Efficient and flexible communication device and system with base-to-base communication

1. Field of the Invention A communication device that includes a base. The base includes a line interface for receiving incoming communications over a network line and sending outgoing communications over the network line, a communication transceiver for interfacing the communication device over a communication link to other communication devices in a same in-home network and for interfacing other communication devices in the same in-home network to the line interface via the communication link, and a storage medium for storing communication software that allows the communication device to communicate with other communication devices through the transceiver. The communication device also includes a processor coupled to the storage medium and to the line interface. The processor is configured to run the communication software and to receive incoming communications through the line interface and to send an outgoing communications through the line interface. The communication transceiver can be a RF short range transceiver.