Review: Kyocera Rise for Sprint
Calls
Pressing the phone button on the home screen brings you to the dialpad. You can swipe sideways to access the call log, and your favorite contacts. The call log provides some information about calls (time, duration) in addition to shortcuts for redialing or sending a text message to that number.
In-call actions are available via controls that appear on the bottom of the screen, You can easily bring back the dialpad, turn on the speakerphone, mute calls, or add a line.
Contacts
Contacts are automatically synced with your Google accounts. The contacts app grabs the Google+ profile data from your contacts who have Google+ accounts (images, links, videos, recent posts to Google+) and you can see that data in the contact cards.
The contact cards look clean and well organized. The information is easier to grasp right away and the tools for accessing, editing, sharing, and otherwise interacting with your contacts are all a cinch to manage.
Contact cards, direct dial, or direct message shortcuts can be placed on the home screens, which give you instant access to your pals. You can also add contacts to your Favorites list — which is visible in the phone application.
Last, the Rise has an entire section dedicated to your ICE — or "In Case of Emergency" — contacts. This little app lets you provide your own basic contact info and the phone numbers of a select few key contacts to those who you might want a stranger to call, should they find you in distress somewhere.
Messaging
The Rise doesn't include any messaging features beyond the stock Android tools. That means you get SMS/MMS, Gmail, email, Google Talk, Google+, Google+ Messenger, and voicemail. Facebook and Twitter are both absent, as is any sort of IM client for AIM, Windows Live, or Yahoo. Of course, feel free to grab those from the Google Play Store.
Hands-On with the Kyocera Rise
Kyocera's Rise QWERTY Phone Headed to Sprint and Virgin
Kyocera Rise
