The SCP-6000 isn't thin on features. There's a vibrating ringer, Web browser, and voice dialing. Sanyo goes a step above with a massive 300-name address book capable of supporting seven numbers per contact. Each contact can also be assigned an email address, Web address, a ringer, and a monochrome picture. The phone won't hold 2,100 numbers, but it is capable of holding 500 numbers, 300 email addresses, and 300 Web addresses.
Like the SCP-5000, you can upload images and ringers to the phone. Forget caller ID, see and hear the caller. Unfortunately, the cable and software isn't included in the package; the option will add another $60 to the price tag. Besides uploading pictures, we would have preferred that the connectivity kit allowed synching contact information. With the potential of 300 contacts, entering the information with the multi-tap keypad is inconvenient.
The best feature of the SCP-6000 is a carryover from the SCP-5000: call screening. Call screening bypasses Sprint's voicemail system and records messages to the phone's voice recorder. Users can eavesdrop on a voicemail being recorded and decide to answer the call depending on its urgency. Unfortunately, recording time is limited to only 18 seconds each, so if you decide not to answer the call, callers may be abruptly disconnected before finishing their message.
For battery life, Sprint claims the lithium ion battery supplies 2.25 hours of talk time and 160 hours of standby. If it lives up to its claims, battery life is on par with most phones on the market.
The bottom line
The Sanyo SCP-6000 is ultra-portable and an eye-catcher, but the small size provides some usability challenges that didn't convince us that it was worth the hefty $300 price tag. The exclusion of the data cable and software effectively eliminates the coolest feature from the list and makes managing the massive address book virtually impossible. For some, the sleek look may be enough, but beauty is only skin deep.
Pros: Thin and light; picture caller ID; call screening
Cons: No analog support; upload software and cable not included; expensive; uncomfortable to hold; keypad is awkward.
Company: SanyoPhone: 1.800.421.5013
Price: $299.99 at Sprint PCS
Available: Now
Category: Mobile phones
Specs: CDMA 1900 MHz; 5.07 by 1.54 by 0.39 inches; 2.29 ounces; Web browser; 300-contacts phone book; call screening; picture caller ID
