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
Cons: - 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 about variable 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 test over. Assuming cons istent carrier signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' t alk-time performance significantly exceeded the manufacturers' ratings.
To test digital phone standby time, we turned the phone on, established a carrier signal, and left the phone in standby mode . We checked the phone every few hours (for what was often days on end) until the phone finally cut out. Because no outgoing or incoming calls occurred during testing and because the phone was not moved, this method should represent best-case stand by time, again assuming consistent carrier signal strength.
Overview Compatible with Sprint cell phone service, the Sanyo VM4500 features an Internet browser, integrated digital and video cameras, PCS Ready Link- and Vision-capability (a primary benefit of the phone), and more, all displayed on a large, 2.1-inch, high-resolution screen that supports 65,000 colors. The VM4500's clamshell design also provides a 1-inch external color screen for display of picture caller ID and the usual date, time, and status icons, all available to users before they even open the phone.
Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the VM4500 features a 4-way scroll key for easy menu navigation and calling on its tri-band (world wide) network. Nifty, multi-color LEDs light up with each incoming call, and also double as the flash and video light for the camera and camcorder respectively. Primary calling features include voice-activated dialing, which allows users to speak a pre-saved name, number, or function and the phone will call it up automatically; as well as an integrated speakerphone, and PCS Ready Link capability, which lets users enjoy quick, walkie-talkie style communication with one or more PCS Ready Link users. (PCS Ready Link service is optional). There's also two internal phone books: a standard phone book that holds up to 300 entries (and seven phone numbers for each entry), plus up to 300 email and Web addresses; and a dedicated PCS Ready Link phone book (for service subscribers), which provides easy access to your PCS Ready Link contacts, up to 200 personal conta! cts, and up to 200 company-provided contacts. The VM4500 also includes eight "festive" 32-chord polyphonic ring tones, and it supports TTY functionality for the hearing impaired.
Messaging and Internet
As a PCS Vision phone (service optional), the VM4500 also provides PCS Business Connection, text-and-picture email, the previously mentioned PCS Ready Link, and basic text messaging, in addition to access to various games, ring tones, screen savers, and wireless Internet connectivity. PCS Business Connection lets users stay connected to multiple personal or company email accounts, including up to two Internet-based inboxes (such as Yahoo or Hotmail email accounts) and one corporate account (using Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes). It also includes access to calendar, directories, and attachments found in PC-based email accounts. Users can also send pictures--either taken with the built-in camera or downloaded from the Web--along with text and up to 10 seconds of voice recording, using the PCS Vision messaging service. This service also includes PCS Mail, PCS Short Mail, Wireless Chat and Messaging Fun games. The VM4500 is also compatible with GPS-based E911 emergency locatio! n service (where available).
Fun and Games
For fun, the VM4500 provides a 640x480 pixel resolution VGA camera, which features auto-focus and an excellent 4x optical zoom and 16x digital zoom capability. The video camera records 15-second clips and can play them back right on the phone's LCD screen. For night and indoor videos, the camcorder's video light provides extra illumination. Videos can be saved on the phone, stored online, or sent via text attachment to friends and colleagues. The VM4500 can also provide access to colorful, graphics-intensive online games, built using the Java 2 platform Micro Edition (J2ME). Downloadable ring tones include the standard pop music selections, as well as some show tunes and sound effects. For personalization, users can assign custom ring tones to specific numbers in the phone's address book.
Vital Statistics
The Sanyo VM4500's includes a 2.5 mm universal jack compatible with most hands-free headsets. The phone weighs 3.85 ounces and measures 3.60 x 1.85 x 1.07 inches. Notably, its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at only up to 3.25 hours talk time, and up to 10 days digital standby time, and 1.7 hours analog talk and 23 hours analog stand-by time. It supports voice and text prompts in English and Spanish.
1 Finally a Phone that Lasts
I purchased this phone up around Dec 2003, and as of Feb 2005 this phone is just as fabulous as it was the first day of purchase! I've had many phones over the years and I never considered myself rough or tough on my cell but somehow after 3-4 months the phone became utterly useless making me regret getting the "deal" phone. You know the phone that just happens to be on sale and is practically the same price as it would take for a pair of movie tickets.
I found with other phones dropped signals grew rampant shortly after purchase, and battery life decreased to about 2 short length phone calls. But with this phone, the standby power lets this phone last up to atleast 2 days full power, so I can actually make phone calls while not at home tied to the base or in the car connected to the charger!
I personally don't feel that I needed a camera or even worse video capabilities with my cell BUT I need a speakerphone. I'm not a fan of headsets, and since it's now against the law (in my area of the country) to drive with a phone in the drivers hand, the speakerphone option is excellent. This cell totally delivers with the speaker, and 90% of the time the person on the other side of the call doesn't even realize that they're on speaker! Plus they can actually understand what you're saying even if you're not close!
Sadly I wish they hadn't discontinued this phone. It's a beautiful phone with the crystal clear screen. Quite a preformer a year later!
2 Not Worth It!
The phone has a ton of features and if it worked as it is supposed to, it would be a great phone. I was pulled in by the blue color. However, the phone has major power issues. My first one kept losing power and cutting off as if the battery had been disconnected. The second, a refurbished replacement, would not take a charge...so after two days with that one, I'm off to get a third one. There are cheaper phones that are much more reliable, and that you will be more satisfied with.
3 Best Phone so far !!!!
In terms of performance and fun, the Sanyo 4500 is clearly the best phone I have ever owned (so far).
I am the "gadget" type of person who if forced to label my personal "bad habits" I would label the number one habit as being a "tech freak" , I have owned at least 10 cellphones over the past 6 years and the VM4500 is simply the best. This is the 1st phone that I have ever owned that I liked (nearly) everything about it,for the longest I have wanted a phone (since the old motorola startacs) with a loud ringer , my past 3 phones all had terribly low ringers on them (even after trying some of the ringer downloads).I believe the best feature on this phone is the speakerphone , it is a serious convienience to have this feature to simply eliminate having to have the phone up to your head (when put on hold or checking voicemails while driving) and like the other reader stated the speaker phone is nice and loud (no,I do not have a hearing problem :) I simply need the volume louder when in the car to get over the road noise).Personally speaking , I think the dark blue color is awsome !! The battery life is very good although I purchased a slighly heavier aftermarket battery that after frequent usage for several hours had lost only one bar of power. Personally speaking I love using the readylink feature (Sorry Nextel users , I have had both and Sprints is MUCH more user friendy).The camera/Video on the VM45OO I would rate as good to very good (but not excellent) the picture quality is much nicer than my previous Verizon Phone and Sprint's unlimited online storage site is awsome ! Signal quality I would rate as very good to excellent , after 4 months of (Heavy) usage I have had only had 3 dropped calls ,which in my opinion it is just as reliable as the Verizon service that I was previously with for 3 years , I might also add that I have noticed somewhat of a link between people who get a lot of dropped calls and lower priced phones , regardless of the carrier the cheaper phones tend to drop more calls. If I had to list something that I really dont like about this phone I would have to say the location of the earphone jack which is located on the lower left side of the phone (this works against you when you use an earbud and place the phone in your pocket) ,Thats it for now (Ive already got my eye on the MM-7400 by Sanyo) Thanks for reading !
4 Phone Okay, Sprint Not and Combined No Good.
The phone is okay, but for the price it is not. Many phones now a days have similiar feature to this Sanyo VM4500, but alot cheaper with better carriers. My experience with sprint has been terrible. Even with their new investment of improving their network and service, it is pretty much still no good. You hear hissing in the background and the connectivity bars are all misleading. You can have 4 bars and still have it "digitally roam" and the dropped calls are just annoying. I think it's always better to go with Verizon.
- tech saavy a.j.
5 Anyone else have power problems.
I picked this phone up when it first came out. I have had nothing but problems with the battery. Now dont get me wrong with a fully charged battery this phone is excellent. But dont expect your blissfull feelings to last very long because very quickly it will no longer take a charge. I come back now to see it was discontinued. Lame. Oh
6 VM4500 (SCP-5500) ....IS HORRIBLE!!
I have had this phone now for a couple of months. The first one was a complete "lemon". The second one that Sprint traded for the same one in silver is horrible as well. (Now I dont even have the blue color one!) Numerous dropped calls...I mean NUMEROUS!! Sprint folks reluctantly agree that there is a manufacturing defect with this model phone. So much for the excitement of getting the "Best" sprint phone!! Another problem is that you have to repeatedly call them to tell them u r having the problem...and they think you are giving them excuses. They then want to trade you another "refurb" phone since you've had it for more then 15 days!! A bunch of "- - - -"! Anyway...My suggestion...DO NOT GET THIS PHONE!
7 Best Cell Phone I've Used
This is simply the best cell phone I've ever used. Sure, it has lots of features 75% of the population will not use everyday...if you're in that 75%, then spending the cash for this phone probably isn't for you. However, if you're like me and got rid of your landline phone and need a solid cell phone, then this phone is great. I really like the voice dial (it's built into the phone -- you don't have to pay Sprint's fees for Voice Command for this particular phone if you know how to use it) and the speaker phone. The battery life has been wonderful. I get around 2 hours of talk time per charge and I've gotten as much as 2 weeks of standby between charges. My advice is to look over the phone's features...if you will use 75% of them on a semi-regular basis, then this is the phone for you...otherwise, find you a cheaper model and save some money. (NOTE: I only gave 4 stars because I had a couple of bugs with the phone...like it forgetting my voice dial...nothing major at all, but 5 out of 5 and it's not perfect, but it sure is close.)
8 Don't buy!
This phone is flashy and has some fun features, however I don't feel that it is worth the materials that it is made from! Sprint has a great eye for new technology, yet they never seem to know how to use it properly. I can never seem to get a signal now that I have purchased this phone, and either the "network" or phone is constantly malfunctioning. I'm already on my second phone due to manufacturer faults and would not recommend it to anyone!
9 OK Phone, But Not Worth the Price
Reviewed this phone earlier and also had some dispariging things to say about Amazon. Strangely, my review was never posted. In any event, I've had this phone for approximately four months and I'm generally happy with it. All of the features work as advertised but it seems to be missing some very basic functionality. For example, it doesn't have a built in minutes of use timer--you have to go on-line to get your current usage. Again, OK phone but not worth the $250.00 plus cost.
10 Great phone...if it works.
I purchased this phone in March of 2004. At first, it worked great, just like my Sanyo 5300. Then in May I began experiencing numerous problems - people would say they called me but the phone would never ring nor would it show up in my missed call log, dropped calls all the time when the signal strength was on 4 bars and the endless redialing loop, i.e. the phone would keep redialing a number and never place the call. Sometimes it would be stuck in the redialing loop for over 30 minutes! I took the phone to my local Sprint store where they updated the software. This did not fix the issues so I took it back to the store. They tested the phone and it failed their testing so Sprint is going to replace my phone under their 1-year warranty program.
Let me say I take good care of my phone - never dropped it, keep it in a case - it is in mint condition. (The lady at the Sprint store even commented that my phone was in such great shape.) I have read on other web sites that individuals with this make/model of phone are experiencing the same problems. During the time the phone actually worked, it was great. However, it should not go haywire in 2 months. I am glad I am getting a replacement phone but the inconvenience of it all is frustrating.
11 Great Until You Get to the Camera
This phone has a lot of great features, and a lot of rave reviews. It was my top choice for a new phone...until I tried it in the store. There it took FIVE SECONDS from when you hit the button, while in camera mode, to when it actually could be bothered to take the picture. At which point, if you've moved the phone to try to figure out what's wrong, or your subject has moved, or the funny thing you were trying to capture, you now have a nice shot of the ground.
Some people may not mind that, or may just accept it, especially with all the other great features, but it would drive me insane. Instead try out Toshiba's VM4050, with essentially the same features but the best picture quality, best screen quality, and it takes pictures instantly, even in motion. Or the Samsung VM-A680, which is only slightly slower than the Toshiba, and just lacks speakerphone. (Everyone keeps talking about speakerphone, but really, who needs it? I know I don't.)
12 This phone is not too shaby
This phone does indeed have the most features any Sprint phone I've purchased, but if you already have a contract with Sprint you will have to pay the full price. But it's worth it if you like that techie type of stuff.
13 Sprint- Bad Service
Buyer beware... do not buy Sprint. I give them zero stars! I purchased a Treo 600 for metro Atlanta. Basically the service was very bad. I called to cancelled and charged me $112 and change. As a business customer or any customer why am I being changed for poor service. I am not going to speak bad about their customer service because they tried. But they do not understand about business relationships and how to assist the customer. If you intend to buy a phone from them get the least expensive plan first. Then will not loose as much monsy as I did for just 7 days of service.
14 Sprint DUH!
Nice phone but then you have to deal with Sprint. Prepare for interminable waits, multiple phone transfers and lots of automated phone trees while you attempt to accomplish the simplest tasks. Nearly every interaction concludes with "can't", "won't" or "what you need to do." Life is too short to be aggravated over cell phone service. If you haven't already made the mistake of signing up with Sprint, investigate other carriers before you do. We did not and this has been a royal pain for our business.
15 Great phone ever had
i like this phone that it has every but everyone i know never buys it because too much money if they lowerd it a little more every one i know will be running to buyn this phone i am sure they will because it is a cool phone and i have no problem with this phone.
16 Cool phone
this phone is great but the price is too high if it was lower alot of people were going to buy this phone every thing is great and i am happy of this phone if u all think so u can buy this phone too because it gots everything
17 VM4500 is horrible!!!!!
There are numberous problems with the Sanyo VM4500. Just do a search on Google and you will see. As for my situation, I bought 4 of these phones for my family. 1 worked for a couple of days and had to be replaced. Another worked for 3-4 weeks and then started dropping calls. This phone would show 4 bars and we would be sitting next to her and try to call her phone and it would never ring. The 3rd and 4th phones have trouble with connecting to network - which by the way, takes MINUTES! Thank God we have not been in an emergency situation and have to wait to connect to the network. And in some cases, like this morning, the phone couldn't even find the network, so it put me in "Digital Roam." I hate this phone and would do anything to get rid of it.
18 Great phone..... Terrible service.
I've had this phone for about three months now. The phone itself is great. The options are all there.. lots of fun. The service on the other hand is horrible. I can't even use it inside my house or the call gets dropped.
I'm debating buying out of my contract to go back to my AT&T wireless service which was great. Too bad this phone isn't offered through that company.
19 Best sprint phone
expensive but perfect in every way, great battery life, takes great videos
20 Great features but short on implementation
Switched from ATT specifically to get this phone. Initially worked fine. With time began dropping calls and not putting calls through even with 4 bars of service. Went to a Sprint store and they told me this is a common problem with this phone and they are working on a software upgrade. Tried to live with it for another week, but when your phone doesn't work for an hour here and there it becomes a problem. Went to another Sprint store and they said they have no idea if or when there will be a fix, in fact the associate never even heard about this being an issue. Anyway the Sprint warehouse was out of stock, so he gave me a Toshiba VM-4050 to use for now. After using both phones I think I will stick with the Toshiba. Bells and whistles are nice, but I have a cell phone so I can use it, not to look cool. At least the Toshiba works all the time, and has most of the features of the Sanyo plus a better screen.
21 THIS PHONE IS THE BEST PHONE OUT THERE
WELL WHAT CAN I SAY , I HAVE HAD THE SANYO 5150 , 5300 AN NOW THE 5400 THIS IS THE BEST PHONE OUT THERE IN THE MARKET, SPRINT HAS THE BEST SIGNAL , I HAVE BEEN WITH ATT , VERIZON, CINGULAR, AN AT WORK I HAVE NEXTEL AN THERE SERVICE SUCKS , I READ SOME OF THE MESSAGES SOME OF THE READERS PUT ON AN SOME SAID THEY HAD DROP CALLS WHEN THEY HAD FULL SERVICE MEANING THEY HAD 4 BARS WELL THERE IS A BATCH OF SANYO VM 4500 OUT THERE THAT ARE DEFECTIVE PHONES , THAT SOMETIMES EVEN IF U TAKE THEM TO THE SPRINT PCS STORE TO GET THEM CHECKED THEY WILL PASS THE TEST , I HAD THAT PROBELM WITH MY FIRST VM 4500 THEN I CHANGED IT THE SECOND DID THE SAME THING AN THEY COULDNT FINE WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT SO THEY CHANGED IT , KNOW I GOT A GOOD UNIT AN ITS WORKING LIKE A SANYO PHONE SUPOSED TO BE, ITS WORKING FINE , EXCELLENT. THE READY LINK IS AWSOME AN THE REST OF ITS FETURES THIS IS THE BEST PHONE I HAVE EVER HAD AN EVEN I HAD SOME PROBLEM WITH THE FIRST 2 PHONES SANYO IS STILL ON TOP AS THE BEST CELLPHONE COMPANY.
22 Amazing phone with so many uses
I found the Sanyo VM4500 to be great. The reception is great, no dropped calls. Those mentioning dropped calls might challenge the service rather than the phone. I've used the picture and video features at work as well as at kids events. The online web picture sharing is way cool! I found a great deal on a case, car charger, AC charger and extra battery on eBay for $8. I've had most phones made since the Motorola "Brick". This phone is by far superior and the features and "toys" make it a must have. Even hooking up the laptop and surfing the web works great! For that you'll need a third party software and a data cable found easily on the web. Easy to use, easy to carry, great reception, pretty good high resolution pictures(while only a few in memory) and the 15 second videos with sound that can be emailed or sent to another phone makes this handset the best one out there today! Well done Sanyo! The only negative is the battery life is a bit too short, but hey, it is after all functioning as a camcorder most of the day! :-)
23 This thing rocks
I purchased this phone two days ago, after I decided that I didn't want to go through the trouble and poor customer service with AT&T Wireless...especially after it was purchased by Cingular. I ended up saving a good $200 for switching and I'm pleased with my purchase. The Amazon.com editorial covers all the bases. This is an excellent phone. Perhaps the naysayer got a lemon or didn't fully charge the battery, or ventures into buildings and places with poor reception or copper lined ceilings which do interfere with cell phone signals. I did not need a manual to operate the phone, buttons and options are very intuitional. Clarity of calls is exceptional, perhaps even too loud. Numerous features are available to customize your phone and if you're like me, will be tinkering with it for months. The complaint I do have with the phone is the cost of the extras, such as downloads/uploads.
24 Big disappointment!
I purchased this phone after reading all the great reviews. Boy am I disappointed. The reception on this phone is terrible, the signal bars are misleading, calls are often dropped when 4 bars appear. The main reason I purchased this phone is for better reception and that is also the reason I will be returning it. A slick phone is useless without reception.
25 Nice look; bad reception
I currently own this phone and I bought it the first week in January because of the sleek design. The phone is physically appealing and has a few nice features. But, thats the only good thing that I saw in this phone-the features-. The reception is terrible and the phone will tell me that it is charging, when of course, it really isn't. This phone also loses signal while all four bar icons are still on the screen. I also have contacted sprint on numerous occasions and I was informed that if I wanted another cellular phone I would have to pay retail value-I already paid retail value for the cellular phone ($411 to be exact)-. We must remember that the main reason that we buy cell phones are for calling purposes, then the features the phone has to offer. I give the features a 5 out of 5 but the actual phone and its reception, I give it a 1 out of 5.
26 Very happy with this power-user phone
Unlike some of the reviewers here on this board, I've owned a Sanyo vm4500 for almost two months, and I agree with everything the Amazon official reviewer says about the phone. It's absolutely the best phone out there right now. Some say the new Toshiba video phone (also for SPRINT PCS) is better, but to me the Toshiba looks a bit too big and bulky, and you just don't feel the word "fun" when you look at it, vs. the cutie looks of the vm4500.
As a cellular phone this one gets top-notch reception. I live on the outskirts of Cambridge but I get four full bars all the time, and a coworker also loves its reception out in Lexington, where Verizon and AT&T (worst service) tend to fade out quickly. I understand Verizon has better nationwide coverage overall, but for me SPRINT is good and this phone does a faby job of keeping connected.
I won't list the amazing number of power features you get with this phone. The user interface is amazingly intuitive, and you gotta love the bright screen! The buttons are easy to push and are backlit for evening usage. The pictures are not Canon S400 like but pretty decent for a camera phone. And, of course, the video clips! Only 15 seconds, but this is absolutely a God-send when you have little kids and you don't want to carry a camcorder or bother with video editing later.
This is a totally cool phone that makes everyone drool when they see it.
27 Great phone
The so-called "sprint employee" california-usa-1 obviously hasn't seen hard sales statistics on this phone, because not only is it popular -- very hard to find in stores here in new york -- but everybody who has one loves it, so I don't understand his "high return rate." Maybe just in his store because he's so happy trashing it. He probably got a hidden agenda. I have this phone, and I don't work for Sanyo or GE (Sanyo's partner), and I tell you this is a totally fun and functional phone. It's the best phone I've purchased. Of course every phone has some problems, this one for example could use better battery life, but just look at how ugly Nokia phones are, and how flimsy and obscene Samsung phones look, and you'll appreciate the good styling on this phone. And the great many functions work well and also mesh well with the fun factor. If you are with Sprint and have some extra cash get this phone.
28 Sorry Sanyo, your VM4500 needs a new mic. & ringer tones.
I have to agree with the Sprint employee that posted a review on here. This phone has the coolest look but when it comes to its microphone and ringer tone selection it just plain SUCKS! People tell me my voice sound pretty bad and when i get closer to the mic. they say I sound like im hyperventalating. Also there is not one ring tone I like. I guess Sayno/Sprint wants us to pay and download the nice tones which im not going to do. To top is off Sprint charges its customers $15.00 a month to use the walkie talkie feature! Im returing this phone tommarow because I hate it. And im never going to get a Sanyo Cell again!
29 Great looking phone but it pretty much ends there...
As a Sprint PCS employee and former owner of a Sanyo VM4500 this type of cell phone gets returned to us alot for refunds for the very same reasons I turned in my own VM4500. 1) If you are a current Nokia cell phone user thinking of swiching to this phone BE ADVISED that you will not I repeat will not have the excellent clear and static free calls you once had on your Nokia. You will be getting comments from the same people you talked with before saying things like "your voice sounds wierd" "I cant hear you" etc. During phone calls you will hear a CONSTANT "hissing" noise in the backround that never goes away and your voice truly sounds more dull and not as clear and natural as if you were to be using any Nokia brand. 2) Another thing you will notice if you switch from any Nokia model to this VM4500 is the absolute horrible (for lack of a better word) ringer tone selection and configuration. The majority of the assigned tones will emberrass most people in public. I give this phone ( 1 ) star for its great look and another one for its nice loud working speakerphone. So the bottom line is if you want to look "cool" and have a great looking phone...go ahead with your purchase but remember that the guy or girl next to you using his or her not so stylish Nokia will be heard alot better and more clearer than you. This post is not a matter of opinion...its a matter of fact because the two complaints mentioned above are the cause of at least one customer daily, coming into our store complaining about this Sanyo saying " I was woundering if I could change the phone I bought yesterday for another one?" We of course understand their frustration and say...sure
30 Great phone, but needs more functionality
I got this phone a few days ago, I switched over from my old V60 with ATT that I had for 2 years prior. It was either this one or the other Toshiba top of the line phone they had at the store. The number one reason I got this phone is the speakerphone can be used when the phone is closed, which is very convenient for my work conference calls when I'm not in the office. This is the loudest speakerphone available. You can be across the room and hear it like it was right there. I only wish the microphone was as good, you have to keep the phone close to your mouth for the other party to hear you well. The reception on the phone is better than Verizon in buildings, which is contrary to popular opinion, I know. My friend has a Verizon LG, the newest one that came out and I have better reception than her most of the time and when she has no reception I have 2 bars minimum. But there are a few blackout zones like my house where the reception isn't as good (but don't go by me, I've had 5 carriers and all 5 had problems). Whenever someone calls you, you do not need to open the phone to talk to them, you can just press the button on the side and their call is transferred to the speakerphone - that's really handy. You can also call while it's closed by saying the person's name - it dials automatically and routes the call to the speaker.
The camera is great but not the best, that's the Toshiba, ditto the screen. But with this phone it is really easy to spy on people as you can turn on the camera by holding the side button without opening the phone (the camera is on the back) so you can take pictures of people without them knowing it. It has a self-portrait function that does its job, but the Toshiba is better in that respect also. The video camera makes this phone stand out from the competition at other providers, but again, the Toshiba beats this phone simply because of the quality of the video and the length allowed. However, the Toshiba has to be open to video a party other than yourself so the other person can see it. This one is better for spying. You look inconspicuous just holding the phone closed.
You cannot have different backgrounds for the main LCD screen and the little one outside, it's all one picture. You can have different pictures for caller-id for people in your phonebook but this is limited by the fact that you can only store I think 20 or so pictures in the phone's memory. A small drawback is that you cannot have a banner of any kind on the main screen and the preset animations for calling and looking for service don't want to show themselves when the phone performs these functions for some reason
In terms of the downloads for phones, Sprint is one of the worst companies out there. There is nothing good on the site to download like ringers and so on. The phone comes with all the tones you'll ever need though, a good assortment but just one full game called Bejeweled. I tried to play it but it's the stupidest game ever invented. This also has Tetris included, but it's the trial version where you can play for like 2 minutes and then you have to buy the damn thing. Each game is $2.50 to download off the website and ringers are $1.50 for the tones and $2.50 for actual songs. I've heard you can record your own ringer in the mic and assign it to the phone but I have not seen this in any of the menus. If anyone knows how to do this, please post it here.
Two things that this phone lacks is a notepad right in the menu so you can quickly store a message to yourself. The v60 had that feature and it was very useful. You could get around that by saving a draft but it is very clumsy as you have to go into the menu, select yourself as the recipient and then save it.
There are several things you cannot do while this Sanyo is closed that you could do with other phones: you can't lower the volume or put the phone on vibrate by pressing the up/down keys, you'll have to open it for that to happen. Neither can you record your voice from the outside without opening it and going into the menu.
For those of us who have had a Motorola at any time in our lives knows that the most annoying this about it is when you get a low battery the phone signals really loudly and keeps beeping until you either turn it off or charge it. This "feature" cannot be turned off. Even when you put the phone on silent, the beeping would persist! Well, with this one it's much better. The battery indicator just becomes empty and red so you know what's going on but it doesn't bother you.
Battery life is OK. I have to charge mine at least twice a day... but I am an atypical user because I use the speakerphone on full blast for hours at a time and that kills the battery life. I love the blue color, it's different from all these damn silver things everyone has. The user interface is fine, the 'back' button is the best facet of that, extremely intuitive.
The bottom line is that if the most important thing for you is the camera and a good screen, get the Toshiba because it has better resolution than this Sanyo. But if you want a phone for what it was made for -- great communication and a user-friendly interface, then this is the phone for you.
31 whoever says this phone is dumb, is dumb themselves
honestly this is the best phone i've had in years. it has a digital camera that takes clear pictures when taken in high quality resolution and also takes pretty decent videos for a camcorder hybrid. as for that guy from houston that said this phone sucks, READ THIS! you CAN set a different ringtone for each contact in your phonebook AND you can also set personalized images for when somebody calls...for example you can take a picture of your friend and set it so that everytime he or she calls you, their picture shows on the external and internal lcd. ALSO, you can view the pictures you take without using a PC. all you have to do is select the picture, go to its options and click expand..and VOILA!
this phone is truly one of a kind. i've had it for almost a month now and it has been through hell in that time. i've dropped on the street, it's fell off the top of my table, it got wet in the rain and it still works at the optimum level. the sound quality and reception is excellent compared to the samsung N400 and sanyo 8100..which happen to be the last two phones i owned. so to everyone out there that's still debating about whether to buy the phone or not... BUY IT. it really is worth the money. besides if you're a new sprint customer and you purchase it from amazon.com, you get back more than half of the money you spend on the phone.
32 All around excellent phone
I have had this phone 2 weeks. I switched from AT&T who has just about the worst service of all the major phone carriers. I never had signals going into buildings with AT&T and the Nokia 6310i (more a fault of AT&T rather than the Nokia). I ate the ... early termination fee, I was that fed up with AT&T. I live in Orange County, CA. The service with Sprint at least in all the places I have gone thus far has been FANTASTIC!! I have been all over OC, gone up to Victorville, and to Torrance, with 4 bar reception almost everywhere! The reception on this phone is without equeal. My brother and several of my friends have Samsung phones with Sprint service. When they have 0, 1 or 2 signal strength bars, I have 4 bars, full strength!! The phone you choose absolutely can make an impact on the quality of reception, and a reduction in "lost signal"/"dropped calls". It pays to buy a high end phone rather than struggle with the "free after rebate" or even the [money] after rebate phones. Yes [money] is a ton of money, but for me who uses about 2000 minutes/month, it is absolutely worth it.
The speaker phone is great. I have used it several times, this is one of the reasons I wanted this phone. The video clips while only 15 seconds in length each, are a lot of fun and include sound. I do think the one area Samsung is better is the quality of the image from the camera. I think photos are somewhat but not significantly cleaner looking with the Samsung. However, with bright lights or direct sunlight, the image from the camera in the VM4500 phone seems to be overcome and hide the main object you are trying to take a photo of. But beyond that, NOTHING currently available from any other carrier is as good as this phone, in my humble opinion. I do wish the phone had bluetooth and modem capabilities however.
The voice dialing features built into the phone work wonderfully. You don't need to pay the $5/month to Sprint to have their voice dialing service as voice dialing is built into the phone. You can attach voice dialing to 30 phone numbers.
If you are a heavy talker like me, I would buy the extended battery especially if you use the web, camera, and video clip funtions much. The extended battery doesn't add that much depth to the phone either. You can extend battery life significantly if you turn off some of the "bells and whistles" the phone has. Things such as sound and animation when the phone is turned on or off. Shorten the length of time the displays and kepad are lit after a phone call is completed. Turn off the Nextel like "Push To Talk (PTT)" service Sprint now offers, called "Ready Link" if you don't know anyone else that has Sprint service with a PTT capable phone. The PTT function when enabled is constantly on, communicating with a cell tower waiting for an incoming PTT call and eats up battery life. Turn off the flashing led's which notify you of events like missed calls, received voice/text/email messages, etc. The lights are cool looking, but unless you are in a meeting or a movie theatre, they are not necessary. Turn off the GPS tracking function which is continuously sending location information to the nearest cell tower to track where you are (Did you know that phones are now doing that?). Emergency 911 calls however will still be able to track you but that is good. All these functions I just mentioned are cool, but not necessary all the time, and as a result contribute to a shorter battery life. By turning off or shortening the time in use of these functions, I have been OK with the standard battery, but I bought the extended just to have in case.
I would have ranked the phone 5 stars had it had the previously mentioned bluetooth and modem capabilities. All in all, I absolutely love this phone. A friend of mine 1 week earlier signed up with and bought the Verizon/LG6000 camera phone. I prefer all the features of my Sprint/Sanyo VM4500. The reception seems to be about equal with both phones in the area we live. However the LG6000 camera is really, really bad, especially at night. Just FYI.
33 Worth Every Penny!
I've had this phone now for about a week and have absolutely NO COMPLAINTS! I bought it off of Ebay brand new for a more reasonable price. I love the navy blue color, it's very unique compared to all of the silver phones out there. I don't know what another reviewer was talking about, but you CAN take self portraits while you see yourself on the screen (you just choose "self portrait" in the options screen, duh!). The viewing screen is a nice size as well. You wouldn't need any other phone after this, you have the phone,camera, camcorder,speakerphone, walkie-talkie etc. You can even make and receive calls without opening the phone! This phone is one of the best on the market right now.
34 Avoid this dumb phone.
ÊÊÊWhen you buy a very expensive, top of the line phones with a lot of stuffs (such as camera), you expect that convenient features which are almost standard in very cheap/free phones should be there too. Not so. For example $700 tag Treo 600 does not have voice dialing, no voice memo. This one, which is dedicated mainly to phone features and currently most expensive among any cell phones, does not have the ability of assigning different ring tones to different phone numbers in the contact list for incoming calls. What this means is that while you drive if there is a phone call you have to actually look at the phone to see who is calling. If you know who is calling by different ring tone you can choose not to talk at that point. Also, this means that you cannot set anonymous calls to vibrate or do nothing mode.
ÊÊÊÊÊDon't expect that since this phone is expensive it will include most of the hardware that is necessary. Unlike Samsung/LG phones which are much cheaper, this one does not provide a cradle. In order to use it as a PDA, you will need USB cable, which is not provided. You will have to purchase separately. That is not all. You will also have to purchase two different software. One for Contact List Sync, another for pictures/ring tones. You end up paying $100 more to make use of this phone properly. But then the whole thing will not be as you expected or you like.
ÊÊÊLow resolution screen. Doesn't look sharp, but very grainy. Pictures don't look good. Disappointing quality. Buttons are too small to use (I don't have big hands). Direction buttons are ugly to use and not intuitive. The only reason I had to buy is that it has a speaker phone that I really need. If you don't need speaker phone, go for Samsung phones. They are much much better, solid, ergonomic phones. Considering the overall quality of this phone, it should be around $150. Too much over-priced with low quality. I strongly suggest that you go to the Sprint Store and compare with the Samsugn phones. Don't simply buy this one according to the reviews in Amazon.
I just wonder how other people can give five star rating for this phone. I am using it everyday, and I have to "grin" every time I use. There are better phones in much better price. What is frustrating me is that it is less convenient and has less cell phone features than LG/Sprint phone that I used three years ago (just for one year though).
There are a couple of good things for this phone though which deserves at least one star. First it has a damn good speaker phone feature. And you can use it like walkie talkie with other Sprint phones that have ReadyLink feature, whic I really don't use.
NOTE: I have some information about free software for downloading pictures/information from phone to PC (and vice versa). It is called BitPim (http://bitpim.sourceforge.net/). Unfortunately, the developers seem to have Samsung VGA1000, and Sanyo VM4500 is not supported. And there is no plan for future support. I already tried. It doesn't work. Sigh...
35 The best package of a cell phone and organizer
I have found nothing I hate about the phone, the toshiba that sprint has coming out just doesn't suit me as well as sanyo and isn't my style. This phone does all I ask of it. As did my last phone I had, I'll gets lots of use out of it before I upgrade once more in the future
36 You will not be sorry
I used to have the A600 from Samsung (the one with the roatating display) until I tragically lost it one night. I was uninsured and nobody else carried that phone anymore. So I went to Radio Shack and found the VM4500. I didnt get a rebate so I was a little skeptical about paying $370.00 for a cell phone but I finally decided to go for it. Now I am glad I lost that other phone. This phone has many impressive features, including the video camera/digital camera, and the speakerphone, not to mention the dual color displays. For a Sprint phone, the battery lasts a while, and it charges fast (about 45 minutes). The phone's LED's on the back are really bright when you use them when taking pictures or videos. In fact I cant look at them for very long, in the dark they are almost blinding. Theres also a cool little multicolored LED in the middle of the video lights which has many functions you can assign to it. The speakerphone is REALLY loud and very clear, this blows away even most land line speaker phones. I havent used the ReadyLink service because I dont know a single person with a Sprint phone besides me. The keys and screens are nicely illuminated. I like the fact that you can start the camera and place a call without even opening the phone. Another thing I found interesting was that text messages go directly to the phone instead of going to that Sprint SMS mailbox thing. You still have to go there to send a reply but apparently (according to the phone) you wont have to soon. This phone also has A LOT more memory than the other Sprint phones. All in all this phone is worth more than the price that I payed for it. I love it, and I'm positive you'll love it too.
37 Worst Reception Ever
I got this phone 3 weeks ago and I am already returning it. It had the worst reception from all the phones I've had. I live about a mile from a Sprint tower and calls are dropped all the time. My wife has a Samsung i-500 and that phone never drops a call in the house.
I tried going on the web on both phones at the same time, her phone worked without any problems. My phone did not even connect.
I've tried the web access and tried making calls from many different places and most of the time it just does not work. Last week I spent 20 minutes trying to make a call. Twice it went through just to be dropped within seconds. The phone showed a strong signal, then it dropped a few bars, then back up, etc. I never had these problems on the same area with my 3.5 years old Motorola Timeport.
Also, the camera quality is nowhere near all it's hyped up to be.
38 Bad Service From Amazon.com
The phone are awesome by the service from Amazon.com are suck. I ordered 5 Sanyo VM4500 on 1/25/04, on the day, they support to deliver the phone to me, the stated that they delay my shipping until March. The phones are awesome phone but the services from Amazon.com are suck.
39 OVER CHARGING
I HAVE THE PHONE, I LOVE THE PHONE, BUT WHY PAY $499.00, WHEN YOU GET IT THE PHONE FROM SPRINT FOR $379.00, YOU WILL SAVE A $120.00
40 This Phone Ain't no JOKE!!!!!
WHATS REALLY GOOD WORLD???HAHAH...FIRST OFF, I'VE GOTTA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SANYO FOR MAKING THIS "TIGHT" PHONE..THIS PHONE IS THEE BEST OUT THERE RIGHT NOW...THE FEATURES ON THIS PHONE ARE OUTSTANDING...THE 15 SEC. CAMCORDER (WITH THE LIGHT FOR NIGHT USE) THE CAMERA WITH FLASH....ITS OUT OF CONTROL FOREAL THOUGH...IT ALSO COMES WITH THE SPEAKER PHONE WHICH IS KINDA OFF AND ON AT TIMES....IT HOLDS A LOT MORE MEMORY....I JUST RECENTLY HAD THE SANYO 8100 AND THE 4500 BLOWS THAT MODEL OUT BADLY...SPRINT HAS THE BEST SERVICE AND I REALLY RECOMMEND THIS PHONE FOR ALL YALL PHONE GEEKS...IF U WANT THE BLUE ONE I THINK YOU CAN GET IT ATY BEST BUY....I GOT MINE AT THE SPRINT STORE...AND IF U WANT THE READY LINK SERVICE...IT'S LIKE $15 EXTRA A MONTH...WELL WORTH IT PEOPLE...IF YALL GOT ANY QUESTIONS HIT ME UP AT MY E-MAIL ADDRESS...LILSHAQ84@YAHOO.COM OR SHAQDADDY84@HOTMAIL.COM.......HOLLA AT YA BOY...1
41 Simply awesome!
The features on this phone are great. The menus are easy to navigate and there are mini-help/info buttons for most features.
The digital camera is quite impressive when you bump the quality up.
The only downside I've found is that there aren't more speed dial options, and the "alarm" is modeled as a "callback alarm."
This phone is amazing. I hate to rub it in, but I have the blue one ;) ...
I upgraded from a 3 year old, standard, non-color, non-cam, non-feature samsung and I couldn't be happier now!
Also, extended battery boasts 5.25 hrs talk time, and is very worth every penny!
42 this phone is nice......but......
i agree with the others..this phone is great and easy to use.....i'm glad i got this phone....they give you 2months free pcs vision but the webaccess is slow and not currently working...i've had the phone for a few days.....the speaker phone is good at times..ppl can't tell you are on the speaker phone..but at times ppl can't hear at all....
the only negative thing is AMAZON SENDS YOU SILVER PHONE AND NOT THE COOL NAVY BLUE ONE SHOWN.......
43 Sanyo VM4500/SCP-5500
So I like the phone alot. It is my first color/camera/3g phone. So far I am very impressed. I was a little mad about it not being blue. I think the silver kinda makes it look like every other phone on the market. I am having a problem with the IP services always timing out. But that could be a problem with sprint. I love the speaker phone. Having used nextel for the last 3 years you kinda get used to it. The screen is very nice...excellent resolution and color. Battery life is ok. I would defenitly recommend the phone.
44 SILVER, not black
TOO BAD THE PHONE THEY MAY ACTUALLY SEND IS SILVER...
45 Great phone, great features
FULLY LOADED PHONE, SO FAR BEST ON THE MARKET.
46 Best Phone Ever
I just cancelled the horriffic Nextel service. The VM4500 has everything you can imagine eg..phone, camera, video camera, speaker phone and crisp color screen. The sound quality is top notch and the Readylink service (PTT) is acutally more clear than Nextel. I actually got more minutes for the money than Nextel and Sprint service is a LOT better (i've been with Nextel for about a year and all they gave me was a headache).
47 Best. Phone. Ever.
I've used a lot of cell phones, and I was never really amazed by a cell phone. All I ever wanted a phone to do was work. After owning a motorolla that was broken more than it is was working, I really needed a phone that just worked. This phone works flawlessly. I never lose the signal, even inside. The speaker is clear, and I can allways hear the other person. Not only does this phone do everything basic, but it has more features than I could have ever imagined. Just to name a few: vga camera, CAMCORDER, speakerphone, voice dial, wireless internet, calander and to-do list. There isn't a better phone out there.
48 better in every way
I've been using my new vm4500 for 1 week since i tragically washed my 5300 without insurance. i was very skeptical about dropping the cash for this phone, and without any rebates, it's pretty pricey. after reading several positive reviews, i picked it up at best buy for $350 and and never regretted it. The navy color has really grown on me and unlike an earlier reviewer, i don't feel the phone is large at all. especially with the slimmer battery (which has performed wonderfully) it definitely feels slimmer than my old 5300 did. programs run faster (pac-man smokes now) and i like the menu. the video recorder is a sweet plus to go along with the camera. i subscribed to mobitv, the live tv package, and it's pretty sweet as well. as soon as the frame rates get a little faster, this is going to be an excellent option. the audio is beautiful through the speaker. the only thing i haven't tried yet is the ready link, only because i don't know anyone else who has a rl capable phone yet. voice dialing is right on, and other than the stupid "my buddy" dog that hops around the screen (you can easily turn this off through the display menu), i would say this phone is as perfect as it gets for right now. i've owned a nokia, a lg, a kyocera, a samsung, and this is my second sanyo. no doubt, sanyo, and the vm4500, is the way to go if you want a loaded out phone that is functional and fun.
49 What a waste of money.
Got this phone late November, and the screen went out 2 days later. Sprint replaced with a new one. The second phone they gave me would not store numbers. When I tried it would shut down and start up again. Got my money back. I'll wait for something new from Samsung!
50 Great Phone
I've had this phone for a few weeks and I love it, the speakerphone is great and Sprints coverage around the Boston area is fantastic (came from att gsm -- biggest nightmare ever). The voice dialing is the most accurate I've seen on a phone. HOWEVER, I do think that the menu system could be more customizable (be able to assign more then one shortcut) and I do not like the fact that they do not display how long the call was in the call logs. Also the phone is a little big but it is light for its size. I would definitly recommend this phone to anyone who likes to have everything in a phone, and is willing to deal with its size. I love it and would not trade it for any other phone on the market.
51 BEST PHONE I HAVE SEEN
Well this is my second cell phone, the first i had was the samsung S105. I just bought it today and all i can say is OH MY GOODNESS!!!! THIS PHONE IS A PIECE OF ART.Yes, im sure you are saying YOU ARE GOING TO FAR NOW. Believe me, once you try this phone, you will agree. I dont know alot about the technical aspect, but what i do know is that this phone has great qualities and beautiful service. The video is great with a flash, it has SPEAKER PHONE AND VOICE DIALING. WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR???? IT holds 51 images whic you can send to email. It also has PICTURE ID so when someone calls you, you can see a picture of them which you took. I have wanted a camera phone since they came out and was going to go with the nokia 3650 but the size is like WOAH. I was going to next the new samsung phone but its too tiny and no voice dialing or speaker phone. This is the phone , THE BEST PHONE OUT THERE.
52 Best Phone: Sanyo quality flip phone + speakerphone
I took few minutes of my busy times to tell the world about my experience using this new phone. If you think you loved or admired the Sanyo SCP-5300, this one will blow your mind.
1- The speakerphone makes it one of the biggest difference. I leave the phone on my desk, speakerphone on, work on my laptop while talking...the mic captures my voice very well: Can hands-free calls get any better than that?
The speakerphone volume is so loud I keep it at less than the middle. Incredible! A button on the side easily enables you to to take calls without opening the phone and hear the caller over the speakerphone...just so practical.
It features many practical little options that make huge difference with the 5300. On top of many other bells and whistles, you can take 15-sec videos and send them in seconds to another pcs phone or email.
I went thru the Sanyo SCP-4500, 4700, 4900, 5300 and now VM-4500. There's no doubt this is The phone I'm going to keep.
53 Only drawback: Battery
I've been using this phone for about 4 weeks now. I have used Nextel in the past and the new Sprint Ready Link PTT capabilities are nearly equal to the Direct Connect feature from Nextel.
What I like about this phone:
-compact size
-camera that takes "ok" still and moving pictures
-easy upload of pictures to web
-downloadable ringtones
-PTT
-reception is very good
What I don't like about this phone:
-The PTT is not error correcting. What that means is that since the PTT from Sprint is essentially VOIP (voice over Internet) -- if your phone can't connect to the Internet is stops with this honking error message. Rather than retry it sits there waiting for you to press a key to acknowledge the error. This unfortunately disqualifies the phone for serious use by many companies.
-Battery life seems very short. I believe this is because of the Ready Link constantly communicating with the Internet. I'm getting maybe a day of medium use.
-The ReadyLink tones sound like something that should be on a Barbie walkie talkie for kids. Believe me half the time you'll never hear the. Oh - and they need an alert feature too.
54 A very durable phone - LOOOONG batttery life!
I have used this phone for the past 3 months and am very pleased with its performance. The battery life is indeed remarkable - I have left the phone floating in the bottom of my huge very messy briefcase/bag for over a week and not only was I able to place a call (in fact - still didn't charge it for a couple of more days and the battery, although flashing, didn't cut me off) but it wasn't any worse for the wear. It's a tough phone! Easy to use, nice screen. My only complaint would be with the speaker phone - great if you're walking around and just listening to someone speaking, but not good if you're in an area with a lot of background noise and trying to talk.
