE" function on the base station works great - I just wish that the handsets had a mute! The base station has attractive clear backlit buttons for some functions, like Speakerphone/Mute, Calls, Voice-Mail, Intercom, Flash, etc. But it does NOT have clear backlit buttons for the telephone number keypad used for dialing - a big flaw.
3. ON-LINE PRODUCT REGISTRATION -- May seem like a trivial thing, but I love the fact that Siemens lets you register your purchase on-line via the web site. I wish that the registration process directly solicted feedback -- They currently only ask for the essentials.
4. MULTI-LINE MADE EASY -- Unlike the Panasonic KX-TG4000B, you can easily join a call already in progress. So, if Gramma calls and one family member answers the call from one of the cordless handsets, anybody else can easily join the call by pressing "TALK" on one of the other handsets or the base station. On the Panasonic KX-TG4000B, the first person to answer must "invite" others to join using a complicated Conference feature. Gigaset 8825 FLAWS:
1. HANDSETS -- Although significantly improved over previous generation (2420) handsets, the 8800 handsets still lack a "MUTE" button -- critical for conference calls. Siemens needs to add an explicit physical button to quickly select MUTE (when the baby starts crying), not just a "menu item". Also, the telephone number keypad used for dialing still has black plastic buttons with no back-lighting. This makes it impossible to dial in the dark. Siemens needs to make the telephone number dialing buttons clear and back-lit, on both the handsets and the base station. And, there is NO way to start a new call on Line #2 -- when you press "TALK" it always selects Line #1, without giving you a choice. The only way to get Line #2 is if one of the lines is already in use -- then it gives you a choice (e.g., Join line #1, or Use line #2). Finally, the handsets need explicit buttons for volume, just like the base station. Using the menu system on the handset to change the volume is tedious and time-consuming.
2. HANDSET CHARGING CRADLE -- The new handset charging cradles do NOT have a light indicating that the phone is charging. There should be a RED light indicating that the phone is charging and needs charging, and a GREEN light indicating that the phone is already fully charged.
3. BASE STATION -- As mentioned earlier, the telephone keypad needs clear and back-lit number buttons for dialing in the dark. The base station also needs a rechargeable battery back-up, in case of power outage.
4. DIRECTORY -- Although you can "transfer" directories of names and phone numbers from one handset to another, a centralized directory always shared across the entire system would be a huge improvement for home environments.
5. VOICE QUALITY -- Although voice quality is greatly improved, I would still pay a premium price for a cordless phone with higher quality voice. Why can't somebody make a cordless phone that sounds like a wired phone? I want CD quality voice on my cordless phone! CONCLUSION -- The Siemens Gigaset 8825 is the best multi-line, multi-handset, cordless phone system I have ever owned. But, if Siemens makes additional improvements, I'll buy the next model to get needed enhancements.
Rating:
Summary: Do yourself a big favor, read this and don¿t buy this phone!
Review: I purchased this phone for a home office environment. This is the summary: The Good: - Phone looks great The Bad: - Poor reception and range
- Static
- Poor battery life
- When a call comes in the phone resets and hangs up on the other line
- Unable to answer incoming call if the caller ID memory is full
- Terrible customer service (believe it or not when I was the phone with Siemens customer service for the seventh or eightieth time, and I told them I would write a letter to the President of the company telling him what a nightmare it was dealing with his companies product, I was told "go ahead he only speaks German, and he doesn't care what you have to say anyways"
- But .... Did I mention that the phone looks good? If you still insist on buying this phone, my suggestion is that you buy a traditional phone for a back up.... You will need it. Good luck! Mark
Rating:
Summary: Great system, in service since May of 2002!
Review: I researched what was available at the time and settled on the Siemens 8825 and added 3 handsets for a total of 4. 1) Setup was quite simple after reading the manual, though I would of layed it out differently, but that's just my opinion.
2) I have never had any problems with the base or handsets since I purchased them.
3) The separate voice mailboxes worked great for me. I use it for my business and home phone. It intergrates well with the phone companies features. (mail, etc.)
4) I have not experienced any problems with my wireless network that operates on the same 2.4 GHz. The only complaint I have is occasionally I will hear a clicking sound in the handset when talking on the phone. This is usually caused by outside interference such as a microwave. Overall it has done a good job and been very reliable. I would definitely reccommend the Gigaset 8825.
Rating:
Summary: Siemens on eBay?
Review: Have had a 2415 for about 11 months, it has worked perfectly up till yesterday. When I tryed to log on to the answering machine (using the int button), the display shows "No Channel Available". I reset the base and the handset. The reset went well and registered properly. I was happy until I tried the answering machine again and got the same message. Now I can't even use the phone as it says the same thing when I press talk. Patiently, I tried to called Siemens. Their free 800 number for this unit is now a long distance call. About 3 years ago I bought a Panasonic 2.4ghz set and put it aside for this one (I was blinded the Siemens slick looks and the European name). Well, I pulled out the old Panasonic, charged the totally dead battery and guess what? It works like a charm. So what do you think, anyone wanna buy a Siemens on eBay or Amazon? I'd sell it but I am an honest person.
Rating:
Summary: Sensitive handsets
Review: My cordless handsets (four in all) started to make clicking sounds about one year after purchase and when I called the service I was told that these phones are very "sensitive" and if the handsets are dropped shielding could separate and phone could pick up interference. I am really surprised to hear this. I am sure all of us have had a handset slip from our hands at one time. I would have expected a cordless handset designed to be less "sensitive" to drops - bad engineering. There is no option to fix the handset if you are out of warranty. I was recommended to purchase new handsets which will break down within a year again. Unfortunately, there is no alternative 2-line cordless system with similar features. When working it is a very good system but I am not happy with the life expectancy for the price.
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