AT&T ML17939 Review: Great 2-Line Phone with Caveats
A verified buyer on Amazon declared: “As good as it gets for a 2-line, built-in answering machine, caller ID phone.” That sentiment captures much of the praise for the AT&T ML17939 2-Line Corded Telephone with Answering System and Caller ID, which scores a solid 8.6/10 across platforms for its straightforward usability, feature set, and small business suitability. But digging deeper reveals quirks in design, inconsistent long-term reliability, and surprising compatibility issues with AT&T’s own U-verse service.
Quick Verdict: Conditional — Excellent for small offices and home business use, but avoid if you require flawless audio quality or U-verse compatibility.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Easy setup with clear manual | Sound quality can be tinny or distorted |
| Dual-line support with independent greetings | Answering machine lacks “old message” indicator |
| Large, easy-to-read buttons | Hook switch and angled design cause instability |
| Robust feature set for price | Display failures after ~3 years (reported) |
| Good speakerphone performance | Not compatible with AT&T U-verse outbound dialing |
| Responsive AT&T customer service | No cordless expansion option |
Claims vs Reality
AT&T markets the ML17939 with “intuitive programming” and “feature-rich options,” promising seamless operation for multi-line environments. Multiple Amazon reviewers back this up, with one noting, “Super easy to set up; the book walks you right through every step… I set up auto dial, voicemail, ring tone and volume all very easily.”
However, while the spec sheet touts “excellent sound quality,” user experiences vary. A Best Buy customer mentioned, “The sound quality coming from the earpiece is a bit on the tinny side,” and another reported, “I would hear distortion in the receiver when I would speak” despite callers hearing him clearly. This flaw is especially noticeable for those in customer-facing roles where audio clarity is key.
The phone’s heavy tilt angle is marketed as enhancing display visibility. While this helps caller ID readability, one Amazon reviewer complained that “every time you dial…it’s like punching the phone,” with enough movement to risk pushing it off the desk without securing it.
Cross-Platform Consensus
Universally Praised
A recurring pattern is appreciation for the ML17939’s ease of use, especially among small business and home office owners. Reddit user feedback captures this: “Easy set up, excellent sound quality, large numbers, fast programming, and overall excellent multi-line phone.” The large keypad is a boon for elderly users or those with poor eyesight — “The huge number buttons… if you have bad eyesight they would probably come in handy,” one Amazon reviewer explained.
Speakerphone quality earns praise from all corners. A verified Best Buy buyer said, “The speakerphone is what I use most and I’ve had no problems with that either,” while another on Amazon noted it was “surprisingly good” and perfect for multitasking in office settings.
The integrated answering system meets expectations for efficiency, letting users pre-screen calls and avoid time-wasting robo calls. As one customer put it: “Cuts down on answering the phone when it’s a robo call or someone we don’t know… hardly anyone from these calls leaves a message.”
Common Complaints
Sound quality issues are the most consistent gripe — reports of tinny audio, echoing, and difficulty hearing others dot feedback across platforms. A Best Buy reviewer described, “Good speakerphone… only drawback is when phone on speaker mode, it’s sometimes hard for others to hear me.”
Design quirks affect usability. The steeply angled body makes button pressing physically awkward for some, and wall-mounted users experience practical problems: “The receiver does not stay on the cradle when hanging on the wall,” a Trustpilot reviewer observed. The hook switch — critical for hanging up — has caused headaches, with one Best Buy customer returning a unit because “it did not fully engage and the phone would be off hook for hours.”
A severe but less frequent problem is answering machine failure. One Amazon user lost functionality after a power outage: “When power returned, the answering machine portion… no longer works… ‘not available at this time’ message.”
Divisive Features
The oversized keys split opinion. While many like their clarity, others find them “annoying” with “very little tactile feel” requiring double presses. The phone’s weight gets mixed reactions — some call it “hearty,” others deem it a “cheap-ish feel” compared to old heavyweight models.
Trust & Reliability
Long-term durability is mixed. One Amazon reviewer still uses the same unit after three years, happily replacing it when the caller ID display failed: “If I need to buy a new one every 3 years, I will happily do so.” Another had a model last 11 years before problems emerged, indicating potential for longevity in some cases.
AT&T’s customer service earns goodwill for warranty handling. A verified buyer recounted how AT&T shipped a new phone before the faulty one was returned, avoiding downtime: “They worked with me to resolve the problem rather than make me jump through hoops.”
On the flip side, compatibility issues with AT&T’s own U-verse service shocked buyers. An Amazon reviewer, a telecom engineer, found “the U-verse service will not correctly detect the tones… what you get is uninterrupted dial tone or busy tone when trying to dial out.” For U-verse users, this alone makes the ML17939 a poor choice.
Alternatives
Some users compare the ML17939 to legacy Panasonic multi-line models, praising the AT&T’s modern features but lamenting the lack of subtle refinements like clearer audio and robust message handling. The old Panasonic KX-TMC98B, for instance, distinguished legit messages better and provided “old message” indicators. While competition is scant for new corded 2-line models with answering machines, users seeking cleaner audio might consider different brands despite feature trade-offs.
Price & Value
Current retail sits around $89–$109, with eBay “open box” listings as low as $33, plus shipping. As one Amazon reviewer put it, “tremendous value for the money” given the dual-line, digital answering machine, and caller ID functions. Resale and replacement value also seems favorable, with many buyers willing to repurchase after years of use.
Community buying tip: watch for “like new” second-hand units, as many users don’t heavily wear them before selling. Given AT&T’s 1-year warranty and reasonable service, new purchases get the safest coverage, but refurbished options can be bargains.
FAQ
Q: Does the ML17939 work with AT&T U-verse?
A: No, outbound dialing issues are widely reported. A telecom engineer confirmed U-verse “will not correctly detect the tones” of this phone, though inbound calls function normally.
Q: Can I set different greetings for each phone line?
A: Yes, users enjoy being able to record separate greetings and ring timers for each line, enhancing business/personal differentiation.
Q: Is the phone cordless or expandable?
A: No. It’s a corded model only and cannot be expanded with cordless handsets, which some multi-room users miss.
Q: How is the speakerphone performance?
A: Generally well-reviewed — clear sound, good for multitasking — though some note others may struggle to hear you in speaker mode.
Q: What happens if the display fails?
A: You lose caller ID visibility, but core phone functions remain. Some long-term users simply replace the unit every few years.
Final Verdict: Buy if you’re running a small office, handling multiple lines, and value easy setup with a clear interface. Avoid if your priority is pristine audio quality or you’re an AT&T U-verse customer. Pro tip from community: Secure the unit with Velcro or a mouse pad to counteract sliding when dialing — it’s a simple fix for the angled design that bothers some buyers.
