A portable communication device transmits, to a communication network, a
radio configuration (RC) request indicator requesting assignment of a
power saving radio configuration for reverse link transmissions. The
power saving radio configuration is one a plurality of radio
configurations including the power saving radio configuration and at
least one other radio configuration defined by a communication standard
different than the communication standard defining the power saving radio
configuration. Average power consumption at the portable device when the
portable communication device participates in the call using the power
saving radio configuration is less than if the other radio configuration
is used for the call.