List Price: $39.99 Our Price: $21.95 You Save: $18.04 (45%)

Product Description

For over 100 years, what has remained constant is GE's dedication to change and progress. And it's what will keep the company growing over the next 100 years. From jet engines to power generation, from financial services to plastics, from television to medical imaging, GE people worldwide are dedicated to turning good ideas into products and services that make the world a better place.General Electric 29869GE2 is a digital messaging system with four message mailboxes. It features a 40-minutes recording time, an answerer on/off LED indicator, a No Worry Voice message backup function, a digital message counter, and more.

Ideal for small offices or busy roommates, the GE 29869GE2 is a completely digital answering system containing four mailboxes. The call-screening speaker allows you to answer only the calls you want to; you can even set the precise number of rings before the machine picks up. With 40 minutes of memory, you won't worry about running out of space, and you can easily set a time limit for individual messages. Each incoming message automatically receives a time-date stamp, and simple controls offer the options of listening to only the new messages or listening to every message, along with deleting, saving, or skipping. Remote access allows you to check in while at work or on vacation, and with the addition of a 9-volt battery, the machine is able to save messages even through a power outage. GE provides a one-year limited warranty on parts and service.

Customer Reviews:

• Great Product
  Bought this for a home with a home business. It was easy to set up. We've had it and used it for a couple months now. Had NO trouble. In fact we were out of power for 36 hours and did not have to reset the message.
  
  I would recomend this product!!!...more info
• NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT
  I cannot understand why some customers are complaining about this product costing less than twenty bucks!
  It delivers on all aspects of what it says it will do.
  The digital read out is bright and visible.
  The black color usually blends with the surrounding.
  It does not miss calls.
  The sound quality, believe it or not, is absolutely fine. I detected no distortion, hum or disturbance.
  Hey, I needed an answering machine and I got one at a great price (from Amazon) and I have very satisfied with it....more info
• Good for the most part
  I have had this for a few years now. It replaced my computer program MSPHONE that had multiple voice boxes but didn't work with XP. For the most part it worked well but the voice quality seems to be going down hill lately although I am getting more cell calls now.
  
  If you want to make your small business look bigger by utilizing multiple mailboxes then this is the machine to use. Sound quality is sub par though so I am dreaming of a different brand w/ multiple mailboxes. Until then I am stuck.
  
  BTW, I was successful in setting it to answer on 4 rings and putting it after a Brother MFC5840CN All in One which successfully answers faxes with the TAD on!!!!
  
  Lucky Me. ...more info
• Good Digital Answering Machine
  Easy machine to set-up for a great price... the battery back-up is what sold me on this one. The only quirk in the product is you lose all your settings if you disconnect power at the machine... I knew this ahead of time so able to avoid a frustrating experience....more info
• GE Answering machine
  To date, it is working as advertised. I wish that recorded message could be a little clearer; it seems that tape messages were a lot clearer than digital....more info
• So Far, So Good
  I'm getting my messages, the callers are easy to understand and even though the power has been off several times, it still works. What more could you want from an answering machine?...more info
• An amazing machine
  We will be using this machine for a Dial-A-Prayer ministry at church. It is a top performer and does all promised and more. This is my second machine purchased. The first is my voice mail system at home, which has been functioning flawlessly for more than five years. You need to purchase one, too....more info
• It works! However...
  Answers the calls and leaves a fairly good reproducion of the voice message. Unfortunately, it date and time stamps each message at the end, rather than the beginning of a message.
  
  It records my outgoing message fairly clearly. Previous comments seem to claim that incoming and outgoing messages are distorted or unintelligible. This was not the case in my machine....more info
• Answering Machine
  The machine was delivered as promised. The machine design is waht I
  needed, however, once installed the play-back volume was so low, it
  was difficult to hear messages. I have ordered an audio amplifier in hopes of making this a functional unit. (I do have a hearing problem,
  so am not sure if this is my problem or the machines - or a combination
  of both?)...more info
• A dying breed--and a good example of why
  The standalone answering machine had its heyday in the 1990s. Digital recording, an exotic and imperfect technology, transformed it from a complicated tape-based machine into a flexible voice-mail system.
  
  The technology has stagnated since miniaturization made it possible to incorporate answering systems into wireless telephone base stations. This GE-branded machine seems to represent a sad backslide.
  
  The one good point is that it can provide four separate voicemail boxes. This is more than offset by several drawbacks:
  
  --An almost-unintelligible voice-prompt system. The designer of that feature seemed to be aiming for "robotic strict female voice," and did not build appropriate "shoulders" into each voice segment. The comical result is a herky-jerky delivery of voice prompts. It is further hampered by a low sampling rate; thus it is very hard to comprehend during a remote retrieval session.
  
  --A computer-centric coding system for days of the week. The voice-driven time stamp system can tell you which day of the week a message arrived. But to SET the date, you have to know that the days of the week are numbered from 1 to 7, starting with Monday.
  
  --A data-retention system that doesn't work. In theory, unplugging the machine from the wall (or experiencing a power failure) should not affect the system programming or received messages, as they should be retained in Flash ROM. Unplugging the power connector from the machine itself is designed to reset the machine--a desirable feature in the event that ownership is transferred to another person. In practice, forget retaining your messages when the transformer is unplugged, because the machine certainly will.
  
  In sum, this is old technology, and it appears to have been realized by resource-starved wannabes who had little more than ancient parts, old designs, and a GE logo with which to work. There are almost no choices remaining for this kind of answering machine, but don't conclude that this one is still on the market because it deserves to be.
  
  You would be better served to invest in a wireless base station that includes a mailbox-based answering system--and ignore the wireless handset if you don't need it.
  Siemens Gigaset 2425 Expandable Cordless Telephone System w/ Mailboxes
  Vtech 2455 2.4GHz w/3 Mailboxes CID & Additional Handset...more info
• GE Digital Answering Machine
  There is one quirk that is annoying because it seems illogical and for which I could not get a clear response via phone. In fact, when I asked for a supervisor, I was told none available and when I asked to have someone call me back, no one did. By the way, the number is not toll free and I was on hold for 25 minutes. I then wrote to the Manager of Consumer Relations and despite all the contact info in my letter, I then received a letter back that they could not contact me, but I was given a toll free number to call and a reference case number. The quirk is that if one disconnects the power cord at the device, memory is lost, even with a battery installed. However, memory is not lost if disconnected at the wall socket. To me, power loss is power loss. The best I could deign from a representative, who had to research it while I waited, is that it seems to be that the plug in the device maintains some sort of circuit. This seems like a foolish mechanism given that most devices use backup batteries to function no matter how the power is lost. Two advantages are (1) the multiple mailboxes - I do not have to listen to my wife's various organizational calls and (2) the ability to set a time limit for messages, which can be conveyed in your greeting - and thus limit long meandering time-wasting messages when listening. One relative defect is the fairly poor voice quality for both the greeting and the messages left - much better technology exists. ...more info
• Answering Machine
  The machine was delivered as promised. The machine design is waht I
  needed, however, once installed the play-back volume was so low, it
  was difficult to hear messages. I have ordered an audio amplifier in hopes of making this a functional unit. (I do have a hearing problem,
  so am not sure if this is my problem or the machines - or a combination
  of both?)...more info
• Great answering machine
  I was looking for something a bit more sophisticated than the little At&T machine I had. I totally love this one. Each family member has their own mailbox and knows when they have a message. Rather than having to listen to everyone's messages to get to yours, you see your mailbox blinking, press the button, and there you go!
  I'd recommend it to anyone who has 2 to 4 members of their household and would like to keep their messages separate from those of roommates/family. ...more info
• Barely intelligible playback
  Based primarily on reviews praising the clarity of the playback, I ordered this machine. I'm contemplating whether to send it back or just junk it to avoid the hassle. The nine year old machine I bought it to replace has better sound quality. Apparently the quality varies from unit to unit. It is a roll of the dice and I got snake eyes. On the unit I received, even the clearest messages are difficult to hear. Many are unintelligible. Even the pre-recorded announcements that tell you such things as how many messages are on the machine are so badly garbled they are difficult to understand. Why GE cannot make a machine with reliable sound quality in this day of advanced electronics is beyond me....more info
• Great Receptionist!!!
  I bought this same answering machine nearly three years ago. Just this year the unit was struck by lightning. Amazingly enough, the unit still works on its' own but when you connect it to a caller ID it won't work. It has been a great receptionist for me. It works very well for a home-based business. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to find another one because it was unavailable at the place where I initially purchased it. Then I tried Amazon.com and found it about eight dollars cheaper and received it in a matter of 3 days. I think it's a great machine to have and I've never had any other problem with it. Once I followed the instructions on programming it, it was ON, like popcorn. That's a little slang my grandkids taught me. If you put a pretty long greeting on it, it will even discourage bill collectors. I hope GE continues to make this product. It's GREAT!!! Lois Simmons...more info
• Good enswering machine
  It is a good enswering machine.
  Easy and simple to handle....more info
• sounds horrible
  The sound quality of this unit is just awful. You could make out what was being said, but it was not easy. I think this unit is a big mistake for anyone and that you can do far better with an integrated system on a phone.
  I returned mine. If you buy this, keep your expectations very low. ...more info
• GE 29869GE2 Digital Answering System
  I had ordered the same items from another source. Their ad did not indicate that 2 units are required to operate the answering system, and only shipped 1 unit. I had to order the second unit from a different on-line store, since the original vendor no longer carried this item. The combined units cost is really too high for ordinary home used. Try Radio Shack for a similar operating unit a a much lower cost. ...more info
• GE Answering Machine
  I am very happy with this product. Easy to install and has flexibility
  of 4 mailboxes. Price is reasonable and highly rated by Consumer Report....more info
• Unit dead on arrival
  Unit promised nice functionality, however the caller could not hear the message. It would play on the speaker, so we didn't know that callers could not hear it.
  
  Support is non-existant. Returned unit to Amazon....more info
• It's Only OK...
  Because it was so inexpensive, I really cannot claim to be extremely disappointed. However, the sound quality is pretty bad on this machine, both on incoming calls and on the outgoing message (even after I re-recorded the outgoing message 2 or 3 times, trying to make it clearer, louder, more distinct, etc.) I am able to call in for my messages from both my cell phone or from an external office phone, which was my main purpose in buying this machine. I formerly had a Panasonic phone answering machine, which lasted over 23 years. Thus, I had hoped to replace it with another just as good as it was. Unfortunately, Panasonic no longer makes that answering machine, and this GE looked like the closest thing to it, presently on the market. I was wrong......more info
• Not the best answering machine
  at first this machine worked but then...after changing the battery out it continued to say "BATTERY LOW" after each message was replayed. Also volume level for recording is not the best. Not a good buy...more info
• High capacity, but unfortunately the same pathetic voice quality as all the rest
  I purchased this machine because it has the most recording time and most mailboxes of all the consumer systems out there--I need these features for my business. I also need the recording quality to be good, like your run-of-the-mill commercial voicemail system (or the old cassette-type machines) because I need to capture and edit these voice messages on my computer. On the recommendation of a couple of reviewers in this forum who stated that the voice quality was great, I decided to give this model a try.
  
  Well, this system does deliver the capacity, but I'm sorry to say that the voice quality is one of the worst I've ever heard on a digital answering machine. It's the same problem that plagues all digital answerers: it sounds like you're hearing the message through water. I have a puny, 4-year-old digital Radio Shack answerer at home that blows this item away in terms of voice quality. (Unfortunately Radio Shack no longer makes answerers.) In terms of the outgoing message, I tried recording it remotely by calling in (which results in a much better sounding announcement than doing it in the same room), but even that sounds crummy.
  
  Sorry to be a downer here. Don't get me wrong: this unit may suit you for home purposes, but the quality--which I find to be at or slightly below par for digital answerers--is not at all acceptable for a business.
  
  I am really disappointed with the state of affairs in the digital answering machine world (and regular telephones for that matter, but that's a whole other story). Tape-based machines, which have far superior fidelity compared to these digital pieces of junk, are no longer made. I am truly perplexed why we can't get the quality of commercial voicemail servers in a small package. Are the makers of commercial servers are in cahoots with the folks who make consumer models to keep the quality down?
  
  So, the bottom line is that I thought I could get away with not paying my local phone company $10/month for voicemail service, but alas, I have finally decided I cannot. Just what this world needs--someone giving more easy money to AT&T for voicemail service....more info
• Great Receptionist!!!
  I bought this same answering machine nearly three years ago. Just this year the unit was struck by lightning. Amazingly enough, the unit still works on its' own but when you connect it to a caller ID it won't work. It has been a great receptionist for me. It works very well for a home-based business. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to find another one because it was unavailable at the place where I initially purchased it. Then I tried Amazon.com and found it about eight dollars cheaper and received it in a matter of 3 days. I think it's a great machine to have and I've never had any other problem with it. Once I followed the instructions on programming it, it was ON, like popcorn. That's a little slang my grandkids taught me. If you put a pretty long greeting on it, it will even discourage bill collectors. I hope GE continues to make this product. It's GREAT!!! Lois Simmons...more info
• Decent answering machine with mailboxes
  I read other reviews that included complaints about the quality of the sound (of the outgoing message and received messages). These complaints are very valid. The quality is POOR, but unless you have auditory processing difficulties, the quality won't interfere with listeners' comprehension. The machine is fairly compact in size. When you play back the NEW message, the machine will automatically play back the old (saved) messages - a bit of a nuisance, but you can stand there and skip them by pushing the forward button repeatedly. It's certainly not a great answering machine but there are few choices out there for machines with multiple mailboxes. Be aware that if you get an automated call (which we recently received about a medical appointment, so it was important), it will go to mailbox one. Not bad, not great, acceptable and does the trick. I am NOT sorry I bought it....more info
• GE Digital Answering Machine
  There is one quirk that is annoying because it seems illogical and for which I could not get a clear response via phone. In fact, when I asked for a supervisor, I was told none available and when I asked to have someone call me back, no one did. By the way, the number is not toll free and I was on hold for 25 minutes. I then wrote to the Manager of Consumer Relations and despite all the contact info in my letter, I then received a letter back that they could not contact me, but I was given a toll free number to call and a reference case number. The quirk is that if one disconnects the power cord at the device, memory is lost, even with a battery installed. However, memory is not lost if disconnected at the wall socket. To me, power loss is power loss. The best I could deign from a representative, who had to research it while I waited, is that it seems to be that the plug in the device maintains some sort of circuit. This seems like a foolish mechanism given that most devices use backup batteries to function no matter how the power is lost. Two advantages are (1) the multiple mailboxes - I do not have to listen to my wife's various organizational calls and (2) the ability to set a time limit for messages, which can be conveyed in your greeting - and thus limit long meandering time-wasting messages when listening. One relative defect is the fairly poor voice quality for both the greeting and the messages left - much better technology exists. ...more info
• Disappointed
  I wanted an answering system that didn't require me to lift up my phone to see if there were any message because I'd forget to do it, so I needed an external answering machine. I was surprised how few there were to choose from. I tried a RadioShack version, but it hung up on callers after a minute. The GE model I bought gives callers more time, but the audio quality is abysmal. I'm embarrassed that I present myself to callers with such primitive sound quality and I often have trouble, for the same reason, deciphering the messages that come in. Rats! ...more info