AT&T Co has extended its business cordless phone range with the Partner phone, which works with AT&T’s Partner Communications System for small businesses. AT&T is bullish about prospects for business-based cordless phones, saying that in the first year its Merlin Cordless was purchased with 35% of Merlin systems sold. Partner has two intercom lines and four programmable buttons which can be used to access outside lines or system features such as speed-dial. Going for the small business market, Partner can accommodate 12 telephones while Partner Plus accommodates up to 24. Both systems can use standard communications devices such as facsimile machines, answering machines, modems and credit card readers, without the need for dedicated lines or adaptors. The Partner retails for $400.
