Abstract: An enhanced power saving method for operating a battery powered hand-held communication system, particularly a cordless phone system, and the communication system constructed in accordance with the power saving method are described. The power saving method consists of an algorithm which divides the standby time of the communication system into a scanning mode and a sleep mode having several different levels to allow the system to enter the scanning mode intermittently. Each level of the sleep mode corresponds to a given length of delay time between two successive scanning periods. The communication system enters different levels of the sleep mode in accordance with the standby time history. The more standby time that passes, the longer the sleep time for the level that the system may enter. This reduces the scan rate when the system is not used for a long period.