Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with Sprint cell phone service, the Sanyo PM-8200 includes a built-in VGA digital camera with an LED flash, push-to-talk capability, voice dialing, Internet capability, and much more, all displayed on a 1.8-inch, 65k color LCD screen.

See a detailed view of the phone's features

Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the PM-8200's features include vibrating alert, voice dialing, call screening, a dedicated speakerphone and voice mail button, push-to-talk, and a 300-entry phone book capacity with picture-ID capability. It also supports mobile-to-mobile (walkie-talkie) direct link for up to 6 simultaneous users. This phone supports TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) devices.

Messaging and Internet
This phone provides SMS two-way messaging, conventional email, and predictive text assistance, plus picture sharing and voice-memo picture attachment. The PM-8200's Internet connectivity also lets you access online services such as stock quotes, road directions, airline information, entertainment, and more. You can download Java applications (version J2ME) to add additional capabilities to your phone, and high-speed data transfer and download round out the package. The PM-8200 is GPS capable.

Organizer

Multishot feature: Take up to 8 rapid shots in sequence

The PIM organizer included with this phone provides programmable reminders for holidays, birthdays, or other significant dates, an event calendar, to-do list, call alarm, alarm clock, calculator, world clock and more.

Fun and Games
For fun, the PM-8200 sports a built-in VGA digital camera, outfitted with a flash, digital zoom, self-timer, multi-shot capability, plus fun frames, color tones, and a security camera lockout feature. The PM-8200 also features 32 chord ring tone capability, and the usual downloadable ring tones, screen savers, wallpaper, and games, in addition to the ones built in to the phone.

Vital Statistics
The Sanyo PM-8200 weighs 3.64 ounces and measures 3.34 x 1.85 x 1.02 inches. Its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at up to 3 hours talk time, and up to 12 days standby time.

... Read more

Features

• Feature-packed with VGA camera and flash, speakerphone, dual-displays and more
• VGA camera includes 640x480 resolution, flash, zoom capabilities and auto-focus.
• Vivid dual-displays in 65,000 colors for life-like images
• Built-in speakerphone and voice dialing make communication a breeze
• Includes phone, rapid wall charger and user documentation

Reviews (25)

Can't Hear
Like everyone said before, I bought this for all the features and the great battery life.All those have delivered except I feel like the battery doesn't last that long anymore AND the charger that they provide starts to "get loose" and stops charging the phone correctly after a while and you have to get the alternative charger for the phone.This phone gets great reception and I get reception in places that most other people don't...ONLY ONE PROBLEM....... YOU CAN'T HEAR WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING TO YOU!The speaker in the earpiece of this phone is terrible.I thought it was me at first.I thought that it was the OTHER person's cell phone because how could it be mine if I had full reception bars?Well it is the phone.The speaker is simply a piece of junk.Hopefully Sanyo will correct it with future phones because I really do like everything else about the phone.I gave it 2 stars though because the basic function of the phone is obviously the most important thing and that is seriously lacking.

Great phone!
I have been with Sprint for almost 2 years now and have had 3 different phones.Out of the 3 I have to say that the Sanyo 8200 is the best.I love the screen call feature.I've read the other reviews and alot of people complained about the audio quality.I haven't had that problem.Now, I just recently had to get a replacement under the warranty because the vibrate did not work but other than that, I think the phone is great. I love the design of the phone, its compact and light and comes in 4 different colors.I orginally wanted the red but went with silver only because at the time the Sprint store that I purchased the phone from did not have the red one in stock. Im thinking about upgrading though.I never keep cells phone for a really long time.If something new comes out and I like it, I usually buy it.I like the new Sanyo 5600 but Im not keen on spending $500 for a cell phone.I think I may just settle for the Sanyo MM 7400.

Sanyo, what were you thinking?
All the gadgets in the world can't hide the fact that this phone sounds horrible. I first thought it might be a bad phone, so I exchanged it. Guess what? It's the same for all of the 8200's. I love the reception but if you can't understand the person on the other end what's the point? It's like owning pretty car but it it can't shift into drive. Stay away from this phone.

mixed bag
I fell in love with this phone at the store: great design, great features, great camera, I was psyched.Then I started using the phone - the WORST audio quality!Everyone who calls me sounds like they're coming through a train terminal PA system.The static is in the phone, it's not the reception.I'm still using this phone because I still love the design, but just know you're buying a phone with terrible audio.

What happened???
I first bought this phone right off the line (3 days after it was put in stores) For 4 months it was the best phone i have ever had. decent quality in pictures, advanced text messaging (text messages came direct to my phone rather than me logging into a site to get them) and the speaker phone made talking a little easier when i needed full movement of my head to see what was around me (IE. driving, walking etc.)
But the biggest thing that seems to plague the new sanyo picture and video phones is the place you plug into the phone to charge the phone. WHAT HAPPENED?? Only four months into owning this and i have to jimmy the phone so that i can just charge the battery. And i am not the only one who has this problem. Many of the guys i work with are sprint users and have this exact phone or one similar and have the same problems as i do. This major defect makes this phone a bad sale. i mean how can you use the features if you can't get power to the phone. Sanyo needs to find a way to fix this, and then this phone type will once again be the ace it was when i first bought it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with Sprint cell phone service, the Sanyo PM-8200 includes a built-in VGA digital camera with an LED flash, push-to-talk capability, voice dialing, Internet capability, and much more, all displayed on a 1.8-inch, 65k color LCD screen.

See a detailed view of the phone's features

Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the PM-8200's features include vibrating alert, voice dialing, call screening, a dedicated speakerphone and voice mail button, push-to-talk, and a 300-entry phone book capacity with picture-ID capability. It also supports mobile-to-mobile (walkie-talkie) direct link for up to 6 simultaneous users. This phone supports TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) devices.

Messaging and Internet
This phone provides SMS two-way messaging, conventional email, and predictive text assistance, plus picture sharing and voice-memo picture attachment. The PM-8200's Internet connectivity also lets you access online services such as stock quotes, road directions, airline information, entertainment, and more. You can download Java applications (version J2ME) to add additional capabilities to your phone, and high-speed data transfer and download round out the package. The PM-8200 is GPS capable.

Organizer

Multishot feature: Take up to 8 rapid shots in sequence

The PIM organizer included with this phone provides programmable reminders for holidays, birthdays, or other significant dates, an event calendar, to-do list, call alarm, alarm clock, calculator, world clock and more.

Fun and Games
For fun, the PM-8200 sports a built-in VGA digital camera, outfitted with a flash, digital zoom, self-timer, multi-shot capability, plus fun frames, color tones, and a security camera lockout feature. The PM-8200 also features 32 chord ring tone capability, and the usual downloadable ring tones, screen savers, wallpaper, and games, in addition to the ones built in to the phone.

Vital Statistics
The Sanyo PM-8200 weighs 3.64 ounces and measures 3.34 x 1.85 x 1.02 inches. Its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at up to 3 hours talk time, and up to 12 days standby time.

... Read more

Features

• Feature-packed with VGA camera and flash, speakerphone, and dual displays
• VGA camera features auto-focus lens, zoom capability. flash and 640x480 resolution
• Dual LCD/TFT displays offer crisp images in 65,000 colors
• Speakerphone and voice dialing make communication a breeze
• Includes phone, rapid travel charger and user documentation

Reviews (28)

Superb phone with great features!
I have had this phone going on a year now and can faithfully say that I have very few complaints!! First of all the phone has NEVER and I mean NEVER failed me! This will be the 5th Sanyo I have owned, starting with the faithful 4500, and have never been let down. I have seen numerous complaints about sound quality, but short of the volume being a little low on occasion, I cannot see too much fault. The speakerphone is only half-duplex, but most cell phone speakerphones are only HD at the moment. Also you cannot expect board room sound out of a tiny micro-sized speaker! It does very well for its size. Ready link performance is top rate, as well. All in all another great Sanyo product!

Going on 5th bad phone in 5 months...
I bought this phone for FREE in dec 2004. (special)

2 months later the head set wouldn't work anymore. (the head set to plug in the jack and speak hands free, and i have a few plantronic headsets that work great, the big ones.)

Store would not give me a blue one, only silver. 2 months later the head set wouldn't work anymore.

Given the run around at the sprint stores and tech and made to drive over 500 miles going back and forth (in 35 mile increments).

Given 3rd phone, got to my car and started to make a call, head set wouldn't work right out of the box. That's less than 90 seconds after leaving the store.

Given 4th phone the same day (not working this same day, 2 bad phones in the same day) and would keep beeping, the icon for battery would blink from full charge to BEING recharged (not in need of, but being), while half muting the person on the other end of the phone call.

After 4 hours in the store this day, even though they saw it was not working, refused to replace because their tech guy went home and he was required to say it's broken before they change it out.

My previous phone was the sanyo 4900 which i had to replace in the first week, but has lasted for the last 2 years, very dim screen and big, but worked great.

The 8200?, I got it free and it's cost me so much money in time and gas and trouble, feels like It's cost me $1000. By far the worst quality phone I have dealt with in the last ten years.

emailed sprint and they have agree to allow me to take any of their phones and they will credit the 229 list price.
Did not offer to compensate for all the BS their store reps have put me through. Worst people in the world at the sprint store in Asheville, NC... patton ave. Hendersonville road and mall is where you should buy if your in this town.

I've liked sanyo alot, but now I'm almost scared off of them. My old samsung wasn't as strong in reception and battery life, but I'm using cnet to investigate phones that have the same problem with everybody.

I do have a few friends that have not had AS MANY problems as I have had and they are hard on phones, my 4900 still looks new. I'm very easy on my phones.

If I had not gotten 4 bad phones....
just rating the phone on the features and the like, I'd probably rate it 3 stars at best.

The phone is average, imo. The worst thing about the phone, from all the phones, is to listen to a conversation on the phone, you either have to turn the volume down to the lowest, if you turn it up so that you can easily hear the other person the sound becomes very distorted and choppy.

Based on that one thing, I would not suggest buying this phone. Add in the problems I've gotten with the 4 bad phones, I can not give this a good review.

what's up with the hissing on sprint phones?
I got this phone after switching over from Verizon.The first thing I noticed was an audible hissing when I'm talking on the phone.I went to 3 different sprint stores and tried out all the models that were available and there was noticeable hissing on almost all the phones.But most notably on Sanyo models.The phone that had the least background hissing was the LG 325, but I wanted a flip phone.The PM 8200 also has a horrible speakerphone (it's loud, but very distorted and cuts out when there is cross-talking).The PM 8200 also distorts the caller's voice slightly.If you've never had a good cell phone like an LG, (my previous verizon phone was the LG 4400 and callers sounded crystal clear), you may not notice the relatively bad sound quality of most of the Sprint phones.I returned the 8200 within the 14 day period and instead got the Samsung RL-A760.The sound is much clearer on this phone with less hissing, but is slightly larger and does not have a camera.the speakerphone on the Samsung is much better and does not cut out during cross-talking, at least on my end. overall, the PM8200 is a good phone if you can stand the hissing and distortion.

What a great phone...
and it does everything that I could ever imagine (web, pictures, alarms, downloads, speaker phone) - except streaming video, which the newer version (PCS Phone Sanyo MM-7400 (Sprint) has.

One great buy!

GREAT!
This is a great phone! It has all the features such as camera with flash, calendar and other stuff. I have no problems with it except for one. The metallic seems as if it is prone to scratches and it feels awkward when I handle it with extra care. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Designed for the business user, Samsung’s SPH-i500 slim wireless device combines a flip-top phone with a Palm OS organizer for maximum productivity while on the road. The dual-band/tri-mode i500 offers wireless fast web access from any location for looking up stock quotes, flight schedules, and weather forecasts or using email and text messaging. The 160-x-240-pixel, 65,000-color touch screen enhances the web capabilities. The phone also offers speedy information retrieval with its web clipping service. This wireless phone’s 16 MB of memory provides plenty of room for downloaded information.

The included desktop holder offers easy battery charging and synchronizing with your desktop or laptop.

Powered by Palm OS 4.1, the PDA lets you run standard applications such as an Address Book, Date Book, and Expense Report. The i500 has Graffiti writing software and a special writing area for entering letters as well as several other text input methods. This organizer even hooks up to a compact, portable keyboard for almost PC-like data entry convenience. The i500 synchs up information with other IR devices or PCs and also comes with a cradle for PCs that don’t have an IR port.

Top phone features on the i500 include voice memo, voice-activated and four-digit calling, polyphonic ring tones, and vibrate mode.This smartphone is rated for up to 2.8 hours of talk time and 210 hours of standby time on a slim battery; 4.2 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time on a regular battery; and 5.4 hours of talk time and 350 hours of standby time when using an extended battery.

The i500's features summarized:

• Get two productivity tools in one compact wireless phone, and no compromise in functionality for convenience and style.
• See the Web at high speed and in living color on the i500's vibrant touch-screen display.
• Get quick access to flight schedules, directions, e-mail, stock quotes, weather, scores, entertainment listings and more.
• Get plenty of room for storage with 16MB memory.
• Palm OS 4.1 gives you the functionality you need to be more organized and productive.
• Get quicker access to Palm OS applications using hotkeys.
• Get Web information faster with Web-clipping capabilities.
• Extend your phone's capabilities using powerful third-party Palm OS applications.
• Multi-task with ease by using phone and Palm applications simultaneously.
• Make easier and faster calls with voice-activated and four-digit dialing.
• Take calls discreetly by switching to vibrate mode.
• Collect your thoughts using the voice memo feature.
• Use polyphonic and standard ring tones to create distinctive ringers.

Features

• This tri-mode CDMA phone from Samsung is one of Sprint PCS's flagship 3G phones
• Large color display supports 4,096 colors (128x160 pixels)
• Comes with personal calendar, date book, address book, to-do, and HotSync
• Supports wireless Internet (WAP 2.0) and text messaging
• Stylish phone features a graphical menu and polyphonic ringtones

Reviews (51)

Cool toy
Okay, I'll admit, there are some significant shortcomings for this phone, ie, no 3rd party text messaging, 3rd party email, etc.
These things cost $30 to $50 to purchase.I got the SnapperMail download, they have a 30 day free trial.But be aware that once you decide to purchase it, you must purchase the Premiere edition or higher for it to work. Overall though, really cool phone. The PDA portion of it is very nice.

PDA but no Communications
Slow Inet Acess. Can read emails, but no way to respond. Simply a contact DBase. Inet is slow. Buy a Treo. Sprint sucks w/ this technology. Tried so many times to make this work. If you have nothing to do, give another try......As always you might get moisture damage...

Great phone, great "form factor", but ya gotta dial Sprint
I wrote a review early on my site, and thought I'd share here.You can visit us at:http://www.badassreviews.com

"
When I put this site together, I thought that part of the goal for any aspiring bad ass was to find those must have things in life: love, liberty, and cool stuff. In the spirit of this pursuit, I present to you a pretty remarkable piece of technology that I have come to love (and detest) for variety of reasons.

The single best quality of this phone is that it marries a phone with the full blow Palm OS 4.1 Palm's latest and greatest OS is up to 5 and soon around the corner probably 6. But Palm 4 still continues to be the dominant OS of the PDA market (I could be wrong on this, but I don't think Windows CE is quite there yet, and Blackberry is well.. that's another story). Essentially, this PDA allows you download and install from a collection of thousands of software titles. Check out Palm Gear). If you ever wonder if there is something you wish you could use to track, organize, reference, play with, learn from, at a bus stop on cold winter day, you can be assured someone's already thought of it and made it available at Palm Gear.

"My Treo 600 also does that, what's the big deal?"

What Treo users, and essentially all other PDA/Phone users can't do, is look good using their PDA's. "Form factor" is the term given to a device's design, and how much space it takes to be a functional piece of equipment. The Samsung i500 has the single best form factor of all other PhonePDA's. Most of the PhonePDA's on the market look like heavy soap bars, some of them like the Treo's have a tiny keyboards mashed in, with badly beveled buttons that require some getting use to.

Samsung's i500 does away with all this and leaves a simple writing area that you use a Palm style (also snuggly available on the phone) to write into the system. This is not for heavy email users! If you need to send emails/messages back to the office on daily basis, you'll probably need some more functional than aesthetically pleasing.

But this Phone/PDA rocks, looks good, and is an easy conversation piece at the bar. Never mind the fact that it has a stylus that doubles as a pen.

Inside Scoop:

This phone is offered by Sprint for and astounding rate of $500 new. You'll be able to find it on ebay for around $200-$300 depending on how used it is, what accessories come with it, and if it fell off a truck in Jersey or not. My recommendation is to pick one of them up from ebay. This phone is constructed very well, and I have dropped and it has survived couple times already without any protection.

The Dark Side:

Sprint. By far and away, Sprint continues to be a promoter of pioneering technologies, at the same time, crippling them of the basics. The single largest issue with this phone is that SMS messing service that Sprint has neglected in providing. In order to actually use the SMS system on this device, you need to purchase and install i500SMS v0.31. According to some users groups, you can call Sprint, complain and have them purchase the software for you (check out PDAPhoneHome)

Still, anyone SMS messaging you, better enter their name or initials to the message, because unless they are on the Sprint network, you will not be able to know what phone sent you that message. This is just one of those things where the rest of the world seems to have a good grip on, and we in the U.S., the greatest country in the world, are still struggling to figure out how to deliver it. Technology does move like molasses sometimes.

We still thing is the a pretty cool phone, despite it's short comings.
"

Thanks!
B.A.R.
http://www.badassreviews.com

firmware issue
This is a great phone, and other reviewers have covered most of the topics, so I'll just mention one thing.The phones are still being sold with the old firmware.There is a major bug in the firmware, which will hang the sprint vision connection, requiring a manual disconnect from the data service or often a power recycle.This make the otherwise fabulous wirelss email sync (which pushes the email to your phone like blackberry) useless.

Most sprint stores don't know how to do a firmware upgrade on this phone, or they don't have the cable.So don't count on being able to upgrade, most people can't.

pdaphonehome.com has all the details.

this review is as of 12/04.

Great phone/Palm combo -- almost everything I wanted!
I sorely needed a new phone to replace my trusty StarTac and my aging Palm V, but delayed doing so for a couple of years because I just didn't see anything out there that I thought would combine their functions effectively.I wanted a clamshell phone that wouldn't accidentally dial people from inside my bag.And the Treo phones and other stick-style smartphones just seemed too big.Although I'm fine with a thumb-board (I carry a RIM for work), I prefer Graffiti, so I wanted a phone that allowed me to input using Graffiti.I tried out my husband's Treo 300 and frankly missed the Graffiti functions.I also thought it was too clunky.I've found that the i500 is almost everything I wanted out of a Palm/phone combo.

The pros:Sleek clamshell design -- compact and stylish, even with the hefty extended-use battery.It's solidly built -- no flimsy flips like the Treo 300.The screen is surprisingly big for such a small phone.The color and resolution is quite good -- the photos I keep on my phone look good.I like the Graffiti writing space -- it's small, but easy to get used to.The Palm functions are well integrated.It's easy to call people from your address book, and it's easy to save phone numbers (like from incoming calls) into new or existing entries.With the extended battery, I can go for a few days without having to charge up -- even the slim battery gets decent performance.The cradle offers one-button syncing, and can charge a spare battery at the same time as the phone -- a nice touch.Using hacks easily found online, you can put just about any photo on your screen as your wallpaper.You can also set unique rings for different people (no photo ID, though).

The cons:No speakerphone!This is a really strange feature to leave out, since it makes it hard to use the Palm at the same time as the phone.You can always use a headset, but that's just another step you shouldn't have to take.I also think it would be nice to have a caller ID screen on the outside of the phone so you don't have to flip open the phone to see who's calling.And I miss the dual-function keys on the StarTac -- functions you can easily access just by pushing "FNC" and then one of the numeric keys.I used to be able to switch the phone to vibrate by hitting two keys -- now I need to ratchet down the ringer, which can take up to 10 button presses, depending on how loud you have your ringer volume cranked.I also used to be able to mute my phone easily using the FNC button -- I have no clue how to do it on the i500, but it's certainly not a one-button thing.The screen is sometimes hard to read outside in the sun.Minor quibble -- there's apparently no way to add to the polyphonic ringtones supplied with the phone.There are plenty of options, to be sure, but it would have been nice to be able to add to them to truly personalize the phone.

On the high price -- I bought the phone used, which brought the price down significantly for me.Would I have paid the full retail price?Maybe, especially since I probably would have paid more to buy a new Palm and a new phone.At the deeply discounted price, however, I definitely got my money's worth. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

While the RL-7300 might look like a basic clamshell, it is actually a rugged, powerful mobile companion with great features like push-to-talk, a speakerphone, and dual color displays. Folks who need a phone that can take a beating will like this device. Plus, the instant communication of Sprint's Ready Link push-to-talk technology makes it great for the working world.

Design
The RL-7300's sporty candybar form factor sports a 132 x 176, 65,000-color main display, plus a 64 x 64, full-color secondary display on the outside of the front cover. In addition to the secondary display, the front panel features a speaker for speakerphone and voice dialing applications. An extendable antenna is located on the top right side of the phone, while most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. The Ready Link service is operated by a button on the left side of the phone-- walkie-talkie style. A 2.5mm headset jack is also provided.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book allows you to assign up to 300 entries, each storing seven numbers, with a total capacity for 500 numbers and 300 email and Web addresses. A separate Ready Link phone book provides easy access to 200 personal contacts and 200 company-provided contacts. You can also customize your caller ID by linking a photo to a specific phone number in your contact list, or use voice dialing to automatically dial up to 30 pre-programmed contacts with the sound of your voice. In addition to a vibrating alert, you can choose from preloaded ring tones to jazz up your incoming calls. The phone offers a variety of traditional ring tones as well as polyphonic (32-chord), melodic ring tones. The RL-7300's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911 (where available). Perhaps most importantly for users in rural areas, the RL-7300 is a tri-mode phone, meaning it can operate on Sprint's digital PCS network, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas.

Hands-free operation of your phone is easy with the RL-7300's built-in speakerphone. Meanwhile, the RL-7300's Ready Link feature lets you enjoy the convenience of quick, walkie-talkie style communication at the touch of a button with one or several Ready Link users anywhere you go (Sprint PCS Ready Link service charges apply).

Messaging, Internet and Tools
If you need basic messaging capabilities, the RL-7300 has you covered as support is built-in for sending and receiving SMS text messages (Sprint PCS text messaging charges apply). T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built-into the unit-- a plus for text messaging users.

The phone also supports PCS Vision email and instant messaging capabilities. Sprint PCS Vision transforms the wireless experience from something that's simply functional into something visual, entertaining and highly personalized. MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and AOL Instant Messenger are all supported by Sprint's PCS Vision service. PCS Vision mobile Web services let you check out sports scores, get your seven-day forecast, check your flight status, and stay up to date with the latest news. Experience full-color graphic versions of popular Web sites.

For business users, the RL-7300 offers something special. Sprint PCS Business Connection service is supported by the phone and it gives you secure, remote, real-time access to Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes information-- including email messages and attachments, calendar, business directory and personal contacts. You can also respond to meeting requests, access documents stored on your desktop PC, and view email from Internet email accounts, including Sprint PCS Mail, Yahoo!, Earthlink and more.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the RL-7300 including a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock, and a to-do list with scheduler. A voice recorder lets you record short voice memos for later retrieval.

Entertainment and Customization
In addition to allowing you to choose one of four background screens for your phone's display, The RL-7300 lets you choose different font sizes when sending messages or accessing your browser. With PCS Vision service, you can download games like Tetris and Pac-Man, as well as additional ringers, screensavers and backgrounds.

Vital Statistics
The Sanyo RL-7300 weighs 4.24 ounces and measures 3.71 x 1.97 x 1.12 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of digital talk time, and up to 96 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the AMPS 800/CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
RL-7300 handset, AC battery charger, lithium-ion battery, user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• Ruggedized Ready Link compatibile phone with dual-color displays, speakerphone and voice dialing
• Quick, walkie-talkie style communication with Ready Link allows you to communicate at the touch of a button
• Rugged design minimizes wear and tear
• Built-in speakerphone and voice dialing make communicating easy and safe
• Includes phone, rapid wall charger and user documentation

Reviews (15)

Above average with some minor flaws
The SCP-7300 is above average at best, but that could be because I live and work in NE Florida, and most things don't work correctly here. The features that most others have talked about are nice, like the ease of use and the ability to quickly navigate through the various menus.

The four main problems I have with this model are as follows: 1. Calls get dropped or signal is lost despite having 4 bars. 2. Speaker does not work well in that it picks up too much background noise and is difficult (but not impossible) to use. 3. No easy way to redial the last number you called. 4. And I haven't seen this problem mentioned, but there are times when I dial a number, press the "talk" button, and the number disappears. I then have to re-enter the number, sometimes 5 or 6 times before it takes the number and actually dials. This also happens on the presets, I'll push number 5, for example, and the 5 disappears after pushing the "talk" button. I have 4 bars and everything seems to be working properly. Unfortunately, I cannot replicate this at a Sprint store, so they look at me like I'm nuts! But it does happen on occasion, so keep that in mind. Also, I've have 4 of these phones (same model) and they all do it. In fact, I got a new one yesterday and it did it today already.

It's not a bad phone, and I get them pretty cheaply for use at work, so I can't complain too much. They're better than Nextel, that is for sure.

great no frills phone
If you also believe that a phone should be a phone & a camera is a camera, then this may be for you.

This is replacing my old friend Sanyo 4900...greatest reception phone by Sprint ever made....I just dropped it a few too many times until it finally became unreliable.
The 7300, after 2 days, seems to equal the reception of the 4900...I find that the signal strength BAR indicator may show 1 bar, but that appears to equal what 2 bars were for the 4900....just need to interpret it differently.

the volume from both the speakerphone and earpiecee are very loud and perhaps clearer than other phones that cram a photo lens into the same area of where you listen...

Feels durable and solid for a flip phone.....I like the rubberized edges. Not sure if the battery life will come close to the 4900, but its a smaller phone so probably thats 1 trade off.

I highly recommend the (discontinued) 4900 model as well as this 7300. In general, most people i talk to say Sanyo is the best Sprint Cell phone maker. Ive owned LG and Samsung, and they both had issues. Go with Sanyo!

Best phone I've used
I got this phone to replace a Samsung that got lousy reception.The Samsung would drop calls, and left people asking me to repeat myself.I decided to go with this phone after seeing strong reviews for it on the internet.That's why I'm surprised to see some people here say they didn't get good reception with this phone.I think it's very well designed and rugged....I know it's going to last me years.I get good reception no matter where I go (I'm in the Atlanta area and take trips to D.C. and NY).Maybe there's a lot of bad units that get shipped with manufacturers.I never liked my Samsung, and replaced it with the same model when I thought it could be the model.The replacement would get lousy reception as well.I have a couple friends who use that model Samsung, but they don't seem to have the same problems.Sanyo seems to work for me better, and I notice it emmits less radiation then Samsung models.

Sanyo 8100 is better than Sanyo 7300; I miss the 8100 menus
Reception - 2 bars low
The reception of the Sanyo 7300 is about half of the Sanyo 8100.The number of bars on the 7300 is always about two less than the 8100.When in a call, it's hard to understand the other party because they are always dropping out.

Speakerphone - can't interrupt speaker
When using the speaker phone, you can not talk (interrupt) until the other stops talking.

Returning Missed Calls is much more complicated
If you like how the 8100 menu works, you'll miss the ability to quickly call back missed calls.Here are the key strokes for both to call back from the point where you first see the Missed Call:
8100 = View, View, OK, OK
7200 = View, Exit, Menu, OK (Call History), 3 (Missed Calls), Options, OK (Call)
That's 3 extra keystrokes and 3 extra moves.Note: "View" and "Exit" is the same button."Menu" and "OK" is the same button."Options" is the button above the "Back" button."Extra Moves" are defined as having to use a different key.

Calling Alternate Numbers is much more complicated using Outgoing History
8100 = Menu, OK (Call History), OK (Outgoing calls), OK (for last outgoing), Down (Alternate), pick alternate phone number
7300 = Menu, OK (Call History), OK (Outgoing calls), Options, Down, Down, Down, OK (Go to phone book), pick alternate phone number
That's 3 extra key strokes and 2 extra moves.The 8100 uses the same key for the first 4 key strokes.That's value.Whoever made this so complicated should have their head examined.I used the alternate feature of the 8100 all the time.After the primary phone number fails using voice dial, 70% of the time I want to try the alternate.The 7300 is such a pain.

Summary - Software investment saved
The only reason I will keep the 7300 is that my employer doesn't want pic phone on their premise.Also, the software I bought for the 8100 (FutureDial) works on the 7300 once I downloaded the update.

Writing my frustrations - since I can't call anyone
I bought the RL 7300 in June and returned it for a new one a month later when I wasn't able to make or receive calls and my text messages were coming in hours after being sent (with the original times to prove their tardiness) and weren't being sent out at all. I figured it MUST have been the phone.

The brand new replacement is even worse. One reviewer mentioned not being able to make or receive calls in Pittsburgh. Since I have purchased this phone I have traveled to Detroit, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Minneapolis and Chicago. In not one of those major cities was able to use my phone like normal people. My boyfriend, who was with me through all of those cities, was able to call any and everyone on earth. He also has Sprint, but luckily, a different model Sanyo phone.

The phone looks nice and is easy to navigate, but everything else about it makes me want to scream. I have been trying to hold out on buying a new phone, mainly because that one was expensive enough and I keep praying that ONE DAY it will work. Sprint admitted that the performance is not as good as many of the other Sanyo phones and after numerous "fixes", I still can't dial out when I want to. Only when the phone allows me to. Unfortunately for me, tonight is not one of my few lucky nights.
... Read more

Product Description

Treo 600 is a small, simple to use smartphone with a built-in QWERTY keyboard. It seamlessly combines a full-featured mobile phone and Palm OS organizer with wireless communication applications like email, messaging and web browsing, and even a digital camera-to simplify both your business and personal life. The keyboard, five-way navigation button and other cool design features make it possible for you to get more done in fewer steps, with just one hand, and without having to swap back and forth between applications. And it's still lightweight, stylish and small enough to fit in your pocket. CDMA Model: 800/1900 MHz nationwide coverage by Sprint ... Read more

Features

• Treo 600 combines a full-featured mobile phone and Palm OS organizer with wireless applications like email, text messaging, web browsing and even a digital camera
• QWERTY keyboard makes entering text and accessing information fast and familiar-perfect for messaging and a must have for email
• Built-in color web browser, Blazer, gives you fast access to nearly all the sites on the web-not just the ones optimized for mobile devices
• Take a picture or share images with others via email-you can even attach a photo to a phone number so you can see exactly who's calling with Picture Caller ID
• Because Treo 600 runs the popular Palm OS, there are thousands of applications you can download and use-like MP3 players, etc.

Reviews (153)

Phone very unreliable
Phone has excellent features but has bad reception.Just after a month (right after the store exchange policy expired) the charger is not working.Some loose connection may be. I read somewhere else that others are having similar issues. It is frustating to have your cellphone breakdown because of the charger issue.How can I recommend this to anyone with this kind of issues ?

Unreliable PDA phone
I am now on my THIRD Treo 600.The first two were replaced because the phone would turn itself off and back on again, go out of service when calls were being made or received, and losing my programmed data.My third treo is only a week old and is dropping calls constantly.I have been happy with the phone when it works, but, reliability is a serious problem.Verizon Wireless has been no help either other than in replacing the phone under warranty which takes no less than 2 hours of my time and two days to ship.Battery life is less than expected and I'm usually recharging the phone by late afternoon.Another annoying feature is the low battery warning that must be cleared from the screen if you're trying to dial in codes to check voice mail or other dtmf services.It will interrupt you every 10 seconds.Also, the person on the other end can hear your low battery tones, voice mail notifications, etc.Annoying.

Better than I thought it would be
I got my Treo 600 (on Sprint) from my work. I always preferred the flip phones to these lareg PDA phones so my first thought was, "Well I can't complain... it's free". However the more I used the phone the more and more I found it to be a really good little device.

First off it might be large, but it's actually a good deal thinner than most phones I've used. Thinking the large size would be a problem in my pocket I first tried the phone on one of those horizontal belt clips. Kept the phone out of my pocket, but the clip itself was rather bulky so I took a chance at just pocketing the phone. The slim design fit better in my pocket than any of the cell phones I've used before, which actually surprised me. It fits in my hand rather well too.

The keypad took a little getting used to... like maybe a day or two. Once you get a feel for the little keys everything actually makes sense in the design. Also the large screen it touch sensitive to so technically you don't even need to use the keypad unless you are writing in contacts or something. The navigational buttons along with the hot buttons make it easy to get to contacts on the phone, emails, the camera functions, and more.

As a phone it's neither better nor worse for me than any of the better cell phones I previously used. I live in Houston and only a few occasions have I not gotten a signal. I suppose the speaker could be a bit more powerful, but I can see some tradeoffs here for the sake of the design. The speakerphone function has become really usefull in the car or when I need my hands free. Battery life seems pretty good. I only need to charge the phone maybe once a week with regular use.

I don't have too much use for the PDA functions aside from getting work email. I have found that a game of solitaire does kill the time when having to wait around for stuff like getting an oil change and what have you. I have found some uses for basic things like the calculator and calender, but aside from that most of the extra function stay unused.

I have made good use of the vga camera though. I never expected high quality megapixel images so the image quality actually was better than I thought it would be. I wouldn't make photo prints out of the pictures I take from this thing, but for email and such it's fine. The camera has been extra useful during those moments you wish you had a camera for since I always carry my phone around. The amount of memory on the phone is enough to store over 400 snapshots. That's pretty cool.

You can surf the web on this thing, however I wouldn't recommend it. The connectivity is rather slow and takes me back to the old 14Kbps modem days. Still it's better than nothing if you need to get a quick map/directions or movie times. The email on the other hand is fast. The phone connects to the company Exchange server so maybe that has something to do with it.

The phone is pretty sturdy. More than once the phone fell five feet onto the concrete and didn't so much as flinch on the inside. The chrome looking parts on the outside however are prone to scratching. Looks like even having keys in the same pocket as an unprotected Treo can leave minor scratches over a period of time.

I don't know what else to say. When I first got the phone I didn't think I would like it. An hour later I find that I really like it. Lots of functionality in a slim package.

Very Poor Signal Strength
The Treo 650 I bought is ALWAYS two to three bars below other phones (at the same location) in signal strength. Sprint has been totally unhelpful in this regard saying they can find nothing wrong with the unit.

I would reccommend against the Treo 650 unless one is sure, very sure, they will never be in any but the strongest signal areas.

Sprint support has been a joke, except that I am not laughing.

The most perfect smart device I have ever used!!!
The New-Age Treo's are the best smart devices ever made! I have used the T-Mobile Sidekick, the AT&T Motorola MPX, a Nextel Blackberry, a Samsung i600, and even an older style Treo in the form of the Treo 300. And out of every smart device I have ever used, the Treo 600 and 650 are 1000 times better then any of them!

1# The Treo's have large color screens with full keyboards, but are still small enough to fit in your pocket.
2# The battery life is insanely long! Both of the new Treo's claim four to five hours talk time, I have found even longer. I often lay in my bed at night surfing the web for hours and hours, and by the time I am ready to go to sleep, my Treo 600 and 650 still have enough battery life to go a few more rounds.
3# Because the Treo's are so popular the prices for accessories, software, add-on's, ect are Much cheaper then those for the other types of smart devices on the market. There is even talk by Palmone to start using Linux as the Palmsource software core, so there will be even more software available. And because Linux is open source, the phones will eventually be cheaper then those running the Microsoft Pocket PC. With the added bonus of the dependability of Linux!
4# Because the Treo's are of the Candy-Bar style design, they are much easier to talk on. Because there is no flip, or antenna to fumble with.
5# There is a software lancher called "ZLauncher" which has many features for your Treo's software interface. One of which allows you to see the exact level of signal strength. By using this tool you can so how much better the Treo's antenna and related components work, compared to any other phone on the market. I get a great signal with Sprint, but with Sprint and my Treo, my service is even better! I get signals with my Treo in places where my Sanyo and LG did not. In fact, I get better signal strength with my Treo, then my friends get with their phones!
6# Palmone has a patent on a new design of smart device that they are working to bring to the market. A design nothing like the designs currently available. A PDA phone that will be thinner and still able to have a large full color screen and keyboard. SO the next generation of Treo's will be even better!

The only downfall to the Palmone Treo's today, is price. That is because they are still new to the PDA phone market. Once they start making more and more phones, the prices will come down. And once they restructure their PDA manufacturing and company purpose in general, the prices will come down. I don't normally write reviews on phones, because I used to be a Die-Hard Motorola phone fan, and I guess still am. But if Palmone keeps making phones this perfect, then I will only buy their phones for the rest of my life! I can not say enough good things about these phones! Try one and see what I am talking about. Use it with Sprint PCS's $10 unlimited Visions access!

Russell ... Read more

Features

• This tri-mode, folder-style CDMA phone sports a large color screen and other top features
• Compatible with Sprint PCS ergonomic game pad
• Large LCD color screen features 65,000 colors (128x160 pixels)
• Equipped with automatic no-training voice dialing
• Comes with a voice memo that can record messages up to 10 minutes long

Reviews (42)

2 Cute!!
I have had this phone for about 6 weeks now and I think it's great! The only thing I don't like is that you have to actually flip the phone open to see who's calling. It's small enough to fit in your pocket and you don't even know it's there! This is a nice lil' phone if you are looking for the basics.

Good Phone, Worst Company Around
Let me first state that I do not work for any mobile provider and have used them all. Sprint is about the worst company on the face of the planet. Do not under any circumstances support this company in any way. I've reported them to the BBB for their shady practices.
They constantly "lose" payments and when they decide to penalize you its in the middle of the month. They just turn your service off! No warnings, no emails, SMS to your phone or calls. You just try to make a call and it puts you through to 611 collections. I originally purchased a phone from sprint for their DATA service and wanted a voice account as well. The sales person didn't think twice of taking my money and then telling me that they couldn't suport that on my account. Whats worse is they tried to penalize me for early termination!! (They even have a published policy about letting you try their service for 30 days.) When I tried toreturn the devices they refused to take them back! (After 2 days)
I had to spend a week calling them and forcing my way up the chain to talk to anyone that knew anything. It took reporting them to the BBB and writing letters to the PUC to get them to not charge me the $200 early term fee.
Sprint is by FAR the worst company out there and the PUC/FCC should shut them down for illegal business practices! Please learn from my mistakes! Go to another provider.

I gave it a star because there was nothing lower
Sprint is so very evil. Please don't support them. They have horrible customer service, their phones are terrible. The reception stinks, they break easily and sprint will overcharge you. They are the worst company in the whole entire world. They are an evil empire. If I were a giant man with giant nuts, I'd teabag their whole evil empire.

IM TOO HAPPY
I HAD VIRGIN MOBILE FOR AWHILE BUT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME. 25 CENTS A MINUTE FOR THE FIRST 10 MINUTES AND .10 AFTER THAT WITH NO FREE NIGHTS OR WEEKENDS. NO NO I COULD NOT DO THAT ANYMORE. I AM WITH SPRINT. I HAVE 2 MONTHS FREE INTERNET, FREE RINGTONE DOWNLOADS, REAL VOICE RINGTONES (WHICH I LOVE, 1000 ANYTIME MINUTES, UNLIMITED NIGHT (STARTS AT 7 PM) AND WEEKEND MINUTES, GREAT COVERAGE. NO THE PHONE DOES NOT HAVE SOMETHING THAT DISPLAYS WHEN IT CLOSES BUT I KNEW WHAT I WAS GETTING SO IM HAPPY SINCE I HAVE CHOSEN DIFFERENT RINGTONES FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE I KNOW WHO IS CALLING. GOOD SERVICE SO FAR I LOVE THE PLAN 55.00/MO. NOT BAD AT ALL SO IF U ARE LIKE ME AND U DONT NEED A CAMERA PHONE BUT LOVE THE REAL VOICE RINGTONES, GAMES, AND WALLPAPER THEN YOU SHOULD GET THE PHONE..BUT AFTER U GET THE PHONE TAKE CARE OF IT

Good phone, bad service.
I've had this phone for about four months now and I have mixed thoughts about it. Often times when I'm talking, it'll automatically lose signal which is pretty annoying. Also, my phone seems to be roaming in places where other cell-phones that use the Sprint service don't. I actually compared it with other Sprint phones that my friends have and those ones get service easily but it takes a while for mine to find service, and when it does, it's usually roaming. My second biggest problem is that the phone gets hot extremely quickly. Usually after 5 minutes of talking, you can feel it getting warm and that really bothersome and also unsafe. As many others before me have mentioned, the lack of caller-ID on the exterior of the cell-phone is a negative especially when you are at school or at work and someone calls you, it would have been a lot easier to see who it was that called. The number pad is awesome, easy to text message but what good is that when half the time, the message wouldn't get send because there is no service? The battery life is also pretty crappy, I have to charge it every night and I don't talk on it that much so I expected it to last longer than it does right now. The games are all demos but I don't really care, it's not an important feature to me. I've dropped this phone several times (by accident, mind you) and it's still as good as new. I like the simplicity of it, the size is also very nice. I can't even feel it in my pocket when I carry it around. The color screen is very good. The alarm clock is very useful, and the voice dialing feature is awesome and I use it all the time. This Samsung phone itself is pretty nice, but the Sprint service that comes along with it is not. I feel it is NOT worth the price that it is at right now. I got it for free because of some deal but I would never pay $200 dollars for it. Overall, I would give it 3 ½ stars. ... Read more

Features

• Large color screen supports 65,000 colors (120x144 pixels)
• Integrated digital camera with 352 x 288 pixel resolution
• Phone supports voice-activated dialing and polyphonic ringtones
• Supports wireless Internet and text messaging
• Includes standard and extended batteries, AC charger, user documentation

Reviews (56)

Poor quality !!
I have had the Sanyo 8100 phone from Sprint for about 14 months. After my phone got to be about a year old, it's been slowly breaking despite much care on my part.I have not dropped the phone or done anything else to warrant all the damage.The hinge to flip open the phone has completely broken -first just one side broke and pretty soon the entire thing broke.Then just yesterday the display completely stopped working as well.According to Sprint, I am not eligible for a new phone for another 3-4 months so now I am going to be forced to spend about $200 just to get a new phone that will probably just break after a year. I'm completely dissatisfied.This is the first phone I've had that has been so cheaply made.

Good Phone W/Weak Battery
This is my second 8100 (1st one died as I left it in the washer) but to this date, this is the best Sprint PCS phone that I have used.This was recommended to me by the salesman at the Sprint store over a year ago.Here is the quick list:
Pros:
1)Signal:Rarely do I ever experience any drop calls with this phone compared to my last 2 Samsungs.
2)Display:Very clear and vibrant.
3)Quality:As soon as you pick up the phone you feel the quality that it is made.It does not have the Cheap feel on some of the Nokia and Samsung phones.My first one was made in Japan and this one is from Malaysia.Sanyo just makes quality phones.

Dislikes
1)Battery Life:The standard battery is weak.It rarely lasted more than 2 days when it was brand new and now its about 1 day for me.And I have 2 batteries.I purchased an extended battery on Ebay for about $10 and it works great.
2) Poor camera under low light:But what do you expect with a cell phone right?

Overall, its a nice phone I only wish Sprint would carry more Sanyos and Motorolas and stop carrying the terrible Nokias and Samsungs.

I love this Phone, Just one small issue...
Almost all that needs to be said has already. Let me just say that I love this phone. Of all the cells I've owned, this Sanyo has the best reception, and quality of any of them. Of those were 2 Nokia, and one Keyocera.The only issue I have with it, is in low light situations, (read...night-time...) the number keypad is very low lit, and extremely hard to see. This certianly doesn't take away from the greatness of the phone, just a small irritation during 8 hours of the 24 in a day.

This phone SUCKS!!!!!!!!
I live 20 minutes outside of San Francisco, my boyfriend and several other of my friends have not been able to get a hold of me by my cell phone. I have had so many dropped calls and sprint over charges for going over your minutes. I recommend you do not buy this phone or sign-up with Sprint.

Finally a Phone I haven't had a problem with!
I went through about 5 phones within a 4 month period always some kind of problem. Until I upgraded to the Sanyo 8100 which Im shocked to have now had it for longer than a year. I could have sworn it would just had lasted me about 6 months. So I rate this Sprint phone with 5 stars and I plan on staying with it till it dies or just stay in the Sanyo family. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with Sprint cell phone service, the Nokia PM-6225 features an integrated VGA (640 x 480) camera, MMS, half-duplex speakerphone, FM radio, Java-compatibility, voice dialing, and more, all displayed on a high quality backlit "full graphics" 128 x 128 pixel, 4,096 color screen.

For calling, you'll enjoy a dedicated voice mail button and indicator, plus call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, any-key answer, speed dial, mute control, no-answer transfer, one-touch 911, differential ring, and a phone book capacity of 500 entries. Nokia also supports TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf) compatibility with phone adapter (adaptor not included).

Get online, and in addition to access to stock quotes, weather, movie times, and more, you'll also enjoy SMS two-way mobile text messaging, downloadable ring tones, and four games included with the phone: Water Rapids, Bounce, TriplePop, and Beach Rally. Since the PM-6225 is also Java-compatible, you can download more Java-based games and applications from the Web to enhance your phone. A PIM is included along with a calculator to help you manage time and finances, and data can be transferred and synched with your PC using the built in infrared feature. There's also voice memo if you just need to take a quick note.

The digital still camera has VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels) and sports a 10-second self-timer for your convenience. The PM-6225 weighs 3.46 oz. and measures 4.21 x 1.81 x 0.83 inches. Its batteries are rated at 156 minutes talk time and up to 168 hours standby

What's in the Box
Nokia PM-6225 phone, lithium ion (LiIon) battery, travel charger, start here guide (with activation information, the Sprint terms and conditions of service and warranty information) ... Read more

Features

• Feature-packed phone with VGA camera, speakerphone, internal antenna and FM radio
• VGA camera takes still images @ 640x480 resolution and featues a auto-focus lens
• 128x128 pixel, 4,000 color display for crystal clear images
• Integrated speakerphone and voice dialing make communication a breeze.
• Includes phone, rapid travel charger and user documentation

Reviews (15)

Okay little phone for the price
I like my little Nokia PM. When I went to buy it I just wanted the cheapest phone that was a little better than my LG I was using. I had my land phone cut off because people only call on my cell phone. I was going to get the plain Nokia but this one was on sale for just 10.00 more. My college age kid has the Sanyo 8200 and I won't lie her camera is fantastic because it zooms and has a flash but for an extra 10.00 I always have a camera handy and most of my pics have come out pretty decent. They always look better once they are on my PC. I haven't used the radio on the phone. I didn't get it for that purpose but I have the headset. Sprint's been decent to me and I got this in the Sprint store so for the price it is a good deal. Cell phones are just so expensive now due to all of the gadgets. This is a good basic phone. Don't expect expensive phone reception or expensive phone camera options when you are paying the bare minimum for a cell phone. I give it an A.It serves my purpose. Has my phone book in it and I don't lose calls like I did on my old LG phone.

Cute But Useless
I have had 2 of these phones within in a 2 month period and I just went to the sprint store so that they can order me another.The phone is cute but it doesn't hold a charge and even with good frequency it manages to still cut my calls.
The speakerphone option SUCKS! you can't hear anything and it always sounds like theres a fuzzy echo in the back ground and it's also like that when I'm using the handset.They should have left it without a camera it would at least been 1 less thing for people who own this phone to complain about. Other phones have the option of zooming in, the kind of flash that the phone has and the sounds it makes when you take the picture, Well no none of that and on top of that the pictures are terrible in good lighting or not in good lighting, The color always looks weird.Also you can't assign ringers to everyone that is in your phone book it's one ringtone for everything and everyone.I love the phone cause it's cute but I can't stand the phone because it doesn't do none of the things that all my other phones use to do. It has a radio but there's a special kind of headset that you use and that's all good and well but it's pointless when you can't enjoy what you bought it for in the first place.Also the web option is extremely slow and when you log off the internet you have to shut your phone off and turn it back on so that you can make a phone call cause other wise you won't be able to until like a 5 minute or so wait, Why? I don't know. DON'T BUY THIS PHONE YOU WILL BE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, LOOKS ARE DECEIVING!!!!!!

Nokia has made better ones in the past
I having been using Nokia brand phones for close to 10 years now.I have tried Ericssons, Panasonics, Samsungs, etc... and I still prefer Nokias to all of them.For starters, the menu design is great for the technically inept or for older folks who just want the basics. My favorite Nokia models were the 6160, 6162, and 5160. Those models ran off of a TDMA platform with AT&T as the service provider and this one is CDMA.This particular model is pretty basic. I hate flip phones so this was one of a few options available to me.The display is pretty good - clear graphics and color.I'm not a big fan of the keypad layout - it dips in the middle and I prefer it flat.I do like the fact that it is backlighted though.Talktime and standby time are plentiful enough for the standard user.Hands free options for this model stink.I haven't found one that I like yet.In lieu of a decent headset I've been using the speakerphone option which works pretty good.I don't need the camera phone and could do without it but if you are into stuff like that then you should invest in a case for the phone otherwise in less than a year your viewfinder will get scratched up due to its terrible location. Additionally, I prefer the keylock function on older models. Used to be that you could just hold down the endkey and it would lock.This model requires you to press the menu * option.If you are looking for very basic gear on the inexpesive side this is the phone way to go.

one of the best phone in the market
camera. speaker phone. stereo FM radio. two places you can plug in headsets. can store 400 phone numbers. email, internet. a lot more...

Don't even listening to other viewers' words.Go do your own research.

it gets great signals.I had a samsung, i will not waste my money on that brand.Made in Korea, do they make good stuff?Go figure.Nokia company is from enrope. If you go to asia and europe, the majority of the cell phones you will see on the street is Nokia.Only stupid "Bush controled" the country use damn samsung and LG etc.

Take a look at those who gave bad reviews,they are from the midwest, southern states.Freaking farmers and corn eater.Just like those who voted for Bush.

wake up "brainwashed bush controled" people. Get out side the box.

Hissssss & Camera is just name sake!
Pros:

Decent battery life
You can set profiles and each profile having a diffrent setting forringer,screensaver etc
You can group your contacts as VIP,Family etc and have the phone ring only when it is a call from family ..

Cons:

There is always a constant hiss on the speaker.( i am comparing this to my sanyo)
Squeaky noise- looks like something is going to fall off.. whenever you press a button you hear the sqeak!
Camera is absolutely useless!.. Minimal resolution
Speakerphone is not loud.I would want to use a speakerphone when i drive, This is not loud enough for the road noise. I can hardlyhear anyone ( I live in NJ .. so you know that i would drive slow!) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With an integrated camera, voice dialing, and dual color displays, the Samsung VGA1000 makes a great mobile companion. Other features, like support for Sprint's wireless Web services, as well as built-in games and ringtones, round out a strong package that is sure to please.

Design
The VGA1000's handsome clamshell form factor houses an internal 128 x 160, 65,000-color display. There's also a supplementary color display on the front panel of the device that displays call information, battery life, time of day, signal strength and more. An extendable antenna is located on the top right side of the phone, and the camera and flash unit are placed on the rear of the device. Meanwhile, most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. A 2.5mm headset jack is also provided.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book allows you to assign up to 300 entries, each storing six numbers, with a total capacity for 300 numbers and 300 email and Web addresses. You can customize your caller ID by linking a photo to a specific phone number in your contact list. In addition to a vibrate mode, the phone allows you to choose from a number of polyphonic ringtones that make your received calls all the more exciting. The VGA1000's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911 (where available). Perhaps most importantly for users in rural areas, the VGA1000 is a tri-mode phone, meaning it can operate on Sprint's digital PCS network, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas.

Another key calling feature of the VGA1000 is its enhanced voice recognition capabilities. The system allows you to speak numbers digit by digit or speak the name of anyone in your phonebook. Voice features are speaker-independent, so there's no need to train the phone to respond to any one person's voice.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
If you need basic messaging capabilities, the VGA1000 has you covered as support is built-in for sending and receiving SMS text messages (Sprint PCS text messaging charges apply). T9 text entry, a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built-into the unit-- a plus for text messaging users.

The phone also supports PCS Vision email and instant messaging capabilities. Sprint PCS Vision transforms the wireless experience from something that's simply functional into something visual, entertaining and highly personalized. MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and AOL Instant Messenger are all supported by Sprint's PCS Vision service. PCS Vision mobile Web services let you check out sports scores, get your seven-day forecast, check your flight status, and stay up to date with the latest news. Experience full-color graphic versions of popular Web sites.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the VGA1000 including a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock and a to-do list. A voice recorder lets you record memos for later retrieval.

Imaging and Entertainment
With its robust set of camera functions, the VGA1000 shines in the imaging department. The VGA-quality (640x480) digital camera lets you take, view, store and send pictures wirelessly in full color. You can also control brightness levels, white balance and color tone to get the image and effects you want. Other features include a self-timer for group shots, built-in fun frames to decorate your images, a multi-shot function for action sequences, and a self-portrait mode for special moments. Capture pictures in high, medium or low resolution and digitally zoom in up to 4 times. As mentioned, there's also a flash for low-light situations.

The VGA1000 lets you choose from a variety of pre-set images to customize your main and external displays and make them unique to you. With PCS Vision service, you can download games like Tetris and Pac-Man, as well as additional ringers, screensavers and backgrounds. You can even turn your phone into a gaming device with an optional, attachable game pad that makes it fun and easy to navigate when playing complex, fast-paced games on your phone.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung VGA1000 weighs 4.48 ounces and measures 3.5 x 1.9 x 1 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 2.9 hours of digital talk time, and up to 168 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the AMPS 800/CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
VGA1000 handset, AC battery charger, lithium-ion battery, user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• This tri-mode CDMA phone comes with a large color display that supports 65,000 colors
• Comes with integrated camera with flash
• Equipped with voice activated dailing
• Supports wireless Internet (WAP 2.0) and text messaging
• Phone book can carry up to 250 contacts

Reviews (89)

OK phone.Probably better off with something else
+ Reception is fine - bar meter acts almost exactly the same as my Hitachi P300 when tested in various areas.I don't think that there is as much noticable difference in reception between today's phones as some people would make you think.(Quality between providers is a whole other story.)

+ Talk quality - my earpiece is too loud.There are about 6 volume levels.I always keep mine on 1 and it is still commonly too loud.I am thinking of sticking something on the earpiece to dampen the volume.To comfortably have a conversation, you want to be able to put the earpiece right up to your ear without getting blasted.Also, you don't want everyone in the room to hear your conversation.

I have intermittent faint beeps in my earpiece while using the phone (also reported by many other users of this phone).

+ Picture quality - Usually not very good; finicky about lighting conditions and requires subject of photo to be perfectly still.Also, if you want to email photos or put them on your PC, you must pay $5/mo for Sprint's picture service -- you can not just pay per Kilobyte.Or, I read that you can get a third party software and connection cable (not so fun).But, this is true of all Sprint camera phones.

+ Battery life - fine; up to par.

+ Bugs - when you are in the menu or on the web, the phone randomly exits and goes back to the initial wallpaper/screensaver screen.This problem is also widely reported by other users.(Yes, I have the current software: WL15).Not much of a problem if you use the phone only for talking, but if you like to play with the Vision and whatnot, this would be annoying.

+ The phone has a nice quality feel.It is heavy and feels substantial - not plasticy or like a toy.The screen is beautiful (far more brilliant than my Hitachi P300 screen).The phone also looks nice and classy.However, it is bigger than many clamshells - it may be too big for some people.

+ I had to do it all over again, I would not get this phone. It is not that bad, but you can do better.I value talk quality and physical design most in a phone (not cameras, internet, bells, whistles etc).While not entirely fatal, the talk quality issues that this phone has (i.e. earpiece too loud and faint beeps) brings its score way down in my book.

At this point, this phone is old.There are alot more Sprint phones to choose from that are probably a smarter choice.

I might look into the Motorola v60v or LG vi125 down the road (A featureless clamshell with good talk quality).Word on the street is that the newer LGs for Sprint are way better than the older ones which had tons of problems.

Not the best phone
Had this phone for about 15 months; just long enough for the warranty to expire.Both my wife and I own this phone and we have the same problems with it.The phone has developed a habit of shutting off at just about anytime. I replaced the battery, but still have the problem on both phones.Lots of dropped calls, basically just not happy at all with it.Should have went with what my friend got, he is very happy with his sanyo phone, it gets better reception and no dropped calls.Dont buy a samsung.

great great phone
have had the cell for about 1.5 years now and its great. though not as small as my older one, none the less the more important issue is that it works flawlessly. havent had any issue's with the phone. the cam on the phone as well is great, phone book is nice and big, keeps 20 of that last calls made saved better then my last one which only held 10 in place. all in all, the only bad thing is sprint service but thats not the phones problem.


edit - one issue no sms, text messaging can get expensive but if you dont do text messagin then dont worry about it.

It's alright.
Iv'e had this phone since its come out about 1.5 years. I replaced it once cause it just stopped charging, not cause of the battery was old, it just wouldnt wouldnt charge, now about 8 months of getting my replacement phone it's doing the same thing, I have to sit there and wiggle the charger just to get it charged, I want to go replace it again, but I have all my settings and downloads on it and I don't want to have to start over. It also doesn't have sms, you have to sign onto the web to text, which can be slow sometimes, and other times it totally doesn't even work. Other times my phone will just turn off by itself. The camera is alright, it's fun to have, but picture quality is bad, and the flash is useless cause it just washes the picture out completly. I like the size of it, not too big.

WHY??
I THINK THAT THIS IS ONE OF SPRINT'S TOP OF THE LINE PHONES EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT READY LINK!! I WAS LOOKING FOR ONE OF THESE AND WHEN I WENT TO SPRINT THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE DISCONTINUED!!I AM LOOKING FOR A PHONE LIKE THIS.IF ANYONE HAVE ONE AND WOULD LIKE TO SALE IT, PLEASE CONTACT ME.MY E-MAIL IS JOE14872002@HOTMAIL.COM OR JOE18872005@HOTMAIL.COM

THANKS ... Read more

Features

• Highly customizable phone allows user to customize ring tones, graphics, and covers
• Large grayscale screen supports 96x65 pixels and 4 shades of gray
• Games include Space Impact, Bumper, Snake II, and Snowboard -- plus, user can download more via Java
• Phonebook stores up to 500 entries with multiple contact numbers
• Phone also includes Alarm clock, Calendar, Voice recorder (1 minute), Calculator, and Stopwatch

Amazon.com

In terms of performance and functionality, the Sanyo 4500 is arguably the best phone we have encountered. The sleek, well-designed 4500 has plenty of features, including voice-activated dialing and a voice memo recorder, that aren't available in most premium phone models.

Out of the box, we were impressed with its sleek, robust construction, alluring silver finish, and intuitive controls. The 4500 also boasts dual-band/dual-mode electronics, unsurpassed talk and standby times, and sophisticated functionality including Web access, e-mail and two-way SMS capabilities.

At 5.3 (H) by 1.7 (W) by 1.1 (D) inches and weighing just 5 ounces, the 4500 is sturdy and a bit trimmer than its competitors. We could easily operate the side-mounted volume controls while on a call, and we effortlessly placed calls and navigated the Web with one hand. The headphone jack, located just above the volume controls, allowed us to hook up a hands-free kit and stash the 4500 in our pocket while we conducted conversations. We aren't fans of retractable antennas--as they are prone to damage--but we used the 4500 for several weeks without any complaints or breakage. And while the 4500 doesn't have an infrared modem, you can sync it with your computer using a standard data cable connection kit.

The six-line screen (five text lines, one icon line) and blue backlit display allow for seamless navigation through the 4500's bountiful menu selections. Using the four-way navigational button, you can peg through the following menu selections: Call History, Messages, Phonebook, Roaming (where you can activate a safeguard against placing or receiving accidental roaming calls), Wireless Web, Calendar, Environment (so you can match the phone's alerts to your surroundings), Sounds, Display (enter your own personal greeting or adjust screen settings), Security, Setup, Special (access to the calculator and two weird games--Crab Catch and Slot Machine), Voice Service, and Keyguard. One caveat: The games, especially Slot Machine, gulp battery life. Fortunately, a travel charger, which fully rejuiced our sample model in about 45 minutes, is included.

The 4500's design is rounded out by a well-spaced keypad, OK and CLR buttons for menu prompts, Talk and End buttons to place and end calls, a lavender Speaker button (for voice-activated calls), and a speaker located on the back of the phone.

Hands down, the voice-activated features are the heart of this phone. It was a cinch to set up voice tags and establish a list of 30 friends and associates we could call with voice-activated dialing. While our sample 4500 handled single names better than full names, we never had trouble getting the phone to recognize first names. Once we set up voice tags, all we needed to do was press the Speaker button, say the name of the person we wanted to call, and the 4500 handled the rest.

The voice memo recorder was just as useful. Instead of scrambling for Post-it notes or our PDA, we saved our to-do lists, important numbers, and reminders in the 4500's memory. An added bonus: when playing messages back, you have the option of listening to them over the earpiece or main speaker. You can even attach a voice ringer to any number in voice dial memory. This was a little tricky to figure out, but we never had to crack the owner's manual for assistance.

And the minibrowser is just as functional and organized. The 4500 has quick access to all your favorite sites as well as news, weather, stock, and entertainment updates. Again, the phone's superb navigational controls made surfing the wireless Internet a joy, and we can't say that about all Web-enabled phones. One question that remains unanswered, though: Why do you have to go so far into the options to enter your own URL?

Like most phones of its kind, the 4500 supports carrier-dependent features such as caller ID, call forwarding, three-way calling, and call forwarding. And, with its 300-name phone book and 200 SMS capacity, the 4500 further cemented its status as an ideal business communication tool.

The phonebook also has labels for your different contacts. We tagged most of our phone book entries, whether they were our colleagues, friends' mobile or pager numbers, fax numbers, or roommates. Organizing short text messages was just as easy: We assigned a folder for each contact and stowed messages in their respective folders.

Other baseline features include a T9 predictive keypad; eight speed-dial locations; 10-number incoming, outgoing, and missed call logs; built-in vibrating alert; and 10 different ringer selections, including voice alert, which announces the name of the person calling.

With its event calendar, to-do list, calculator, and series of different alarms, the 4500 doubles as a PDA. And the phone has plenty of other noteworthy features to boot.

If the 4500 is unable to find a carrier signal after 15 minutes of searching, a power-save feature is automatically activated. Press any key, and the phone starts to look for a signal again. For your own sanity, whenever the phone is in power-save mode a message is displayed on the screen. Also, if you dig in the phone book, you'll find direct lines to 411, roadside assistance, and account info. You also find a pause feature that enables you to successfully preprogram voice mail or credit card call numbers.

The 4500 also offers advanced security features. You can lock both the phone itself (to prevent outgoing calls, except to emergency numbers) and the keypad (to prevent accidental calls if the phone is in your backpack), set different call restrictions, erase your call logs, or store numbers in a secret location. Furthermore, if your phone is lost or stolen, a special feature lets you erase personal information and lock the phone by sending a SMS message from your PC, PDA, or other device.

The lithium-ion battery is rated for up to four hours of talk time and 288 hours of digital standby time. Our sample 4500 (outfitted with a Sprint PCS account) sipped battery power; it held a call for four hours and 15 minutes and it lasted over 12 days in standby mode. You read that correctly: our 4500 was left on for almost two weeks before the battery gave out.

Whether you're a businessperson who needs a thorough mobile communications device or someone merely looking for a cool new phone for everyday use, the 4500 is ideal for people who aren't impressed by the norm. --Thom Arno

Pros:

• Excellent functionality and style
• Voice-activated dialing
• Voice memo recorder
• Web enabled
• PIM functions
• Organized, intuitive menus
• Unparalleled battery performance

• Retractable antennas break easily
• Supports only two languages, English and Spanish

How We Tested Battery Talk/Standby Time

When reading our reviews, you should view the test results of mobile-phone battery talk time and standby time as relative in formation only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming a nd outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery charging methods and history, will affect performance. When han dset manufacturers and mobile phone carriers list talk-time and standby-time ratings, they usually include disclaimers aboutvariable performance and often refer to the times they publish as maximum times. Some quote expected battery life ranges, a nd in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers o f dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, because analog mode co nsumes much more power than digital mode.

Our Tests: We tested digital mode talk and standby times with each phone. Prior to each test, we fully charged the ph one's battery according to the manufacturer's directions. To test digital phone talk time, we turned the phone on, establish ed a digital carrier signal, dialed a number in our test lab, and, when the call rang through, took the receiving phone's ha ndset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple o f cases, the phones lost the signal and dropped the calls. If we were right there and could redial, we did so immediately an d continued running the test. Otherwise, we halted the test, recharged the battery, and started the t