Review The Amplicom is a traditional candybar phone design with a conventional keypad, menu and shortcut buttons. However, all the buttons are usefully larger than you will find on most regular mobile handsets, while the high contrast mono screen is not only very easy on the eye but is one of the most crisp and clear I have ever come across.

The ringer can be cranked up to 100dB which is loud enough to alert all but the hardest of hearing, and bring help running if it's used as an emergency alarm, which it can bet. The handset's speaker produces an impressive 23dB.

Below the screen sit three shortcut dialer buttons each of which will dial an assigned number simply by being held down. With an eye to the less technically proficient, the menu structure is very straightforward making set-up a breeze. The M5010 even has Bluetooth, though this is a feature I think most phones targeted at the elderly could easily do without.

The key emergency feature is triggered by sliding a button on the back of the headset. This fires up the truly ear-piercing alarm and then dials either a single number from a sequence of up to five numbers depending on how you have set it up.

Like the Binatone Speakeasy, the Amplicom has a 2.5mm headset jack and while it's a more curvaceous and stylish handset than the Binatone, it's not quite as easy to keep a firm grip on.

Though not as feature-laden as the Doro 334gsm, the M5010 is significantly cheaper, and Amplicom provides a stand-cum-charger. The power cord terminates in a mini USB port which will be handy if ever the original charger gets mislaid.

Verdict

The best combination of regular phone functionality and emergency features. ®

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