Kyocera hopes to cash in on the growing popularity of push-to-talk (PTT) services with its recently released KX444 model for Verizon Wireless. Based loosely on the company's previous candy bar designs, the CDMA- and analog-roaming-equipped KX440 offers several improvements, including rubberized edges and a speakerphone. Above all, we're talking basics here, as the screen is nothing fancy, and the overall feature set is meager.

That said, this sturdy, affordable phone could find a welcome home on the belt of anyone who craves PTT services for voice calls.The Kyocera KX444 is compact for a rugged PTT phone. It weighs just 4.3 ounces and measures a slim 4.49 by 1.93 by 1.1 inches; a stubby antenna adds another inch of length. The shell of the phone is made of hard plastic, but rubber panels on either side make for a comfortable grip. The black-and-gray coloring is pleasant, but there's nothing particularly inspiring about the overall styling. In fact, it almost could be a Nextel phone. We like, however, that the KX444 comes with a sturdy, detachable belt clip.