Buying a phone for your home or small office is no easy thing. Long gone are the days when the only choices were push-button or rotary dial on a phone that plugged into the wall at only one point and was connected to a handset by a curly cord.

And while the extra freedom and accelerating technical choices offered in modern telephones are exciting in many ways, they can also be difficult to get your head around. Choosing the right phone can be difficult. But, as with most purchases, selecting the right phone starts with assessing what you need from your telephone system.

Corded phones or cordless phones?

Most phones these days are cordless, with many models offering up to 6 additional handsets. But is a cordless phone right for you? For enhanced security, added clarity and reliability, a corded phone might be just what you need. Some users report distortion on cordless phones in areas likely to have high interference (although the common cordless DECT digital system suffers less form these issues than the alternative DSS system did).

And then there's price. A basic corded phone can be picked up for as little as $20. Corded phones for business (featuring speakerphone, headphone jack, caller ID and other features) are available from brands like Doro for around $70. And the classic Telstra corded phone can be picked up for about $40, or even less at your local op shop!

One phone handset or multiple handsets?

In most homes and small businesses, multiple cordless phone handsets are a convenient option. A phone in the bedroom (with the ringer turned off) is always handy, as are handsets in the kitchen and lounge.

Just phone calls?

The primary function of most phones is to make calls, obviously. But along with this core functionality, many phones have additional uses:

Monitor: Many models allow a handset to be used as a room monitor; a perfect replacement for a baby monitor when the little one is asleep and you're outside or several rooms away. And even in room monitor mode, you can still receive calls.

Intercom: With a phone in the study, another office or out in the garage, it's easy to get someone's attention without racking up a phonecall charge. Most multi-handset models allow you to call other handsets.

Range and power – how many GHz?

The basic rule is the lower the gigahertz (GHz), the larger the range of the phone. For most people, it won't make a difference, but if you have a large area, a couple of floors, thick walls, or the need to operate outside, a 1.8 GHz phone might be for you. For cluttered environments, or areas with lots of metal shelving, many users report that 5.8 GHz handsets come into their own. Just don't rely on them for any significant range. Be very wary of 2.4 GHz units, as they operate at the same frequency as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi networks. This can cause interference and even call drop-outs. Not good.

The more modern cordless phones sport the DECT 6.0 system at 1.8 GHz – this is an excellent choice for most typical users, offering long range and clear sound quality.

Cordless phone reliability

The best way to select a reliable phone is to read user reviews and go with brand names you can trust. Brands that constantly meet with user approval include Uniden, Panasonic and Siemens, although other quality brands like Motorola, Sagem and more shouldn't be ignored either. There's usually no way to try phones out before you buy, and the environment of your local electronics store is unlikely to mirror your home or office, so it's important to do your research first.

VoIP, Skype and the digital age

Lots of people are now turning to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol, which means phone calls on the internet) and solutions like Skype (a computer-based, internet-hosted alternative to the regular phone system). Internet telephony is cheaper in almost all instances (local, mobile and international calls), with overseas calls especially attractive. Think of it as like email with voice: there's theoretically no difference in price between calling someone next door or on the other side of the world.

VoIP, Skype and their ilk are often accused of suffering from low quality, however by researching and purchasing the right equipment, you can massively reduce (or even totally get rid of) your old landline costs.

Comfortable handsets and ease-of-use

It's often the last thing people think of, but make sure your phone is actually comfortable to hold and use before you pay your money and walk out of the shop with the box under your arm. Good backlight, an ergonomic design and a simple set-up are advantages if you just want to set up and get dialling quickly.

If your phone needs to interface with your Wi-Fi system, computer or other systems, you might want to ask what kind of support comes with your purchase.

And keep in mind...

Cordless phones and IP phones like Skype or VoIP rely on mains power. Those old-fashioned corded phones still work in the event of a power failure. It might be worth keeping one in the back of the cupboard, just in case…