Remote video access capability for a wireless video monitoring/cordless phone system

A multimode cordless telephone system, comprising:

• a base station;
• at least one camera that is in wireless communication, at least periodically, with the base station;
• and
• a cordless handset, having a viewing screen, also in wireless communication, at least periodically, with the base station, the cordless handset having a first mode that is operable when the cordless handset is within a predetermined range of the base station wherein the cordless handset operates in conjunction with the base station to provide telephonic communication and image monitoring of images captured by the at least one camera, and a second mode that is operable when the cordless handset is beyond the predetermined range of the base station wherein the cordless handset communicates with the base station via the PSTN to monitor images captured by the at least one camera.

A method of monitoring a remote location, comprising:

• capturing images with a camera;
• transmitting the images from the camera to a base station;
• receiving a telephone call at the base station from a cordless handset associated with the base station;
• and
• transmitting the images from the base station to the cordless handset.