DECT - technical definition

(Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) A cordless phone standard mostly used in Europe; however, DECT 6.0 is increasingly used worldwide. The first DECT standards were introduced by ETSI in 1992, and DECT phones have been used as cordless home phones as well as wireless extensions to the office PBX with users handed off to different base stations as they move around the building. DECT has also been used for wireless access to homes in third-world countries.

No Wi-Fi Interference
Transmitting at 1.9 GHz, DECT cordless phones do not interfere with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other wireless devices that use unlicensed industrial bands (see ISM band). DECT transmits in 32 Kbps TDMA channels and DECT phones can handle up to 12 channels (12 simultaneous calls). Using dual-mode handsets, DECT coexists with GSM cellphones.

CAT-iq
CAT-iq (Cordless Advanced Technology - Internet and Quality) is the successor to DECT. It enables the cordless phone to switch automatically from inhouse cordless to GSM cellphones or VoIP, as well as use the Internet for phone directories and other content. For more information, visit the Switzerland-based DECT Forum at www.dect.org. An additional resource is www.dectweb.com.