Features:
- Web enabled
- Voice-activated dialing
- Voice-memo recorder
- Full set of PIM (personal information management) functions
- Up to 4 hours of talk time and 288 hours of digital standby time; includes lithium-ion battery and charger
Description:
Sprint PCS has just introduced the Sanyo SCP-4700, the follow-up to the top-selling SCP-4500. And just like the 4500, the Sanyo 4700 is one of the best phones we have encountered. The polished, well-designed 4700 has plenty of features, including voice-activated dialing and a voice-memo recorder, that aren't available in other premium phone models. Out of the box, we were impressed with its construction, industrial-silver finish, and intuitive controls. The 4700 also boasts dual-band/dual-mode electronics and high talk and standby times. At 5.3 by 1.7 by 1.1 inches and weighing just 5 ounces, the 4700 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 with one hand. The headphone jack, located just above the volume controls, allowed us to hook up a hands-free kit and stash the 4700 in our pocket while we conducted conversations. We aren't fans of retractable antennas--as they are prone to damage--but we used the 4700 for a week without any complaints or breakage. Even though the 4700 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 backlit, blue display allow for seamless navigation through the 4700'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 (Slot Machine and the creepily named Crab Catch), Voice Service, and Keyguard. One caveat: the games, especially Slot Machine, gulp battery life. A travel charger, which fully rejuiced our sample in 45 minutes, is included. The 4700'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 4700 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 4700 handled the rest. The voice memo recorder was just as useful. Instead of scrambling for sticky notes or our PDA, we saved our to-do lists, important numbers, and reminders in the 4700'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. And the minibrowser is just as functional and organized. The 4700 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 Internet a joy, and we can't say that about all Web-enabled phones. Like most phones of its kind, the 4700 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 4700 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 basic 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 4700 doubles as a PDA. And the phone has plenty of other noteworthy features to boot. If the 4700 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 4700 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 4700 (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 4700 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 4700 is ideal for people who aren't impressed by the norm. --Arno Kazarian 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 information only. Many variables, including carrier signal strength at your location, signal consistency (including incoming and outgoing calls), display and ringer settings, and battery-charging methods and history, will affect performance. When handset 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, and in this case you're probably safe to assume you'll experience at least the minimum rated range. Note that manufacturers of dual-mode digital and analog handsets publish battery-life rates for both digital and analog modes, because analog mode consumes 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 handset off the hook. When all went well, we didn't do anything else except record the time when the phone died. In a couple of 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 consistent carrier signal strength, this test should represent best-case talk time. And it's worth noting that several phones' talk-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.
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