Find me this phone!

June 3 2004


Reading the June issue of Wired Magazine on my flight home yesterday, I learned of this kewl new cordless phone.  Right there on page 72, it says "Earbud phone: $99. www.getxact.com"  "The entire phone is built into a compact 1-ounce unit that attaches comfortably to either ear".
I want one!J
Unfortunately, www.getxact.com seems to deny the existence of the phone -- so, good job to their marketing department, bad job to their website designers.  A few google searches led me to find its model number -- BellSouth GHS240 -- and the photo that I linked in above, but noplace to buy it.
Any suggestions?

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Toys  Add/View Comments [57]

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  1. 1  G  | 6/3/2004 1:08:18 PM

    I've purchased other products that Xact manufactures at WalMart, such as their 2-Way FRS wrist-watches.

  1. 2  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 6/3/2004 1:28:51 PM

    on principle I generally don't shop there. But maybe Target or someone else similar will have it. Just wonder why I can't find it anywhere online.

  1. 3  Kevin Presseault  | 6/3/2004 1:32:23 PM

    According to this...

    http://www.compukiss.com/populartopics/tech_gadgetshtm/article1075.htm

    it is available Q2 2004.

    Maybe it's a bit late?

  1. 4  Bruce Elgort http://www.BruceElgort.com | 6/3/2004 3:03:29 PM

    Too good for the average Joe that you don't shop there...jeez.....

  1. 5  Carl  | 6/3/2004 3:12:15 PM

    I hear so many people say the same thing, but then they do so well, why is that? What reasons stop you shopping there? Bad date experience?

  1. 6  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 6/3/2004 3:28:35 PM

    Target is a favorite (I know it is for other readers, too ;)). Walmart, well, this is no political blog, so I won't start ranting about mass commercialization or even Mary Kate and Ashley. Let's just find me a place to buy this darn phone!!!

  1. 7    | 6/3/2004 4:43:29 PM

    Psst.. Hey.. Ed.. we work for IBM...

    Just kidding. Of course we can separate work from our personal choices.

  1. 8  Scott Kingery http://tinyurl.com/3fdsf | 6/3/2004 4:46:46 PM

    Here are details and links with one that looks promising but it appears the phone isn't out yet.

    http://www.hotproductnews.com/detail.htm?sku=12643&News_Categories=Wireless

  1. 9  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 6/3/2004 5:16:27 PM

    c'mon, SOMEBODY has to have some connections somewhere, right?

  1. 10   http://tinyurl.com/3fdsf | 6/7/2004 3:40:07 PM

    Well, I just Googled 'BellSouth GHS240' and the #1 site is..... this site. Sorry Ed, I guess in this case no news is bad news.

  1. 11  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 6/7/2004 7:29:57 PM

    Maybe some marketing guru at Bellsouth or Xact will google their new product and realize the benefit of sending an "evaluation unit" to me. I can dream, right?

  1. 12  me too  | 6/9/2004 9:46:54 PM

    Ed,

    Did you find the phone? If so... who has it?

    Thanks

  1. 13  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 6/10/2004 5:41:04 AM

    I'll keep this thread updated if I get any details.

  1. 14  Marcelino Martins http://www.mmartins.com | 6/14/2004 8:47:15 AM

    I wrote Mr. David Rose, executive sales manager of U.S. Electronics, and he said that the date for starting selling the GHS240 phone will be "probably September".

    It is a disappointment, but I guess it just proves that us Wired readers are (at least) 3 months ahead of the curve! :)

    I am going to reply to Mr. David Rose thanking him for taking the time to answer my email, and suggesting to him that he should post a comment to this great blog. Maybe you can ask him for the evaluation unit :)

  1. 15  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 6/14/2004 10:43:50 AM

    I have been getting a lot of google hits to this blog entry, so I think several people will appreciate the updated schedule. Just too bad that they got Wired's attention before they had their ship schedule nailed down.

    I'd be happy to review the phone when it is available ;)

  1. 16  Mike Watt  | 7/9/2004 7:51:39 AM

    Ed

    I share your enthusiasm for the EarBud phone and have also emailed David Rose. Thanks for updating the information that it looks as though we'll have to wait until September to get one. Latest issue of Laptop Magazine also features the phone, with the same (useless) Xact.com reference as a source for it.

  1. 17  South Florida Glenn  | 8/4/2004 9:02:40 PM

    Wow! this is all too funny. Like probably most of you all, My biggest weakness is NEW GADGETS and NEW TOYS! I came across this BELLSOUTH EARBUD Phone tonight for the first time by complete accident and so i did all the searches and BAM! I find this site with you all WANTING this phone as well! That darn XACT website was CLEARLY no help at all. I WILL find this phone, trust me.. like all of you who want this phone, lets all do our home work and whom ever shall find it first: SEND IN A NOTE ON THIS SITE to let us all know WHERE it is sold etc.. I read what everyone had to say and i think the enthusiasm is great that we all want this neat new phone piece. I, myself emailed David Rose earlier tonight, prior to finding this EDBRILL site. Ill be curious to see what he has to say to me. CHEERS people!

    GLENN

  1. 18  GLENN  | 8/5/2004 7:45:57 PM

    Hey People... Dave Rose emailed me today, 08-05-04 and this is what he said:

    "The earbud phone will be available in late September/early October. We will be marketing under our Xact brand, the model number is XG2500". David Rose

    HOPE THIS HELPS ANYONE WHO IS LOOKING FOR THIS PHONE!

    CHEERS! GLENN

  1. 19  Ed Brill  | 8/6/2004 12:40:30 AM

    all the google hits that come in for this phone -- it looks like they've got a big hit on their hands.

  1. 20  Isaac  | 8/6/2004 2:34:42 AM

    Ha! I too want the phone, and very amused at the demand for it. What a marketers dream. If only I was in charge of marketing this one.

    I look forward to having the phone when it is released. We'll all have to take pictures of ourselves with our new phones and have a web party. LOL

  1. 21  GLENN  | 8/20/2004 5:50:51 PM

    I like Isaac's idea. Let's all submit pics of us wearing our new ear piece head phones and start the first web page for this remarkable litte gadget! maybe BELLSOUTH [ha!] will use are pics in an ad! hey, you never know!

    cheers!

    GLENN; BOCA RATON, FLA

  1. 22  Marcelino Martins http://www.mmartins.com | 8/21/2004 11:30:50 PM

    I guess I will consider the page below some measure of progress, even though there is still no way to buy it...

    { Link }

    Ed: you may want to edit the page that gets all the google hits (you blog entry) to make it have a high page rank for "XG2500" too.

  1. 23  Marcelino Martins http://www.mmartins.com | 8/21/2004 11:34:27 PM

    Interesting how the design changed from prototype { Link } to production { Link }

    MM

  1. 24  Cameron  | 10/3/2004 1:08:13 PM

    10/4/04 Still not phone. :( Any new new?

  1. 25  Jason  | 10/20/2004 11:06:14 AM

    Coming soon to a theater near you...

    { Link }

  1. 26  Jason  | 10/20/2004 11:09:45 AM

    Although you still can't choose the "buy" button which normall appears in the bottom right hand corner of the picture, I imagine it will be available in the next few weeks....just click the link on my previous post....hey...save one for me guys ;-)

  1. 27  Jason  | 10/20/2004 11:24:16 AM

    update...just talked to customer service at Xact...they said it won't be available on their website for a few months as there is a built in delay for new products before making them available on the web. He said until then they will be carried by Best Buy and Kmart. They might be available now...you just need to check your local stores to see if they carry it...good luck

  1. 28  Oliver Witte http://www.way-x.de | 10/29/2004 5:13:20 AM

    Hello all,

    I'm looking for this nice little phone since a few weeks, after I saw the picture on XAct's website (first, I was desperately looking for the BUY NOW button, too...). Then, after stumbling over this blog, I was glad that I'm not the only one who's desperately searching the web for this gadget. But my problem is: I'm sitting in Germany and don't go to the US quite often anymore, so I depend on online stores or people buying it over there and sending it to me.

    Could anyone do me a favour and buy one for me, as soon as it's available? I don't care if it's available in Target, WalMart, BestBuy or whereever, I just want to have it ;-)

    The money shouldn't be a problem, I can transfer in advance, if you want.

    Any feedback is greatly appreciated :-)

    Thanks in advance

    Oliver

  1. 29  R. Townsell  | 11/4/2004 9:44:12 AM

    As of Nov 3rd, this phone is still not available in Philadelphia, PA. I checked Best Buy, Kmart, WalMart and Target and Circuit City. Nobody's heard of it or even seen it. Best Buy told me they don't carry Bell South Phones. Very disappointing. :(

  1. 30  Jason  | 11/6/2004 11:19:32 PM

    it's actually not under "bell south" it's under the manufacturer name "xact"...ask around for that and give the model #

  1. 31  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 11/7/2004 8:02:15 AM

    It's FINALLY on sale somewhere: Hammacher Schlemmer for US$130.

    See { Link }

  1. 32  Mike Watt  | 11/8/2004 12:29:51 PM

    Ed--Knew you'd be the first to spot it! However, it has been widely ballyhood as costing $99 retail and we know that Hammacher Schlemmer is notoriously expensive...so I guess it's still a waiting until it reaches WalMart and Best Buy,etc.

  1. 33  Jared  | 11/14/2004 11:33:07 AM

    I recently purchased the XACT XG2500 from Hammacher Schlemmer and recieved it a couple days ago. I've been using it as often as I can to get a good opinion about it. I have to say I like it a lot. It's very light weight and comfortable to use. But I guess $130 is a bit pricey for a phone, but then again it is the only one of it's kind for now.

  1. 34  Mike Watt  | 11/15/2004 4:50:29 PM

    Jared---How is the range from the headset to the base and how is the audio clarity? Glad we finally know someone who has one!

  1. 35  R. Townsell  | 11/16/2004 9:12:58 AM

    Thanks for the heads up. Ordered the phone today. If it's backordered until the 16th, I guess I'll be receiving mine close to Thanksgiving.

  1. 36  Marcelino Martins http://www.mmartins.com | 11/20/2004 9:20:58 PM

    Add your comments to Ed Brill's post of 11/7/2004: { Link }

    If you bought the phone please post your review and pictures (in that other entry, not this one).

  1. 37  Jared  | 11/27/2004 5:32:12 PM

    Mike - The range from the headset to the base is pretty good I use mine in 2500 sqft house and it works fine. The audio clarity is surprisingly excellent. I've used the phone on a normal phone line and a VoIP line (Packet8) and seems to sound the same without any problems.

  1. 38  DC www.pollendesign.com | 11/28/2004 9:56:19 AM

    hi, here's some details,

    Ed, Xact are the clients, we are the design studio.

    I'm glad this little cutie got made. We designed it last year and it's had a lot of positive feedback. Hopefully the internals will do the cosmetic design justice.

    The NY Times just made a nice feature of it and a superb exploded view of the product.

    { Link }

  1. 39  cynthia manuel  | 11/28/2004 11:04:55 PM

    Please tell me how I can purchase (5) phones ASAP. Thanks for your help!

  1. 40  RACHEL  | 11/30/2004 12:13:56 PM

    I BOUGHT THIS PHONE IMMEDIATELY FROM H/S. I COULD NOT WAIT TO USE IT. I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE EVERYONE I SPOKE TO WITH THIS PHONE ASKED ME TO PLEASE CHANGE TO ANOTHER PHONE BECAUSE OF THE STATIC AND THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS IN A TUNNEL. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A BAD PHONE BUT I AM IN THE PROCESS OF RETURNING IT. I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO BUYING A NUMBER OF THEM BUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS PHONE

    HAS MADE ME DECIDE TO WAIT FOR MORE RESPONSES TO OTHERS TRYING IT.

  1. 41  Volker Weber http://vowe.net | 11/30/2004 2:01:36 PM

    I CAN'T HELP IT BUT YOU LOOK LIKE AN AOL USER

  1. 42  Mike Watt  | 12/1/2004 10:38:40 AM

    Hey gang: Just got the phone via Hammacher Schlemmer (thanks to a birthday present). Like Rachel, I was initially disappointed in the thing, but the range is good as is the clarity for the person at the other end.

    The phone seems scratchy and noisy, but I have learned that the trick seems to be to wear the headset so that the microphone arma doesn't touch your face. It is this contact that produces the chafing noise. The instructions make specific reference to this.

    I won't say I'm absolutely sold on it...but I am giving it a fair shake. Your questions are welcome.

  1. 43  DC www.pollendesign.com | 12/3/2004 7:42:48 AM

    so it seems, it'll be in office depot very shortly, if not already...at $100

  1. 44  Mike Watt  | 12/10/2004 7:41:03 AM

    Have now used the phone for about two weeks. Audio quality is good. Range is good. You just need to bend the earpiece away from you face so that there is not any chafing noise from the microphone arm rubbing against your face.

    Will be an even better thing when it is cheaper!

  1. 45  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 12/10/2004 7:03:59 PM

    It's cheaper:

    $90 at J&R Music World

    { Link }

  1. 46  Brett  | 12/12/2004 6:33:41 PM

    Does this phone have any speed dial functions? (The specs don't list any.)

  1. 47  Mike Watt  | 12/17/2004 2:38:10 PM

    Brett: No...it has a Flash key to get a new dial tone, a Repeat/Dial again function, a volume control and a ring pattern adjustment, but that's it.

    Mike

  1. 48  Gordon  | 12/24/2004 9:01:55 AM

    Does this have a mute function?

    I can't call-in on a conference call from home with my toddlers running around without a mute function.

  1. 49  Ed Brill www.edbrill.com | 12/24/2004 9:38:48 PM

    My own review of the phone is now posted at

    { Link }

    no, there's no mute function. I have the same issue - will have to figure out a solution there.

  1. 50  Glenn Fisher  | 1/28/2005 4:14:49 PM

    Hey Gang!

    Well I finally got an email notification from J&R on Wednesday night telling me that the GHS240 is available [first come/first serve] so i raced and ordered it and I will have it on Monday [per the UPS website].

    I will give my opinion-review of exactly what I think of it for all of you. I know other people have received their's too and some have liked it while some had some things to say about it. And I agree with the people that said the phone is missing some features but IT will be fun to have such a little piece of technology sitting in your ear from gadget land walking around the house 'thinking your all that'...! ha ha

    Have a great weekend all... Cheers!

    GLENN

  1. 51  Glenn  | 2/23/2005 5:41:53 PM

    Hey Gang!

    Well... I saw it, I bought it, I returned it!! Nothing as to what I thought It was going to be. The ear piece was very very flimzy and wobbly. As someone mentioned above, the speaker part scratches against your cheeks/beard/scruff and sounds like your getting Zapppped!!! to the person your talking to. I found this to be very cheaply made and NOTHING like what the factory pic we all seen. They had lots of time to do some fun touches to the finished product but the end result is not up to my standards. The phone looks great but was sad to have to return it. All this hype and web watching for product that I had to return.

    Oh well... THERE'S lots more neat gadgets to look forward to. One of them being the iShuffle I got last month. Its a great product!

    CHEERS! GLENN

  1. 52  Bob  | 5/2/2005 12:54:07 AM

    Just wondering if anyone has experienced interference problems with this phone when a 2.4GHz wireless router is nearby? Ed mentioned this as a potential concern in his review. Any feedback on this subject would be appreciated. Thanks!

  1. 53  Jen/gimmaroon http://www.wootswap.com | 12/15/2008 1:49:57 AM

    Hey Bob, no help for three+ years? I'll help you, if you're still looking for this phone. You can purchase the phone RIGHT NOW, before it sells out, but before the new product is released at 12:00 a.m. Central time.

    FINALLY you can really but it by going to:

    { Link }

    It's a mere $14.99 (plus $5 shipping, regardless of whether you buy one, two, or three, the max allowed). Apart from its other sites, Woot, offers one daily deal in conjunction with Yahoo!Shopping near the bottom of this Yahoo page:

    { Link }

    For the uninitiated or paranoid who want to know more about woot!, the original "One Day, One Deal" website go to: { Link } .

    Happy Holidays

    gimmaroon, wooting since 2004

  1. 54  Jen/gimmaroon http://www.wootswap.com | 12/15/2008 2:08:17 AM

    Aw geez. I was doing other things when I created the above posted. It sorta' makes sense, if you overlook the lack of punctuation and repetitive remarks. :P

    After reading a few more comments, I decided that for $15 a piece, I'm gonna' pick up three for gifts. =)

    "Xact XG2500 2.4Ghz Cordless Headset Phone

    You want

    3 Xact XG2500 2.4Ghz Cordless Headset Phone:

    which each cost $14.99

    for a subtotal of $44.97

    plus shipping + $5.00

    for a total of $49.97

    That's for THREE phones and they're codition is "new", not refurbished.

    Here are the stated specs:

    Warranty: 90 days Xact

    Specifications:

    2.4 GHz Digital Spread Spectrum

    40 Channel Autoscan

    Compander Circuitry Filtered Sound

    Digital Security Code

    Headset Volume Control (Hi/Low)

    In Use Indicator

    Battery Low Indicator

    Out of Range Indicator

    Auto Answer

    Automatic Standby

    Paging from Base to Handset

    Flash Key for Call Waiting (Requires Call Waiting service from your local phone company)

    Last Number Redial

    Pause Button

    Tone/Pulse Switchable

    Hearing Aid Compatible

    Power On/Off Switch

    In the box:

    Headset Phone with Rechargeable Battery

    Phone Base

    AC Adapter

    Phone Cord

    Instruction Manual