Review: Sprint's Push-to-Talk Cell Phone

Jan. 29 -- For several years, Nextel has been the cell phone carrier of choice for many because its Direct Connect two-way radio feature gives members of a workgroup a fast and easy way to keep in contact — an especially valuable feature for many businesses.

Now walkie-talkie service is available from other carriers. The phones and service options of Sprint PCS Ready Link and Verizon Wireless Push to Talk have expanded the choices of carriers, coverage, and rate plans.

We tested the Sprint PCS Sprint Vision Video Phone VM4500 ($379 street, plus service fees), also known as the Sanyo SCP-5500, a 3.8-ounce, dual band, tri-mode phone with a built-in video camera that can capture 15-second video clips. The phone, which Sprint PCS advertises as "The Whole Package," comes with an abundance of cool and user-friendly features.

If you're already using Nextel's two-way radio service, the VM4500 may not be a good enough reason to switch, but if you're a Sprint PCS customer who has yearned for fast, inexpensive walkie-talkie convenience, the Ready Link option could keep you from leaving.

Those not interested in two-way radio features might find the VM4500's surprisingly capable video mode intriguing, but that alone isn't enough to prompt a phone upgrade. The video capability does allow you to take advantage of the extra-cost Sprint PCS video mail service, though, which lets you store video clips online or send them to computers or other PCS Vision Video Phones.

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Corporate Speak

Ready Link works in parallel with conventional calling. You can only make Ready Link calls to other Sprint PCS customers who have Ready Link-enabled phones with Ready Link mode turned on.

This is a premium service — $15 per month for unlimited Ready Link calling — with relatively costly phones (the two other Sprint PCS Ready Link phones, the RL2500, which we used to test the VM4500, and the RL2000, are $299). Thus consumers aren't likely to find many friends with Ready Link capability — but as with Nextel's similar service, Ready Link is a natural for people who work for the same company and need to keep in touch.