While Sanyo's ultrathin SCP-6000 isn't going to amaze anybody who's visited Japan in the last two years, it's sure going to impress anyone who hasn't. At 2.29 ounces, it's currently the lightest mobile in the United States and perhaps the most distinguishing-looking. We just wish it had better battery life.
Call me slim
You'll first notice this superstylish, silver mobile's ultrathin profile (it measures 5.07 by 1.54 by .39 inches). But make no mistake--the SCP-6000 is a full-figured candy bar-style phone with a mike that sits close to your mouth rather than somewhere up on your cheek. At the same time, it's so thin that it feels like it barely weighs anything, which makes it easy to hold for long periods. You can also plug in a headset and slip it in a pocket since it's slightly taller than a men's shirt pocket.
People have a tendency to think that light products are not necessarily the most durable, and though the SCP-6000 (CDMA 1900) isn't too rugged, it held up well during testing. However, like most candy bar-style phones that have exposed keypads, it's a good idea to turn on the keypad lock when the unit's stowed in a pocket or briefcase.
Almost assuredly, there will be some debate over the phone's backlit buttons, which are slightly raised and made of smooth plastic. They take a little getting used to, but they're spaced far enough apart that you shouldn't have a problem with misdials.
Fully stocked
The screen is nice too. At the default font setting (you can choose between four sizes), the sharp, backlit green or orange display shows eight lines of text. Even though the SCP-6000's monochrome screen isn't as big as the SCP-5000's color display, browsing the wireless Web is still a relatively good experience, and the one-touch Web access gets you up and surfing quickly.
Though lacking color, the SCP-6000 has virtually the same features as the more expensive SCP-5000. These include voice-activated dialing, voice memo, Spanish/English menus, caller ID, a four-way rocker navigation key, a vibrating ringer, voicemail, Crab Catcher (a game), a calendar, a world clock, a calculator, and wireless Web access. You can choose from 17 rings, including the distinctive rooster crow.
If you purchase an optional software/cable package for $59.99 (included with the color SCP-5000), you can upload customized graphics and sounds to the phone via your PC. The phone holds up to 20 low-res monochrome images, 22 melodies (MIDI files), and 5 additional graphics for use as wallpaper. You can also link an image to any entry in the 300-item phone book. If a person with an image on your phone calls, her picture will pop up on the display instead of just her caller ID info. However, even though there's a PC Sync option in the menu, you can't use the software to sync contact and calendar info from your desktop PIM.
A little kinky
Where the SCP-6000 shows some kinks is in its performance. While call quality is good, battery life is subpar. The phone's rated as having only 2.25 hours of talk time. With judicious use of the backlight, we came close to that number in our tests using Sprint's network in New York City, but we managed to get only about half (75 hours) of the rated standby time (160 hours). On a more positive note, the phone comes with the smallest charger we've seen to date--it really is pocket-sized.
There were times when the SCP-6000's signal strength seemed weaker than that of other Sprint phones we were carrying, such as the Samsung SCH-6100. However, except for a few instances, we were able to place and receive calls even when the phone's signal-strength measure barely showed one bar.
For some, particularly those who are wowed by the design of this model, those drawbacks, as well as the lack of analog roaming, will be forgivable. At $299, the SCP-6000 is one of the more expensive Sprint PCS models currently available. But compared to other phones with cutting-edge designs, its price tag isn't outlandish.
