Hot Gadgets: Amplicom PowerTel products ideal gifts for hard of hearing

By April MacIntyre Nov 30, 2010, 22:33 GMT

The phone is well balanced and easy to coral and remove from the base. The PowerTel 601 wireless wrist shaker is comfortable and designed to notify hearing and vision impaired individuals of an incoming telephone call.

Monsters and Critics' Christmas 2010: The coolest, hottest most unique gift ideas and best new products for everyone this Christmas and Holiday season. From clothing to jewelry, spirits to skincare and everything in between, here is one of the tried and true finds for the Monsters and Critics Best of Holiday Gift Guide for you to check out:

Like many of you out there, I am pulling together ideas and items for family members for gifts, and my parents, now well into their seventies, can be difficult to guess for what they might appreciate.

One parent is hard of hearing, the other is having a tough time with sight. Simple ideas like reprinting recipes and phone number lists and enlarging the fonts are inexpensive and kind.  Also, swapping out their old phone for a new one that alerts them when its ringing makes for a very useful gift.

Monsters and Critics has been emailed questions on what would be some thoughtful gifts for the deaf or hard of hearing for this year. We were able to connect with Amplicom and fortunate to try out the Amplicom PowerTel 500 amplified phone, and a compatible accessory, the Amplicom PowerTel 601 wireless wrist shaker which is brilliant for someone who has a hard time hearing the phone, and can be worn anywhere, even the shower.  The wrist device truly is a godsend for anyone who gets anxietal that they may miss a call. 

The phone is well balanced and easy to coral and remove from the base. The PowerTel 601 wireless wrist shaker is comfortable and designed to notify hearing and vision impaired individuals of an incoming telephone call.

Worn like a bracelet, the 601 shaker either vibrates or flashes when a call is received. It is splash-proof for showers and other outdoor activities.

Features include visual LED call signaling; ability to answer calls in speakerphone mode at the press of a button; a dedicated emergency button to automatically dial emergency numbers; and carrying up to 50 hours of chargetime in standby mode.

Product specifics:

Amplicom Powertel 500 50dB

Amplified DECT 6.0 Cordless Telephone w/Speakerphone

The Amplicom PowerTel 500 Cordless DECT provides up to 50dB of amplification through its easy-to-handle, big button handset. With superior hearing aid compatibility that meets and exceeds the TIA-1083 standard and crystal clear DECT 6.0 technology, the PT500 produces excellent sound with more than 80% reduction of distortion. Amplicom PowerTel are the only amplified telephones that offer yourSOUND™, pre-programmed, multiple user profile buttons that memorize volume and tone control for more than one user. Two year warranty.

FEATURES:

CORDLESS HANDSET

    * Adjustable volume for calls amplified up to max 50 dB
    * DECT 6.0 for operation with max. 4 cordless handsets (HC-PT501)
    * Large 2-line illuminated dot matrix LCD Display
    * Adjustable hands free speakerphone
    * Caller ID with 30 number recall
    * 200 name and number phonebook
    * 9 ringer melodies (including 5 polytone)
    * Display languages: English, Spanish, French
    * Flashing bright white LED visual ringer
    * Clock and alarm function
    * Up to 100 hours charge in standby mode
    * Up to 11 hours charge for talk time

BASE

    * Paging function for locating additional handsets
    * 9 different ringtones
    * 5 adjustable ringer levels up to 90 dB, plus "Off" setting
    * 2 flashing bright LED visual ringers
    * Red LED confirms charge status

OTHER KEY FEATURES

    * Hearing Aid Compatible – TIA 1083 Compliant
    * 2 programmable yourSOUND™ volume / tone control buttons
    * settings for multi-user profiles
    * 5 equalizer tone control settings (high/low frequencies)
    * 2.5mm headset jack
    * Connection for PTV 100 optional vibrating pad
    * Works with PowerTel 601 Wrist Shaker/Remote Answer
      *PTV100 and PowerTel 601 sold separately

WHAT'S IN THE BOX

    * 1 Base
    * 1 AC adapter
    * 1 Cordless handset
    * 1 Telephone cable
    * 1 rechargeable battery pack
    * 1 User guide
  
Amplicom PowerTel 601 Wrist Shaker  

Add up to four PowerTel 601 Wrist Shakers to any Amplicom PowerTel telephone. Each cordless phone can have any combination of up to four wrist shakers or expandable handsets. Amplicom offers a two year warranty.

FEATURES:

    * Vibrates in the event of an incoming call
    * Visual LED call signaling
    * Answer calls in speakerphone mode at the press of a button (only when used with PowerTel 680)
    * Press the emergency button to automatically dial emergency numbers (only when used with PowerTel 680)

    * Up to 50 hours charge in standby mode
    * Splash proof design for use in the shower
    * Additional transmitter for amplicom™ PowerTel 680™.

WHAT'S IN THE BOX

    * 1 Wireless wrist shaker
    * 1 AC adapter
    * 1 Charger base
    * 1 User guide

April MacIntyre is Monsters and Critics' smallscreen and people/celebrity editor who loves to visit and celebrate small American businesses when she can. You can contact her on Twitter