The Sanyo SCP-4500, now a retired model, is still functional after all the technology that has come out in the past year or 2. Many phones have been given facelifts and redesigns, but this one could be put on the market right now, and still sell out.

The sound quality on this phone is amazing. It sounds just like a standard hard-wired home phone. Many conversations have begun with, "Hey, why dont you call me on your cell phone?"

The menu layout and home screen are nicely designed. There is 1 line for the system icons, 2 lines for "title" and date/time, and then 3 lines that scroll through the phone features. One of the menu items in particular that has come in handy for me is the "Call History" Menu. Under this menu you will see four options, "Outgoing," "Incoming," "Missed," and "Clear History." Within the first 3 options you will see a list of 10 numbers, respective to each category.
Another menu that has tickled my fancy is the "Environment" menu. This feature makes it easy for you to switch between different ringers and environments. If you are in a meeting, you can choose the "Meeting" environment, which will turn off all ringers. If you are outside, it will turn the ringer volume to high, making it so you can hear your ringers even on the streets of New York. There are other options, including an option for a custom environment, where you can change each individual ringer and volume, and create your own "banner."

The phone's speakerphone option makes it easy to talk without paying attention to the phone. Simply press "Speaker" and you are promted with a woman saying "Please say the name" followed by a beep. You can now say the name of one of your saved Voice Memo entries. Once you are connected, you can talk to the person from across the room, and still carry a good conversation.

The Games included on this phone are "Crab Catch" and "Slot Machine." Crab Catch is a game where your objective is to catch all the apples as they fall, while avoiding forks. This game can be very addictive, even though it is not a standard game like nibbles. once you get accustomed to it, you will be pleasantly surprised.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 179