Portable communication device with multi-tiered power save operation

A system for operating a portable communication device, the system comprising at least one module that operates to, at least:

• operate the portable communication device in a first power-save mode comprising providing telephony service to a user at a first performance level;
• determine whether to operate the portable communication device in a second power-save mode that is different from the first power-save mode;
• and
• if the at least one module determines to operate the portable communication device in the second power-save mode, then operate the portable communication device in the second power-save mode comprising providing telephony service to the user at a second performance level different from the first performance level.

A method for operating a portable communication device, the method comprising:

• operating the portable communication device in a first mode;
• determining to operate the portable communication device in a selected power-save mode of a plurality of power-save modes, each of the plurality of power-save modes comprising providing telephony service to a user at a different respective performance level;
• and
• operating the portable communication device in the selected power-save mode comprising providing telephony service to the user at a respective performance level.