I've had similar problems with a phone I got a year or two ago. It was a brand spanking new 2.3 GHZ cordless that just would not hold charge at all, even when the battery was replaced. I've just been borrowing one of Mary's phones when I need to make a call, or using the lined phone I got for testing purposes. Currently, what I'm thinking about doing is seeing if I can track down a battery for my old AT&T cordless phone, which after all I used for 12 years or so before I had any problems, just throwing it back on the cradle when it wasn't in use (and the problem seemed to just be the battery not charging).

But sorry, no recommendations for anything new and portable. I don't remember the brand on Mary's phones, but I think at least one of them was a dud. I think quality assurance on modern consumer electronics these days just sucks. If I wind up having to buy a new one I'll probably try going with either Sony, since I've had good luck with other products of theirs, or back to AT&T, who, after all, have had more experience with phones than anyone. (Perhaps I'll try and do like I did with the original one, and spend my points from my AT&T Universal Card on it)