XLink BT Bluetooth Gateway Review-Use Your Cell Phone With Your Desk Phone-Drop your Land Line

When I began my VA business, one of the first things I did was to get a landline with all the bells and whistles. I also had a home/personal line and a cell phone line. After a year or so of this, it seemed a bit excessive (for me), to have and pay for all three month after month.

I have good cell reception in my office, but not a fan of talking on my cell handset. So I started researching for a gadget that I could hook my cell phone to to make and receive calls. It came down between the XLink and the Dock ‘N Talk. I decided to go with the XLink because it didn’t matter what brand of cell phone I used with it–as long as it had bluetooth. The Dock’ N Talk now supports hundreds and hundreds of cell phones, but not as many as when I first started looking.

How It Works

The model I got (the ITC-BT), works without having a landline. I plugged in the AC adapter and plugged the telephone cord from the unit into my desk phone (phone no longer connected to the wall), and then followed the instructions to pair my cell phone to the unit. It started working right away. I made and received test calls from family members and they said the voice quality was fine.

I like that I can pair up to 3 cell phones with a single unit. As each cell phone is paired with a line on the X Link- the blue light on the top of the unit goes solid. When I get a call, my desk phone (and any other cordless phones connected to it), rings a distinctive ring. If my daughter’s phone rings, it has a separate ring. So if you don’t hear your phone’s ring, just let it go to voicemail!

What It Does

• Lets you make and receive calls from a corded or non-corded phone. As an added benefit for me, I have a wireless headset connected to my desk phone, so I can wear the wireless headset I already had, no new purchase.
• Caller-ID will work on your desk phone, but it will show the same kind of caller ID that your wireless service shows you, which is often not as descriptive.
• Call waiting-the X Link generates a tone when another call comes in. You can touch your phone’s flash to take the second call.
• Voicemail-you can program your vmx number into the X Link and retrieve your messages from your desk phone (haven’t tried this one yet)
• Freedom from huddling in the only spot in your house with good reception! Keep your cell phone charging and in the sweet spot in your house while you take and receive calls from anywhere in your house.
• Ability to switch from your cell phone to the XLink simply by picking up the extension phone
• Your cell phone only needs to be paired once. Next time you come in range, it automatically connects.

Pricing & Where To Buy

You can buy direct from Intellitouch for $130, or you can go to Amazon and buy it there for $103. How does Amazon do it?? There is another model offered that works with your landline for more. If you think you may not need an additional line for your home office, check this out.

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