Sanyo RL2500 PCS Vision Ready Link Phone (Sprint)

Compatible with Sprint cell phone service, the sturdy, clamshell-design Sanyo RL2500 features PTT (Push-To-Talk), Java compatibility, speakerphone, voice dialing, and more, all displayed on a 132 x 176 pixel, 65k color TFT screen.

For calling, you'll enjoy push to talk walkie-talkie style calling, plus redial, missed call indicator, call log, voice activated dialing, any-key answer, auto-answer, speed dial, mute control, usage alert, vibrating ring, differential ring, speakerphone and a phone book capacity of 300 entries. Sanyo 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 two-way mobile text messaging, numeric paging, downloadable polyphonic ring tones, and more, plus you can download more Java-based games and applications from the Web to enhance your phone at high-speed cdma2000 1xRTT rates. A PIM is included along with a calculator to help you manage time and finances, and this data can be downloaded and 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 RL2500 weighs 3.71 oz. and measures 3.6 x 1.85 x 1.04 inches. Its batteries are rated at 195 minutes talk time and up to 90 hours standby

What's in the Box
Sanyo RL2500 phone, battery, AC adapter, user documentation

1 Good phone
Likes:
- Speakerphone is loud enough to actually be usable
- Voice dial works more often than my old Samsung

Dislikes:
- I don't use Ready-Link, but it has a dedicated button on the side of the phone that I keep hitting accidentally.
- Keypad buttons are nearly flush mounted & can be hard to use.
- With my old Samsung, the speaker was in the center of the flip phone cover. With the Sanyo, the speaker is at the top of the flip, because the display is in the center of the cover. This means that to hear, I have to dig the top of the flip cover into my ear.
- The speakerphone speaker is on the outside of the flip cover, and therefore faces the opposite direction of the microphone. So either I can't hear people on the other end (because the speaker is facing away from me), or they can't hear me (because I turned it so the speaker faces me and now the microphone points away).

Not the phones fault:
- Sprint's Vision business model is to RENT you downloads. For example, I bought a game for $3 which will work for exactly 1 month before it expires. Admittedly, $3 is pretty cheap, but this works out to $36 a year, just for 1 game, just to have something to do during idle time.
- You can't preview the ring tone, images, or screen saver downloads before you buy them. You just have to buy them and hope you like them.

I just realized that this review sounds really negative. I like the phone, I just wish they'd do more usability studies on these things before shipping, instead of wasting effort on useless features like Ready Link.

2 This one is a full knock-out!
Now I have gone through many cell phones including star-tac's with cellular one on the east coast near Wash DC and LG with Verizon. What i found is that this Sanyo RL-2500 phone has all the features that I need and want in a cell phone-all of them!

I have made the switch from Verizon (great signal-lousy phones) to Sprint PCS-fair signal quality superb phones and plan value.

The Sanyo has a bright and clear color display on both the inside and the outside. It makes loud and clear speakerphone calls while riding down the highway with the phone on my lap-safe and easy and cell phone closed!

The speaker is located on the front top of the phone where it is pointing at you while using it shut-that's terrific. And loud - whew -its loud like a huge speaker and very very clear!

The layout of the phone is also terrific with blue backlighting, web access, push to talk feature (walkie talkie) and I have mine setup to just say the name and it dials for me. You can do almost anything with the phone closed (great small screen right below the speaker.

PLUS:
Great style and features
Easy to use
Clear and colorful
Easy to learn
Best speakerphone I have ever used or heard!
Loads of user-friendly options
Great reception on an average network

BAD:
I am thinking?

This is a huge winner and I am loving the phone and the plan I have. Its giving me exactly what I want in a cell phone -yes dropped calls, but nearly perfect!

3 Every feature is great, except for the phone speaker
I was excited to get this phone. The screen is incredibley vibrant and the speaker phone option is great. However, when using it as a regular phone held up to your ear, the main speaker [is bad]! I can't turn the volume down low enough (all they way down) without still getting BLARING depending upon who I talk to. It's also not as clear as my 5 year old StarTAC. I love the 3G features but the quality of the phone converstation is my number 1 priority. I think I'm going to return this one...

4 Good Phone. Lots of Very Useful Features.
I have had this phone for about a week. Previous phone Samsung A-460 (keep in mind).

Pros:
* Good battery life only needs charge about every 3-4 days, not bad considering I average 900+ min a month.
* 2 Charger Optons, either data link style or a male female connector at 5 volt.
* Loud! speaker phone with above average clarity. People cant really tell the difference.
* Push and hold speaker button when closed and automatically activates speaker phone with voice dial, all the while never having to open. This is convenient if you use a car holder, as you can answer the same way by just pressing this button.
* External caller ID, so you don't have to open the phone to know who's calling.
* Call screening feature, it answers and plays a message and you can screen the call via the speaker and answer if need be.
* Good reception, places I thought not possible. ie Eisenhauer tunnel.
* AirPlane Mode. Lets you play games and such without enableing communications.
* Useable as a modem for laptop.

Cons:
* Lack of accessories friendly to high use in autos.
* Lack of traditional "ringers" to select from. You have to download them from sprint and they are only good for 90 days. Very annoying.
* Games are also 'Trial' versions. You have to pay to actually Keep a game and use it for more than 2 min at a time.
* Sprint is not always the best to deal with.
* No real alarm! You have to set an appointment, and if you need it daily, set to repeat. Though every time you turn the phone on it will sound an alarm thinking you missed the apt.
* Kind of poor audio with the ear speaker.

I enjoy this phone and it definately makes daily use more convenient and satisfying. Now if someone made a car holder more compatible with this and some more choices for a holster it would get a 5 star.

5 Definitely recommended!
I bought this phone a week ago to replace an aging Samsung 8100 and I love it. The speakerphone is loud and clear as is the earpiece. The voice dialing is much better than the Samsung. Reception is excellent and battery life seems great as well.

The only negatives I have found is that it is difficult to get the side button to work when making calls on the speakerphone. Sometimes it takes several attempts before it switches into voicedial. And I do miss the Samsung "one beep" ringer mode which was loud enough to alert you that you had a call without being intrusive. Oh well, nothing is perfect!

Overall, I highly recommend this phone for anyone who is looking for a great cell with speakerphone.

6 Great Phone
I waited about 2 months to get this phone. It's great easy to use, sleek looking, bright lcd screens, voice activated dialing. Enough fetures are on this phone some (voice memo, Ready link, speaker phone) Web service with sprint is great they have really improved customer service. The buttons are small, but again this is a compact phone. Battery life is about what i expected, good but not great, i charge my phone every 3 days. My old phone sanyo 4500 i charged one a week. But all in all i wanted a phone that was reliable, smaller then my old one, and web and speaker phone, this fits the bill.

7 good phone
I just bought this phone simply because I was getting annoyed with the size of my Sanyo4900. This phone is a LOT more compact and I like that it doesn't have completely useless features like a camera yet they put something very useful liek speaker phone. I have liked Sprint's service from the beginning, calls are clear and service area is good here. I love the layout of the phone's menu's and I like the many different options that come already on the phone. Like someone already said, though, it would be nicer if there were more ringtones and pictures already on the phone so you don't have to pay for more. I like how loud it is. It's a great phone.

8 great phone
the only reason i did not give it 5 stars is because sometimes the ready link is not avalible. Otherwise awsome phone great service compared wity verizon.

9 great phone sanyo rl2500
I just got this phone, and so far am happy with it, from it's loud, and clear speakerphone, to how light it is considering, it has a speaker, and walkie talkie..which I've used, and it works quite well..

10 Great Phone!
I have had this phone for 2 months now and I love it! I switched from Nexel because they kept dropping my calls and had a very poor service. I love this phone - it can roam (which apparently you can't do with Nextel) and it alerts you when you're in a roaming area. The only weird thing was that in 2 different stores I was roaming, then not roaming, then roaming, then not. I guess that's just a Sprint glitch. I haven't used the ready link feature. I have 10+ games on my phone and several ringers. If you buy this phone and want ringers & games go to www.3gupload.com!

11 Mobile Phone Junkie
I ported my number from Verizon, & bought this phone for Sprint service.

* GOOD --

-- Compact
-- Loud speakerphone
-- Ability to call with side button & speakerphone
-- Walkie-talkie capability & PCS Ready Link
(No comment since I don't use this)
-- Voice Dial
-- Option for audio & vibrate ring together
-- Adorable animation albeit no choice other than dog
-- Voice memo capability
-- Long battery life
-- Bright screen
-- Calendar, Calculator, World Clock
-- Caller ID on outside

* NEUTRAL --

-- Blue Backlight
-- Color Screen
-- Standard phone book: 300 entries
-- No camera
-- One button voicemail
-- Web capable
(No comment since I don't use this)

* BAD --

-- May be too compact for larger hands
-- Navigation button is stiff
-- Dial pad buttons are shallow
-- Not enough ring tones / screensaver choices
-- Too many buttons to press to lock phone
-- Needs one button toggle to vibrate mode
-- Manual is poorly written -- Not great for new users
-- Manual only includes basic usage instructions
-- Cannot rerecord voice dial names
-- Only 9 speed dial numbers

12 Mobile Phone Junkie
I just ported my number from Verizon, & bought this phone for Sprint service.

* GOOD --

* NEUTRAL --

-- Blue Backlight
-- Color Screen
-- Standard phone book: 300 entries
-- No camera
-- One button voicemail
-- Web capable
(No comment since I don't use this)

* BAD --

13 Another Good Option from Sprint
Sprint has been getting some nice phones lately, and the RL2500 continues the trend. This is the phone to get if you love the VM4500, but don't need the camera feature and want to save some money. Like that phone, it has Ready Link, which works similarly to a walkie-talkie, but only if your caller also has a Sprint Ready Link phone, and there aren't many out there yet. Unlike most camera phones, the RL2500 has a speaker phone feature. The speaker phone can be used without opening the flip, and it is surprisingly loud and clear. It is only a half-duplex speaker phone, however, which means that you cannot hear the person with whom you are talking at the same time you are talking (if, for example, they interrupt you). It's a great way to let others join the conversation on your end, though.

The phone is attractively designed, but lacking a bit of the style of Sprint's Samsung offerings. Like other Sanyos, it is thicker than most current flip phones, but feels very comfortable in the hand. It clicks satisfyingly into place when you open it. The buttons are a bit small, and are flush with the phone itself, so I find it difficult to reliably dial numbers without looking at them. Of course, it also offers voice dial, so you don't really need to much of the time.

Reception is typical of Sanyo phones, which is to say outstanding. If you use almost anything else, you will find out that you can pull in a signal in areas that might have been at least somewhat difficult before. I find Sanyo's inside speaker to be quite shrill, however. In my experience, this is something that some people don't notice at all, but some find quite bothersome. The advantage is that it, like the external speaker, can be turned up very loud, so it's a great phone to use in noisy environments. My callers have told me that I sound clear and natural on their end.

I'm not a huge user of Sprint's well-regarded Vision service, but it works well on this phone. The screen is very good, but not quite equal to that of Sprint's Toshiba 5040 phone. Menus are well laid out and the interface generally does the job. One surprising omission (which other Sanyo phones also inexplicably lack) is a straightforward alarm clock. The RL2500 does have "call alarms," but these aren't as intuitive for most peoples' use.

Recommended if you don't need a camera phone, but want a good Vision-capable Ready Link/speaker phone, AND if you aren't bothered by the somewhat shrill sound.

14 Great Phone!
Over the past few years I have owned several phones (motorola, samsung, nokia) and this phone is by far the best phone I have ever owned. Sanyo is the best brand that Sprint carries, and the quality shows through to this phone.

Pros:
-Great Battery Life
-Large very sharp and bright color screen
-Awesome Speaker Phone
-Very Light Weight
-Small size
-Ready Link Capablility
-Picks up Sprint PCS signal in places my samsung did not
-Easy to use interface

Cons:
-No Camera (this isn't a problem for me because I don't really need a camera on my cell phone, and in my opinion they are just a waste of the battery- the VM4500 has horribly battery life when you use the camera)

Overall this phone is quality built with all the features that I need. I would reccomend this phone to any sprint users who do not need a camera.