ccrochet
01-13-2003, 07:23 PM
If you gotta have your flip phone, then maybe this one isn't for you... but if a flip isn't necessarily what you're looking for, this one's a gem!
I've had my Sanyo SCP-4900 for the past several months and you couldn't pry it from my cold dead fingers if you tried.
The signal quality is excellent -- seems to pull in a signal when all other Sprint phones have given up. Signal quality is so good, in fact, that in the Tampa Bay area, I can leave my phone in Sprint Only mode and never miss a beat.
The sound quality is also very good for a wireless phone. The one exception to this is the speakerphone. Since the speaker is built into the back of the unit, words can get muffled sometimes. Also, depending on the amount of background noise on both ends, your message may not come through. This is a common problem with speakerphones in general, though. Could be better, but not bad at all.
I found was that the software load on the phone needed to be updated. I had the original 1.047 version of the software. What Sprint loaded is the 1.056SP version. If you want to check your software version, choose Phone Info from the main menu, then go down to Version.
If you take your 4900 in to get it updated, BEWARE... People have had all their preferences completely blown away by the folks at the store doing the software upgrade. So be a jerk and insist that they back up the data before they upgrade it. As I put it when I spoke to the rep, "If you lose my data, there'll be he## to pay". Also, be sure to check the software version before you leave the store. I made the mistake of trusting them to get it right the first time, and they only updated the PRL (primary roaming list). Bottom line here: Make sure you get what you ask for or you'll be making another trip to the store like me.
The web browsing became much better after the software and PRL update. The processor in the phone is a bit slow, but overall does a capable job, considering how feature-rich this phone is.
Not only can you download ringers, applications and screensavers, but you can even assign the ringers and screensavers to individual people in your phone book. When my ex-wife calls me, I hear a croaking frog and see the word "HER" scrawled in blood. Yep. Sounds about right... ;)
One of the things I like best about the phone is that it's a fairly capable data pump. I bought the USB interface cable directly from Sanyo and downloaded the PCS Connection Manager software and signed-up for an all-you-can-eat data plan with Sprint. Even with the occasional service problem, it's still the best deal going for you road warriors.
Battery life is also very good -- especially if you turn on sleep mode while the phone's not being used. However, I'd be remiss to not recommend buying an extra battery for your phone. You just never know when you'll need one. Several hours of browsing can tend to eat-up your battery life a bit, so just be aware...
Keeping the antenna raised during use seems to also lower the battery consumption a bit. PCS phones meter their power output depending on the strength of the signal. Stronger signals require less output from your phone. Keep the signal at its strongest, and your battery will thank you.
Like I said before, if you want my 4900, you'll have to kill me, then TRY to pry it from my cold dead fingers. It's a great phone -- even moreso with the PRL and software updates from Sprint. You will need to bring it into the store to get the full software update done, but trust me, it's worth it...
Good luck, and wappy surfing!
I've had my Sanyo SCP-4900 for the past several months and you couldn't pry it from my cold dead fingers if you tried.
The signal quality is excellent -- seems to pull in a signal when all other Sprint phones have given up. Signal quality is so good, in fact, that in the Tampa Bay area, I can leave my phone in Sprint Only mode and never miss a beat.
The sound quality is also very good for a wireless phone. The one exception to this is the speakerphone. Since the speaker is built into the back of the unit, words can get muffled sometimes. Also, depending on the amount of background noise on both ends, your message may not come through. This is a common problem with speakerphones in general, though. Could be better, but not bad at all.
I found was that the software load on the phone needed to be updated. I had the original 1.047 version of the software. What Sprint loaded is the 1.056SP version. If you want to check your software version, choose Phone Info from the main menu, then go down to Version.
If you take your 4900 in to get it updated, BEWARE... People have had all their preferences completely blown away by the folks at the store doing the software upgrade. So be a jerk and insist that they back up the data before they upgrade it. As I put it when I spoke to the rep, "If you lose my data, there'll be he## to pay". Also, be sure to check the software version before you leave the store. I made the mistake of trusting them to get it right the first time, and they only updated the PRL (primary roaming list). Bottom line here: Make sure you get what you ask for or you'll be making another trip to the store like me.
The web browsing became much better after the software and PRL update. The processor in the phone is a bit slow, but overall does a capable job, considering how feature-rich this phone is.
Not only can you download ringers, applications and screensavers, but you can even assign the ringers and screensavers to individual people in your phone book. When my ex-wife calls me, I hear a croaking frog and see the word "HER" scrawled in blood. Yep. Sounds about right... ;)
One of the things I like best about the phone is that it's a fairly capable data pump. I bought the USB interface cable directly from Sanyo and downloaded the PCS Connection Manager software and signed-up for an all-you-can-eat data plan with Sprint. Even with the occasional service problem, it's still the best deal going for you road warriors.
Battery life is also very good -- especially if you turn on sleep mode while the phone's not being used. However, I'd be remiss to not recommend buying an extra battery for your phone. You just never know when you'll need one. Several hours of browsing can tend to eat-up your battery life a bit, so just be aware...
Keeping the antenna raised during use seems to also lower the battery consumption a bit. PCS phones meter their power output depending on the strength of the signal. Stronger signals require less output from your phone. Keep the signal at its strongest, and your battery will thank you.
Like I said before, if you want my 4900, you'll have to kill me, then TRY to pry it from my cold dead fingers. It's a great phone -- even moreso with the PRL and software updates from Sprint. You will need to bring it into the store to get the full software update done, but trust me, it's worth it...
Good luck, and wappy surfing!