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.