Abstract: A portable radiotelephone (100) has a signal quality indicator (110) disposed in a location on an outer surface of a housing thereof so that the indicator is within a peripheral view of the user when an earpiece (210) of the radiotelephone is held to a user's ear. In the peripheral vision of the user, the signal quality indicator (110) indicates a quality of the signal received by receiver (130) of the portable radiotelephone handset.