Sanyo RL7300 (Sprint) review: Sanyo RL7300 (Sprint)

Intro
With the Sanyo RL7300, Sprint PCS is attempting to cut into Nextel's territory by providing a rugged handset with walkie-talkie functionality. Though it largely resembles the Sanyo VM4500, it also incorporates the rubber trim of the company's RL2000, making it ideal for those who work in the construction or transportation industries. It's hard to say how much business the carrier will usurp in this market, but this mobile, with its sturdy design and well-integrated hands-free functions, succeeds in providing an alternative to Nextel's offerings. Though the phone is a bit pricey at $279, you can get it for less with a service contract. With its black-and-slate-gray color scheme, the Sanyo RL7300 isn't pretty, but its design will appeal to anyone needing a handset that can withstand a few bumps and the occasional tumble. Although the phone isn't quite as shock-proof as Nextel's i315 or the Nokia 5100, the rubberized trim around the unit provides an added layer of protection. At 3.71 by 1.97 by 1.12 inches and 4.24 ounces, it's also a little hefty, but Sanyo was clearly striving for substance over style with this handset.

The internal screen is large enough (2.1 inches diagonally) to make Web browsing and text messaging easy on the eyes. The 1-inch external LCD is too small to display caller ID without scrolling the text, but like the internal screen, it supports 65,000 colors. A nice touch is the ability to change the background color that both screens display during incoming calls--your options are red, yellow, black, pea green, and celadon green. We also like that the prominent speakerphone is situated on the front of the mobile above the screen, rather than on the handset's rear.

The keypad is large, and the buttons--which include two soft keys--are well spaced, although the four-way navigation pad in the middle of the unit is a bit small. Our biggest complaint, however, is that the keys are set flush against the unit, which makes it difficult to dial by touch.

On the plus side, there's a dedicated speakerphone button located directly above the dial pad, making it easy to switch between the speakerphone and standard modes. A dedicated button provides one-click access to the wireless Web. On the handset's left spine, you'll find the Ready Link button and a volume-control key. The right spine features the Side Call key, which lets you place or receive calls without opening the cover.

The Sanyo RL7300's list of features isn't extensive by current standards, but its offerings are well integrated. The phone book holds 300 entries, each of which can store up to seven numbers and includes entries for e-mail and Web addresses. Contacts can be paired with any of seven polyphonic (32-chord) ring tones. Though there's also picture-caller ID, the handset does not have a camera, so you must download your pictures. You save Ready Link numbers in a personal list, which can hold up to 200 contacts. (Businesses that establish a PCS Ready Link server can create company lists; only the server administrator can maintain company lists.)

The biggest draw, obviously, is the RL7300's Ready Link capability. When you press the Ready Link button, you see a display of all of the contacts stored in your personal list. Scroll down to select the proper contact, then press the Ready Link button again to make a walkie-talkie-style call. You should note that the contact list and personal list are completely separate, so a number saved to one list doesn't automatically appear on the other.

Other features include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, a calendar, a world clock, a to-do list, an alarm clock, and WAP 2.0 wireless Web access via Sprint's 1xRTT next-generation network. A feature called Match Area Code will display the state of incoming and outgoing calls for numbers not listed in your phone book.

You also get voice dialing, which is very useful for hands-free use. You can press the Side Call key, say the name of the contact you've saved as a voice-dial number, then hold a conversation, all while the phone's cover remains closed. You can also use the Side Call key for answering calls via the speakerphone. The RL4920 can be personalized with a variety of screensavers, many of which are available from Sprint. No games are included, but you can download titles as well as additional ring tones.

We tested the triband (CDMA 800/1900; AMPS 800) Sanyo RL7300 in the Chicago area. Some callers had trouble hearing us, though most said we sounded perfectly clear. On our end, the audio was largely static free, but voices consistently sounded muffled through the earpiece. Ready Link calls were loud and clear however, over the integrated speakerphone.

We reached 3.75 hours of talk time in our test, beating the rated 3 hours. And though we matched the promised standby time, four days is still rather short. According to the FCC, the Sanyo RL7300 has a digital SAR rating of 0.97 watts per kilogram and an analog SAR rating of 1.32 watts per kilogram.