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Review: Kyocera DuraMax for Sprint

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Nov 3, 2011, 7:26 AM by Eric M. Zeman

Kyocera fields one of the first devices using Sprint's new CDMA-based push-to-talk service. Can this new system — and the DuraMax — live up to the solid PTT performance of Sprint's aging iDEN network?

The Kyocera DuraMax is a rough-and-tumble clamshell made for Sprint. It's one of the first to use Sprint's new CDMA-based (rather than iDEN) DirectConnect push-to-talk service. Though it aims low with a basic feature set, if you're looking for a simple voice phone that can survive the daily wear-and-tear of an outdoor work environment or active lifestyle, then the DuraMax may fit the bill.

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About the author, Eric M. Zeman:

Eric has been covering the mobile telecommunications industry for 17 years at various print and online publications. He studied at Rutgers Newark and University of Kentucky, and has a degree in writing. He likes playing guitar, attending concerts, listening to music, and driving sports cars.

Both the DuraCore and DuraMax are rugged phones for Sprint. Rather than support Sprint's iDEN network for PTT functions, however, they rely on the new CDMA-based alternative.

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Kyocera DuraMax

2" display 240 x 320 pixels
QSC6085 processor
1,360 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, Water-Resistant

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Comments

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Quasijedi

Nov 3, 2011, 6:55 PM

The most basic thing Sprint allows Kyocera to screw up royally

I'm sorry, but from the review, it sounds like there are so many things that us iDEN folks are accustomed to having perfect right out of the bat, that it's a wonder that this phone ever made it out of the lab and onto store shelves. Why do I say that??? Here's why...

The phone's volume on the ear piece and loud speaker are both weak at best. If you're doing anything outside where there is sound above say 70 decibels (which happens often on even "quiet" construction sites), then this phone will be useless.

Secondly, signal strength. As the review stated, his iDEN device worked IN his basement (and everywhere else) whereas this Kyocera barely worked indoors, and failed in the basement. Outdoors should improve things, but that's not ...
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ShaeBunny

😢

cellphonesaretools

QJ, is that you? Another refugee from BAW?

- cellphonesaretools

Gsanders757

Well,"quasijedi" I have been a Nextel user for 15 years. I purchased 6 of these devices for my company and they work better than the majority of Nextel phones that we've ever used. The sound quality is fine and the reception and battery life is outs...
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