Amazon.com Hands-On Review

Samsung's P735 is one of a new breed of cameraphones.Not only does it offer a megapixel camera, but it also has a novel form factor that differentiates it from everything else on the market.It opens up to reveal a large display, but its hinge does more than just open and close.By twisting and turning the top half of the phone, the P735 can be put into a 'L' shape configuration, or actually be flipped around completely so that the main display is on the outside of the phone.This is useful for taking photos.

Taking photos is a snap when you twist and turn the main display to the outside of the phone.

The P735 is a triband GSM phone that works on T-Mobile USA's 1900Mhz network and the 900Mhz and 1800Mhz GSM networks found in most other parts of the world, meaning it will work on your European vacation.It weighs 4.5 ounces, and is 3.6" x 1.73" x 0.95" in size, which is a bit large.Included in that package is a battery that was good for over 6.5 hours of talk time in my tests - even though Samsung claims only 4 hours.

The P735's numeric keypad has a nice feel, but has unusual positioning of the its two softkeys and dedicated camera button: the camera button is above the softkeys, which means that you often hit the camera button instead of the right softkey.The P735 has a nice directional controller, or d-pad, but it is raised quite a bit from the level of the keypad.Everything is very usable; it just isn't optimal.

But one buys a P735 for the multimedia capabilities.The megapixel camera takes a decent photograph for a cell phone.Outdoors shots are a bit blue in color, but reasonable.Indoor shots are much better.The camera offers resolutions ranging from MMS to full 1024x864.Normally the P735 shoots photos in a vertical portrait format, but if you twist the phone's hinge into the 'L' configuration, it will automatically adjust the camera to records photos in landscape format.

The RS-MMC memory card slot supports up to 512MB cards.

Unlike most video capable cameraphones on the market, the P735 can record video clips of nearly unlimited length.The phone only stops recording when you tell it to or when it runs out of memory.Since the P735 has 60MB of internal memory and a RS-MMC memory card slot that supports up to 512MB cards, that's a lot of video.

The P735 also has a reasonable MP3 player included.While you can't create real playlists, you can pick and choose the songs to play.Songs can be in internal storage or on the RS-MMC card.The included stereo headset offers good sound, but uses a proprietary connection, so you won't be able to use your own headset.If a call comes in while you are listening to music, the MP3 player will stop so you can take the call.

The P735's very bright and ultra-crisp 262k TFT main display features 176x144 resolution.

The P735 has a nice 262k color TFT display with a 176x144 resolution.It is very bright, and very crisp, and large enough to get the job done.The external 65k color sub-display is an ultra-bright OLED type that you could read from across the room in the dark - it's that sharp.Both displays are used by the Picture Caller ID system so you can see a photo of who is calling you.

While the P735 doesn't support email, except through T-Zones, it does have nice MMS and SMS editors.It also comes with a nice suite of 3D games, including the 3D first-person flying robot game Metalion.New games, including Java based games, can be bought from T-Mobile or found elsewhere on the Internet.

The Samsung SGH-P735 is a good solid multimedia phone.Not only can it take a nice picture, but it has looks that will turn heads and start conversations.Business users will miss voice dialing and a speakerphone, but for the casual user the P735 will offer enough fun for those things to be overlooked.
--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

Pros:

• Megapixel Camera
• MP3 Player
• 3D Games

Cons:

• Big
• No Voice Dialing
• No Speakerphone

... Read more

Features

• Unique Swivel Design
• Built-In MP3 player and 3D Graphics
• Built-in Megapixel Camera w/ CIF Video Capability
• 64MB internal memory plus 32MB removeable RS-MMC Card
• Includes phone and travel charger

Reviews (9)

Great phone with NO SUPPORT!
This is a great phone for someone who doesn't care for new games. Although the phone has been in the market for nearly a year, there are no games available for it through tmobile besides the few that come with the phone. Don't get me wrong, I love the games, but I'd also love to play Tetris which has yet to appear at the tmobile site.

Here are the more intriguing features.

MP3 PLAYER
The MP3 player is mediocra at best. The nice thing about it is that it pauses when you have an incoming call and allows you to resume right where you left off. The bad part is that you can't fast forward. Many of you may be saying, "It's a phone, what do you expect?" But the truth is that it's built-in video player that does allow for rewinding and fast fowarding so that aspect is a disappointment.

Another HUGE disappointment is that you can't use your stored MP3's as ring tones. Again, the phone allows you to transfer videos from the memory card (RS MMC) to the phones memory and save them as your wallpaper (yes i mean video wallpapers) So again, this is somewhat of a let down since mp3's aren't nearly as complicated (or as large) as videos. Also, MP3's need to be encoded at over 128kbps. I think I encode them at 196kbps. Whenever I tried to go lower, the phone wouldn't recognize them as valid MP3 files.

ADVANCED VIDEO CAPABILITIES
Now for the clincher. Using simple media conversation tools like psp video 9, you can watch music videos and movies on your phone in .MP4 format! I purchased a 512MB RS MMC stick for $65 in December and use it to store videos and music that I enjoy everywhere such as on walks around town and on the bus or train. For those of you that love subtitles, they'll still be legable on the phones screen.

HEADSET
Another saddening fact is that it doesn't include a headphone jack. But it makes sense since headphones don't have buttons that allow you to answer calls so this can be overlooked. It's also comfortable, stay in place and are discrete with its unique design.

CAMERA = 1.1 MEGAPIXEL, BEST OUT
The camera is decent but its still the best US camera phones have to offer. The lack of a built-in flash makes it useless in poorly lite homes or at night.

BUMMER?
Hm, another thing that I noticed some people may miss is that the battery status bar stays idle while charging. I personally don't mind since the adapter itself has a status light (red for still charging, green for go time) so who cares right?

SUMMARY
So it's a media center in your pocket. A 512MB stick can probably hold a single movie, 3-4 20+ min episodes, or tons of songs and pictures. (You can throw your own pictures in there as well). Hope you found this helpful!

The BEST Phone!
I LOVE this phone, I have been a longtime devotee of Samsung and this phone just rings my bell.Swivel feature best for using the mp3 player and just plain showing off.Great reception and battery life is what I would expect.

Tip for those purchasing new mobile phones:Condition your battery!This will greatly extend the life of your battery (in between charges and replacements).
Step 1:The first time your charge it, charge for 12 full hours for lithium ion battery (most common these days).
Step 2: Let it die COMPLETELY and then charge it FULLY again.
Step 3:Repeat step 2 one to two more times.

Always try to let your battery come as close to depleting as possible before recharging, this will extend the life of your battery as far as replacement.Your battery's longevity is based on "cycles," from one charge to the next.The more times you charge the battery, the sooner it will need to be replaced.Also, avoid using car chargers whenever possible, these are a "rush" charge that do not last as long (in terms of recharging) as traditional wall "trickle" charges.

battery life
Did anybody else notice that the batter life is short?It only lasts me about 32 hrs and I don't even use the phone that often.Take two pics and talk for about 10 minutes and battery life is drained.

playing mp3 or mp4 3gp videos on samsung p735
In order to play mp3 files you need to transfer files to your RS MMC but make sure less than 20 characters on name of mp3 track (including spaces letter or number) sam p735 will not read items fromMMC if it has more than 20 characters .also make sure these are mp3 not real audio or wmf sound format.only reads mp3 sound format .u can rename mp3 sound file b4 transfering to multimedia card .make sure once mmc card inside phone u select the mmc location . that will relsolve your issue .also u can download videos and compress it with (pvauthor) program and copy to mmc card and play on your handset

need help
i have a question how can i get the songs to play on the phone with the multimedia card. i added some songs onto the card with a 8in 1 card reader/writer. For some reason its not reading them as an audio file. It reads them as unknown. Could anyone help i would appreciate it thanks ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The Motorola i730 is everything a top-notch phone should be; it's easy to use, as well as sturdy and feature packed. With Nextel's legendary Direct Connect walkie-talkie technology, speakerphone capability and a vibrant color screen, the i730 is the right tool for getting the job done.

Design

Click the image to get a closer look at the i730's features. View the rear of the unit in detail.

The i730 is no ordinary clamshell. Like other Nextel phones, it's built tough for construction and utilities industry users. The phone sports a large 130 x 130 TFT color display with 65,000 colors. Meanwhile, the outside cover features a supplementary monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The speakerphone unit is located below this display on the outside cover, while the trademark Direct Connect and menu scrolling functions can be controlled from the side of the phone. An attached cover protects the unit's USB data, handsfree headset, and charging ports. The phone's control pad also features a five-way button that can control most of the phone's functions. The phone's software features one-touch shortcuts to phone features and easy, icon-driven menus.

Calling Features
The i730's built-in address book can store up to 600 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers and email addresses. The phone comes with built-in polyphonic ringtones plus a vibrating alert and you can assign unique ring tones to contacts for audible notification and caller identification during incoming calls. More polyphonic ringtones can be added via a Nextel Online add-on plan. Voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names. You can also speak numbers and control other phone features with the sound of your voice. Access the last 20 sent and received calls for quick call return or number storage via the recent calls list. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear, and the i730's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.

One of the key features of any Nextel phone is support for Nextel's Direct Connect walkie- talkie technology. The i730 fully supports the service, which allows for one-touch conversations with anyone else on a Nextel phone. It's like a having a CB radio with enough range to cover all of North America. The i730 also features a walkie-talkie private speaker button. This switches from the external speaker to the earpiece for private conversations or to minimize disruptions in quiet environments.

The i730 is built tough and ideal for construction and utilities industry users.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The i730 features MMS-based support for mobile-to-mobile or mobile-to-email text, graphics and sound messaging. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Getting on the Internet anywhere is easy with the i730, as well. Nextel's optional Nextel Online package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. Nextel Online also features games, ringtones, realtime news and sports updates, virtual address books, and more-- all delivered to your Nextel phone.

The i730 ships with a datebook that lets you book meetings, plan events, and set alarms that will automatically turn on the phone if needed. You can store a phone number or Direct Connect ID and initiate a call from a datebook entry (datebook Does not sync with other software programs). There's also a voice recording application that can record phone conversations if you need to replay directions or meeting times. A time and date clock are included, as well.

Entertainment and Software
For those who want their i730 to match their tastes, the phone allows you to customize the idle screen with your choice of hundreds of available images. You can also download new wallpapers directly to your phone with any Nextel Online plan.

The i730 is packed with a number of Java applications. Pre-loaded applications include Advanced Calculator, as well as TeleNav 2.2, an application that provides audible driving directions. A demo version of WayToGo, a location service package, is also included. Both TeleNav and WayToGo take advantage of the i730's GPS capability and both require a subscription for full service. Meanwhile, games that ship with the i730 include a FOX Sports Football game demo, Bejeweled puzzle game demo, Zip Zavier adventure game demo. You can also download more games to the phone's 3MB of internal memory via the Nextel Online service.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola i730 weighs 5.1 ounces and measures 3.6 x 2.0 x 1.1 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 200 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 75 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the IDEN 800 frequency. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Motorola i730 handset, standard lithium ion battery, standard battery door, carry holster with swivel clip, black rapid travel charger. ... Read more

Features

• The i730 comes with a new 65k color display with enhanced clarity that allows you to customize your screen with downloadable wallpapers, adjustable color palettes, and choice of three font sizes
• Hands-free cellular conversations are always available with the built-in speakerphone
• Set your phone and instantly connect to the last Direct Connect call or an assigned contact by pressing the PTT button from the main idle screen
• Comes with a powerful datebook that allows you to book meetings, plan events, and set alarms that will automatically turn-on the phone if needed
• Phone can store up to 600 contact entries - Store up to seven numbers for a single name

Reviews (120)

Nextel call quality is tops
Nextel and Motorola have developed the ultimate "ultra cool, super sleek,great phone w/the i730. Not only does it have consistent great sound quality on calls, but the ability to quickly contact other Nextel friends or relatives with a single push of the Direct Connect button makes other phones "just another phone".
**By the way, the Direct Connect (2 way radio) is usable in FULLY PRIVATE mode by simply pressing 1 button. The speaker turns off, you hold the phone to your ear, you scroll to the name of the bud you wish to contact, you push the button to talk and release it to listen and NO ONE has to hear your fast Direct Connect conversation. All Nextel phones have the privacy button for Direct Connect. It makes voice mail such a waste of our time.
That is how I use my Nextel all day at work in the office, I also keep mine on silent vibrate mode for totally discrete private use.
Look at any volunteer fireman/firewoman, construction person, cop, or young Jr High/HS kid in the Westchester/Dutchess/Rockland/Putnam County, NY region: you'll see a Nextel on their belt or in their hand. It is THE PHONE where I live.
Just try one. They have so many plans you will find one you like.

great phone, better customer service
This is a review for boost mobile (nextel's prepaid service).I have a company phone when I travel during the school year, so I wanted a cool prepaid phone.I had (still do) a Nokia 1220 (Tracfone) and that phone was good (very basic), but I only had service in my local area (Houston) and no where else.After getting stuck at Chicago O'Hare without cell service, I decided I needed a phone that would get service in all major areas of the USA.I have not been dissappointed!!The rates are VERY reasonable for prepaid ($.15 - $.25/minute), customer service has been WONDERFUL, and it has (almost) all the cool features I had on my Sprint vision phone.TM, internet and walkie talkie (to Nextel and Boost customers).I hope what I read in an earlier review is not right about them getting bought out by sprint, because I was with them for almost 6 years and the customer service and plans went VERY steadily downhill!If you need a REALLY COOL phone and do not want a monthly contract, consider Boost Mobile.

Positive feedback
The I730 of mine has served me now for over a year and a half. I have never had any major problem. Due to me using it all the time and dropping it a few times I am now looking for another to replace it. I don't have any problems with internet service, cell service or two way radio, unless I go out of the Nextel tower area. Which for me isn't very often. I wouldn't trade mine if I had to.

i730 is not that bad
The i730 is a great phone, but I still think sprint is better. I gave this phone a rating of 3 because it doesn't recieve service everywhere you go. that's CRAZY! I thought nextel recieved signal anywhere. Currently I attend Wayne State and my phone rarely has service. On the other hand if I'm at home my phone never drops calls. Nextel really needs to step it up a notch, buI guess I can't say much about it because sprint will be buying them out soon.

Not a bad phone, but the cheaper model gets better signal.
I don't own this phone. I own the cheaper Motorola (Nextel) i710. I have many friends who own this phone though, although a few of them have since "downgraded" to the i710.

The main reason I chose the i710 over this i730 was signal strength. the i710 consistently gets better signal the the i730 no matter which of my friends phones I compare it too. All my friends are on the same wireless plan from Nextel as I am, so I know its not service, it is definitely the phones.

I can have full bars on my phone (5 including the little antennae icon) and my friends phone held right next to mine will have 2 or 3 bars. My phone gets signal in places their phones are "Out of Service."

Now you might say that maybe my friend just has a dud phone. Well I have 4 friends who have the i730, 5 friends with the i710 and one with the i860, all from Nextel, and the i710's always have better signal compared to the i730's. The i860 gets as good a signal as the i710 (but its significantly more expensive too).

I am not sure why two phones based on the same hardware and software have such drastic differences in signal. The only thing I can think of is some hardware added to give the i730 an external screen somehow interferes with the antennae hardware somehow.

Other than signal strength compared to the cheaper and basically identical (except for external screen) i710, the i730 is a pretty good phone. Lots of features, solid and durable construction and good battery life. For me signal was more important that a silver case an an external screen but if you like those things the i730 is a decent phone to use. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Overview

Compatible with T-Mobile cell phone service, the Nokia 3660 is an update of the 3650 Smartphone, with a more conventional keypad, plus Web and Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in VGA digital camera, video MMS, and more, all displayed on a 176x208 pixel, 65k color MD-TFD screen. It accepts MMC cards for upgradeable memory, and runs on the GSM 900/1800/1900 platform.

Calling Features: Used simply as a phone, the 3660's features include vibrating alert, call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, voice activated dialing, any-key answer, auto-answer, speed dial, mute, differential ring, a separate voice mail button, and a 500-entry phone book capacity. Nokia also supports TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf), and hearing aid support for the Nokia LPS-3 Loopset, (adapter and Loopset sold separately).  

Users can add different media elements to e-mail messages.

See a detailed diagram of the Nokia 3660's features.  

Messaging and Internet: Advanced MMS capabilities built in to the 3660 enable users to send, edit, forward, and receive image, text, audio, and video messages over the wireless Internet, to and from compatible phones or PCs. You'll also get instant messaging capability, messaging templates, SMS two-way messaging, conventional email, and predictive text assistance. Beyond messaging, the 3660's Internet connectivity lets you access online services such as stock quotes, road directions, airline information, entertainment, and more. You can also download Java applications (version J2ME) to add additional capabilities to your phone, and high-speed data transfer and download round out the package.

Vital Statistics:

The Nokia 3660 weighs 4.59 ounces and measures 5.1 x 2.24 x 1 inches. Its Lithium Ion batteries are rated at up to 4 hours talk time, and up to 200 hours standby time. ... Read more

Features

• Integrated video/digital camera
• Integrated Bluetooth wireless technology
• 3.4 MB on board storage, MultiMediaCard expansion slot
• Oversized display;supports 65,000 colors for MP4 video playback
• High-speed internet access, supports Java-based downloads

Reviews (10)

3660
VEry easy to use and although it is fairly big it is a great price for a great phone!!

Good one nokia 3660
This phone is an excellant phone. The RF reception and signal strength are extremely good. Comapred with other manufacturer phone for the same provider at my desk. Other phones=0 bars. This phone gives 2 bars.

Feature wise this is good too with all required features.

Camera is on the back and it gets scratched and dusted often. I think this has been a problem with almost all camera phones. May be they should think of giving a small sliding door to cover the lens.

Customer support is very good.

Avid Nokia User
The 3600 is a slightly updated version of the Nokia 3650. The updates are only the higher resolution screen and the normal configuration of the buttons.

Nokia makes some of the best phones around and the 3660/3650 is no exception. The phone gets great reception, is simple to use and has some great features.

One thing that makes the phone easy to use is its customizable menu. Not only can you arrange features in the order you want, but you can create, name and organize new folders in the menu. Adding and moving features from one folder to another is a snap.

Another great feature is the ability to download third party software. For my 3660 I have downloaded file compression, mp3 playback, and remote control programs. They work great and give my phone features that few other phones have. (and many can be found free online!)

The Bluetooth is a great feature and I have had no problems with it. Personally, I recommend buying a quality Bluetooth PC adapter from a reputable company i.e. Kensington or Belkin. Also, it is not necessary to use Nokia PC Suite to send or recieve files with Bluetooth. The only use for PC Suite is to convert mp3's to ringtones. Otherwise Windows XP supports file transfer for pictures, mp3's (with a playback capable program added to the phone), and information. Once a connection is established, I choose the file I want to transfer on my PC, right click, choose "send to...", choose "bluetooth" where my phone is listed and there you have it.

The phone may be big, but only when compared to flip style phones which are always bigger when flipped open. Honestly it is smaller than your hand and less than an inch thick. The 3390 is about the same size as is the current 6010 (both very popular). You could go with the Samsung E715 flip camera phone, but you lose 3rd party support, speaker phone, video capture/playback, bluetooth capability, expandable memory, and ease of use.

If you want a phone that does it all, does it well, and looks really sweet with a black face plate, go with the 3660.

P.S. the 6600 has only a larger memory card 32 v. 16 and wireless sync capabilities over the 3660.

inconvience
My friend and I traded phones because we have T-mobile so all we needed to do was to switch SIM cards. Unfortunately, someone ran over my phone so I was presented with what seemed like a fairly nice Nokia camera phone.

For the first couple of weeks, I enjoyed the camera and video options. I could access websites, but it does not offer AIM.After a while, the rotary numbers become annoying to use when trying to save someone's number when you just ran into them and have no time to talk.

The size is also inconvienent. I can compare it to a remote control. My friends actually joke about it. It's a common topic when someone first sees my phone. When you don't want to carry a purse or a bookbag, carrying it in your back pocket, or any pocket for that matter, it weighs down your pants.

The battery life is fairly decent. It lasts for 2 days tops.

All in all, I would have to say this phone is a hassle. It's not for fast-paced people, although it offers many options like a calendar, the internet, camera, and a converter calculator. I have seen many other phones that offer these options and are much more convienent. I also do not think the money is worth it for this Nokia. Save your money for something like an iPod, and go with a Samsung.

perfect
I got a Nokia3650. I think it's great. So when my contact is end. I got this one. I haven't got it yet. But I am sure it's perfect! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With a VGA camera, dual color screen, polyphonic ringtones, and support for multimedia messaging and Cingular wireless Internet services, the LG L1400 packs a lot of power into a sleek package.

Design
The phone sports a clamshell design with a large 128 x 160 color display with 65,000 colors. The outside cover of the handset features a supplementary 96 x 96 full-color OLED display that can display picture IDs, time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The phone's VGA (640 x 480) camera is placed just above this display. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. There's also a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets.

Calling Features
The L1400 supports polyphonic ringtones as well as Cingular's "Super Tones" enhanced ringtones. With picture and ringer ID functions, you can assign pictures and ringers to your most common callers. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from Cingular's MEdia service. For times when you want to be discreet, there's also a vibrate ringer mode.

Voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names, while the L1400's phone book will keep track of up to 255 contacts. The phone also supports Cingular's "Fast Forward" call forwarding device, which enables you to effortlessly forward your wireless calls to your land line phone.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The L1400 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity. In addition to basic text and picture messaging support, the phone features the AOL Instant Messenger client for easy wireless chatting (Cingular messaging charges apply). There's also a built-in web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as picture and sound messaging are also supported by the phone. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

When used with a Cingular data plan and the phone's USB data capability, the phone can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs. A number of handy software tools are bundled with the L1400 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator with unit converter, a notepad, a calendar and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
The L1400's VGA camera features a 4x zoom mode and a 9-shot multi-shot mode for capturing action scenes. Brightness and color balance adjustments are also possible.

The L1400 lets you set screensavers, themes and wallpapers to your tastes. Thephone is also Java enabled, meaning it supports games written on the Java platform. Games are available via the Cingular MEdia service.

Vital Statistics
The LG L1400 weighs 3.35 ounces and measures 3.52 x 1.89 x .97 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.3 hours of digital talk time, and up to 220 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 800/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
LG L1400 handset, lithium-ion battery, AC charger, user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• Built-in camera with 4x zoom
• 65k color TFT display
• Mobile instant messaging and MMS (multimedia messaging service) capable
• Voice-activated dialing
• Personal organizer includes calendar, calculator, alarm clock, and voice recorder

Reviews (26)

Best phone i have ever owned
This phone is amazing.What people are going to have to understand is that there will be and always will be problems or features the service provider has or the phone has...some of these are planned by the companies themselves...so you will buy another phone(a more expensive one)...ex. LG L1400 doesnt have speakerphone but the V551 does and the V551 doesnt have the second screen but the L1400 does....its all up to preference and the people who put these phones down should have looked at the features before they start purchasing expensive phones

If you like what you see in the description and the feature menu for this phone it is WELL worth the investment and so is the V551.These are two very exceptional phones and I recommend both of them.I however chose the LG phone simply b/c I wanted the second screen ( I did alittle homework...hm what do ya know.)

Oh and if you ever need a flashlight open the L1400 its pretty bright.

Poor phone menu and extremely poor sound
What is important for the phone?Of course, the basic functionality first.What is bad about this phone?

1.Phone Book navigation.If you have used SAMSUNG navigataion then that is the best.e.g. when you look at the phone book and keep pressing menu button it will scroll about 5 phones at a time.
2.Short cut to call someone.If you have to store a number at lets say 22 then you can not.Samsung has whole phone book numbered so that you can call just pressing 22 (or 55 or 9) for 2 second and it will dial the number for you.e.g. I was storing my first 10 best friends/family numbers at 1,2,3,5, 10,11,22,33,44,55,...etc so I can call at one touch.I don't use voice system.
3. Sound quality:Very low sound
4. Ring tone:Very low
5. How long did you talk?When you are talking and want to see how long you have talked, you can not see because LCD turned off.
6. Buttons not that much slick.Little hard to press.Samsung has the best slick button to touch.E.g. dell keyboard vs other key borad.
7. Flip phone: I had Samsung N200.Bought 4 yrs ago for 250.That was a flip phone but advantage was you don't have to open cover unless you want to talk someone.So, FLIP PHONE ARE ONLY GOOD IF IT ALLOOWS to navigate the functionality without opening the cover.So, May be NOKIA is the way to go with.
8. Camera memory - Too less.So useless.
9. Battery life - Ok.

So, Finally I would buy a phone that has
1.Best navigation
2.No flip unless it allow to see the activity from outside itself.
3.Best sound quality
4.Vibrate mode as well.
5.Camera - Forget it.Keep credi card size camera if you need one which may have same or batter quality.
6.No free phone.Get what you want by paying and keep it for long period.

I hope this helps to buy your next phone.

Average phone!
When I first saw this phone I bought it, not knowing the the specs and everything before.After a couple of days finding out the features and how-to's I came up with the following verdict.

Pros:
1)Two bright screens
2)Ability to change pictures on both screen
3)Light and easy to carry around
4)Voice/sound recorder
5)Nice camera with 3X zoom, comes with decent amount of camera features (example: color mode, sephia mode, black and white mode, etc.)

Cons:
1)Lacks features (example: speakerphone, music creator)
2)Unable to use voice/sound recording as ring tone
3)Battery life is less than average
4)Comes with average ringtones, pictures, and only 1 game
5)Unable to remove the word "Cingular" from the front screen (so the picture you set can be view without obstruction)

Conclusion:
I bought one and I'm still going to keep it, just because it is a LG flip phone.If you just want a cool looking phone just for talking, I recommend this one.But if you want all the gadgets and gizmos to the maximum, this one is not for you.

Not too impressed
I'll say upfront that I am often a negative person. I'll try to be fair. I've had this phone for about 2 weeks now and I haven't found anything I really like about it. Here are the good and the bad (not in that order):
Cons:
-On the menu 3 of the 9 icons will take you online. And you will get charged unless you're quick on the cancel button. The center button on the joystick will also connect you to the net, so don't push it. It seems like Cingular convinced LG to make the phone this way so they could trick you into using their data service.
-The alarm is under "My media" (???) and then "tools". Why media??? Because they had nowhere else to put it. And you better be quick when setting the alarm, because if you stop pushing buttons for about 2 seconds you'll end up at the main screen and have to go back through the menus to get to it again.
-No speakerphone. And the regular speaker isn't that loud.
-Not much storage space for pictures.
-The included ringtones are annoying.
-Sometimes the screen turns off (goes black) right after a call. I wouldn't mind except I don't get to see how many minutes I used. Maybe my phone is defective?
-You usually have to hit the end call button twice to end the call. 4 minutes and 58 seconds... end call... 59 seconds... end call...oops, too late...they got you for another full minute.
-Probably a cingular problem, but I'll have 3 bars for a signal when I'm dialing, but as soon as I hit "call" it drops to one or zero bars. This happens 75% of the time. It also doesn't pick up calls sometimes and notifies me of voicemail 45 minutes later.
-Not many options to customize menus, colors, etc. Oh well... I don't care about this.
-The box it comes with says "drive safe" or "drive courteous" or something like that... but this phone doesn't even come with a headset. If they're pushing safety they should include one like most phones. Maybe they think people won't use their phone at all while driving if they don't give them a headset? Doubtful.
-You can't change the profile (ring volume, vibrate, silent mode, etc.) without openning the phone.
-Battery life isn't great.

Pros:
-Battery life isn't great.... but it could be a lot worse.
-External screen for picture ID, taking pics of yourself is cool.
-Infared port for transfering files is great. This might be the single saving grace of the phone. You don't see this much outside of a Nokia.
-The phone is light and pretty small. It also seems to be built fairly well.
-The price is right.

All in all, it's okay for the price. I might recommend a Nokia instead. And I'd recommend Verizon instead of Cingular if you live in the Pacific Northwest. Or pretty much anywhere west of the Mississippi for that matter.

just average..
Very short battery life. 18-20 hrs on standby. Make sure the city you live in has good coverage. Amazon said there was no coverage on the city I live in. Two other retailers said otherwise. Big mistake. I hardly get one bar at all times. It only works when I'm at work, 15 miles up north. Amazon claims there is no coverage there either, but this time they were wrong. Plan on buying extra ringtones and wallpapers since the phone has a very limited amount. Very nice and sleek looking phone though. That is not good enough to give it anymore stars. If you go with cingular and you want a decent priced(or free maybe?) phone with a plan, go with the sony-ericsson one. ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Compatible with T-Mobile service, the Nokia N-Gage QD is a GSM phone and handheld gaming console rolled into one. The N-Gage QD features Bluetooth wireless connectivity, a hot-swap MMC-card slot for memory expansion and games, and a 36,600-pixel screen. Like all the latest Nokia phones, the N-Gage QD runs on a variant of the Symbian OS, which allows fast multitasking between game applications, phone calls, messaging and other functions. Users of the original N-Gage will be delighted to know that the N-Gage QD operates as a phone without the need for a headset; hold it to your ear and talk all you want. It's also smaller and more jeans-pocket-friendly than the original model.

The new N-Gage QD is smaller and more intelligently designed than its predecessor. Plus, inserting game cards is a snap.

Overall, we found the N-Gage QD a stunning successor to the original. Nokia has certainly listened to users and made improvements in all the right places. Barring a few quibbles, this new gaming phone is poised to make a real name for itself in the portable gaming space, something the original model was largely unable to do.

Calling and Multimedia
Gaming is the heart and soul of the N-Gage QD, but don't forget, it's also a powerful phone with the latest mobile Web, e-mail and messaging features. While we liked the ability to use it as a conventional handset, Bluetooth is built in, so going hands-free is easy with a Bluetooth-enabled headset. If you're not Bluetooth-inclined, there's also a jack for a wired headset. Like ringtones? You can get creative with polyphonic sounds that get you noticed in a crowd.

The N-Gage QD packs plenty of portable graphics firepower.

If you have GSM or GPRS data service, you can browse the wireless Web using the built-in browser. We found these features tricky to set up and the Nokia interface for these functions somewhat confusing, but once we got things going, we enjoyed downloading some game tips and tricks from n-gage.com. The unit also serves as a wireless e-mail and messaging client with support for all the latest protocols (MMS, SMS, IMAP4, POP3, SMTP, and MIME2). We especially liked the Java-based expandability of the phone; with a data connection it’s fun to download new Java-based games and new game levels. You can also download productivity apps like calendars and planners.

With this iteration of the N-Gage, Nokia decided to drop the FM radio and MP3 player functions from the device. We think these would have been nice to retain, but Nokia was intent on making the N-Gage QD more exclusively focused on gaming. Nokia has retained multiplayer gaming via Bluetooth so you can still go head-to-head with up to four players via a wireless connection.

Gaming
Okay, the meat and potatoes. The Nokia N-Gage QD didn’t disappoint when it came to gaming performance on a handheld device. The redesigned controls are far more user-friendly than those on the classic N-Gage. Gone are the days of clumsily pushing the directional pad inward to make a selection; a separate selection button is now available. The newly placed slot for games and memory expansion cards is one of the biggest improvements as users no longer have to remove the battery and cover to pop in a new game. The card slot is now easily accessible on the outside edge of the unit and is protected by a rubber cover.

Our test model came with Ashen, a three-dimensional first-person shooter set in a macabre, supernatural world. Creepy-crawly things were coming at us from all directions and we found ourselves pretty immersed in the game--quite amazing, given that the screen is a little smaller than a business card. Graphics were impressive, too, for such a small device that offers robust battery life (Nokia claims 10 hours of play time on a single charge).

We had some reservations about the number of currently available games for the N-Gage. Many are forthcoming, however, and Nokia has obviously made a serious commitment to improving the platform. The N-Gage QD is a clear and positive sign of what’s to come. --Joshua Gunn

Pros

• Vastly improved design
• Compact
• Good portable graphics power
• User-friendly controls
• Robust phone features

• MP3 and FM radio features dropped
• Small library of available titles
• Somewhat confusing user interface

What's in the Box:
The Nokia N-Gage QD unit, an AC charger, a dual mono headset, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a software CD-ROM, a games brochure ... Read more

Features

• High-performance mobile 3D gaming
• 4096-color screen and backlight
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• Hot swap MMC-card slot for external memory
• Supports text and instant messaging

Reviews (28)

Its OK , But...
Really very compact, easy-to-use phone. But the following things, that i think are quite usable, doesnt exist:
- IrDA or USB interface
- MP3 player and Radio(N-GAGE do has)

Rugged, excellent batt life, bluetooth, and games!
I was originally looking for a tough, bluetooth capable phone with decent battery life. Surprisingly, I didn't find many out there. I was debating between the n-gage or sony t610. Ultimately I went with the n-gage, and I'm pleasantly surprised. First off, it's basically a mini-PDA. It runs symbian OS6, and you can get tons of apps for it. I sync via bluetooth to my PC. I don't need a phone camera, I already have a good digital camera. The battery for the n-gage is powerful! 1100+ mAh wow. The games are actually pretty good. I've been playing Tony Hawk and enjoying it. It's better than a GBA. The phone itself is pretty small, it fits in my pants no problem. As another reviewer said, the speakerphone is LOUD.
The only disappointment is the handset speaker. I can barely hear callers, I almost always swith the the speakerphone. That is annoying. I'm curious if it's just my phone, or are all n-gage's have really low sound. But other than that, it's an excellent device: phone/pda/game platform with blue tooth, all in one. There are now some excellent deals for it too.

**BUYER BEWARE** SPECIAL OFFERS AND ACTIVATION DECEIVING!
For me, purchasing this phone (actually 2 of them) on Amazon was the worst phone experience I have ever had.

First of all, you choose a cell phone plan at checkout, however the plans have nothing to do with this phone, since it is regarded as a Pay As You Go Phone, in other words rechargeable.So I received them and was puzzled as to why they would not already work.Then spent hours on the phone with AT&T getting them activated, since customer support had limited knowledge about these phones.

Second and most annoying is the Special Offers, sure they look great at first, Amazon is paying me $50 or $100 to accept this phone after rebates.However, getting the rebates is like PULLING TEETH!

I received notices from AT&T and Amazon stating that I was uneligible for the rebates, and upon calling them and explaining to them that I should be, so far I have received the small rebate from AT&T, but nothing yet from Amazon, and it has been 6 months!Everytime I call they say they are backed up and I need to wait longer and to send in my cell phone bill to "speed up the process".They owe me $400, ($200 a phone) and it doesn't appear that I may ever see this money.So a big word of CAUTION to all of you, if you can find this phone elsewhere at a decent price, I would go for it!

The phone itself is alright, however battery life is horrocious.If you play a game for a couple of minutes and then put it back into standby mode, the battery will fade to nothing that very same day, so you pretty much have to keep it plugged in all of the time.

Hope this review helps!

Excellent Value for a Symbian Smart Phone!
When reviewing the N-Gage QD I will review it based on the reasons I bought it.If I was reviewing it as simply a game system the review would be much lower, however, the strength of this phone is the wide variety of things you can do with it besides games.

First off, this is a very affordable Symbian Series 60 smart phone.This means you can run a wide variety of software on this phone.It comes with a great calendar and phone book built in that can sync with Outlook or your Palm OS PIM software.You can add great software like eReader and Mobipocket for ebooks, MP3 players (this phone is only mono sound though), movie players, picture albums, database software to track all your passwords, andmuch more.It is almost like having a small Palm Pilot organizer in your phone and is much more advanced than the standard phones.

It is very cool to be able to read a book anywhere I'm at, go on the internet with ease if you add the Opera Browser or listen to a recorded podcast with the free Helix MP3 player.It is a very good cellphone with great range and excellent battery life and oh yeah it plays N-Gage video games as well.

Even if the video game part doesn't interest you make sure you download the free 3D Snakes game from the Nokia website.That game alone combined with the smart phone features make the N-Gage a steal at the current price point.There are also a couple of great games coming out for it like Splinter Cell and X-Men Legends that are well worth buying.They give you Tony Hawk Pro Skater for free as well.

Though not the perfect gaming system, this phone is perfect for gamers and people that need the extra features of a smart phone without spending a lot of money to get it.

Great Phone/Game System
I just got this from T-mobile with 2 free games (current promotion). It's obviously a little unwieldy if you're used to carrying a small flip phone, but it's nothing compared to the original. So far I've played Sims (fun), Ashen (not so fun), Tony Hawk (fun), and I just ordered Pathway to Glory and FIFA 2005; I'm in love with this system.

I also use iSync on my Powerbook to transfer my iCal information, and it works without a problem. Battery life is AWESOME (goes almost 2 days on one charge, even playing games and using the speakerphone), and the speakerphone is LOUD. Its greatest drawback is the size (about the size of a Blackberry), but I've gotten used to it. Also, I wish it had better sound quality (stereo) like the old N-Gage and more T-mobile users had it, so I could play them via Bluetooth.

Bottom line: if you like games, want Bluetooth, and need speakerphone - this phone is your dream come true. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This small wonder packs lots of Smartphone power into a small package that can provide all your mobile office needs. Loaded with Microsoft Smartphone software, the handset features mobile versions of all the essential Microsoft applications you depend on, including Pocket Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player. What's more, the software is designed to sync seamlessly with email, contacts and calendar information on your PC.

Click the image to get a closer look at the i600's features.

Design
The i600 follows the traditional clamshell form factor with an external antenna located on the top right edge of the phone. The large, 176 x 220 screen with 65,000 colors dominates inside of the cover. A smaller monochrome LCD screen, which displays incoming calls, current time, battery life, signal strength and other information is located on the outside of the cover. A five-way selection button allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface and there are also up/down buttons on the left side of the device for easy access to basic controls. A standard 2.5mm headset jack is placed just above these controls. An SD/MMC memory expansion card slot is housed on the right side of the unit. The infrared data port is housed on the top of the unit, while a universal charger/USB data port is present on the bottom.

Calling Features
The i600 has all the latest calling features folks have come to expect. The built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. The call log makes it easy to retrieve the last 50 incoming, 50 outgoing and 50 missed calls. Vibrate modes and custom polyphonic ringtones can also be set to your preferences so you know who is calling without having to look at the LCD. Ringtones can be assigned to specific callers so you don't have to look at the phone to know who's calling. The i600 alsofeatures speaker-independent voice recognition, which allows any user to dial a number by speaking the name of a contact from a phone book, or by speaking the digits of a phone number. GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911. The included Pocket Outlook software features a contacts list that is cleverly integrated with the phone's dialing functions.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
Designed as a complete solution for people who want to bring their office with them, the i600 comes packed with pocket versions of Outlook and Internet Explorer. In addition to keeping track of contacts, Pocket Outlook features integrated calendar and email functions. Microsoft's ActiveSync software keeps the device synced with all of your PC's Outlook information (via USB or IR connection). Users who want Internet connectivity on the road with their laptop or PDA can tap the i600's wireless modem capabilities (Verizon data plan charges apply). The phone also supports Verizon's "wireless sync" technology, which enables i600 users to sync data (calendars, contacts and email) with their Internet-connected desktop PC while they're on the road.

You can use the i600's built in Internet Explorer browser for Verizon Mobile Web downloads and browsing. Verizon's optional Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your e-mail, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. Traditional text messaging is also supported by the phone. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with the i600. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads using the Get It Now service.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the i600 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a to-do list, and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
The inclusion of Windows Media on the i600 means that you can use the handset as a video or MP3 player. The amount of music and video you can store is only limited by the unit's memory, and the included stereo headset is designed for multimedia enjoyment. Personalize your i600 with customizable wallpapers and home screens. If you're into mobile gaming, the i600 supports those, too. As mentioned, many games are downloadable via the Get It Now service.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung i600 weighs 5.0 ounces and measures 3.54 x 2.1 x .92 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 250 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 240 hours of digital standby time. It runs on theCDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Samsung i600 handset, standard lithium-ion battery (900 mAh), extended lithium-ion Battery (1700 mAh), hands-free stereo headset, leather case, sync cradle/charger, user guide, hand strap. ... Read more

Features

• Powerful 200MHz Processor w/ 32MB RAM
• Runs Microsoft Smartphone operating system
• Includes Pocket Outlook, Windows Media Player, and Internet Explorer plus ability to sync directly with your desktop.
• Internal and external LCD display with time/date and caller ID
• Voice-activated and predictive dialing

Reviews (5)

Best Phone I've Ever Used
If you're looking to unshackle yourself from carrying a mobile phone and PDA and don't want to replace them with a brick, then this is your phone.I've been using the phone for about a year and love using the calendaring, email, contacts and tasks that make this phone so functional.

Synchronizing with my PC is as easy as putting the phone into the included USB cradle -- Immediately all my contact, calendar and task information is synch'd.Using Verizon Wireless' Mobile Synch service, my e-mail is delivered directly to my phone in addition to my desktop PC.I can easily reply to e-mail by recording a .wav file that gets attached to the e-mail message and sent to the recipient without ever having to type a letter.

Microsoft's ActiveSync software makes storing documents, spreadsheets, even .pdf files easy and convenient.There are many third party software programs that are also available for the SmartPhone 2003 platform adding to the phones productivity.

Reception and clarity is better than any other phone I've used.One handed operation is simple and part of my everyday use.Turning on silent mode is done with just three key strokes.My advice is that you not waste anytime with the standard battery, but upgrade to the extended battery at the outset.I get two full days worth of usage -- on average -- using the extended battery.

The iPaq and Treo type phones have great features as well, but I don't want to have to carry around something that big and clunky.I love my i600.

I love this phone
I like the small size of this pda phone.I use Microsoft software all the time so it only made sense to get a pda phone that works off of the same platform.I used to have a cell phone and a sony clie pda.It was annoying carrying both around.I sold my clie and upgraded my cellphone with Verizon.It is definitely worth the money.

Poor design means many lost calls
Good concept, but so many problems. For example - if you are on a call, it is nearly impossible to pick up another or to put the person you are talking to on hold; when you open the shell to answer a call, if you so much as touch the buttons on the side of the phone (and it is nearly impossible not to), you won't be able to pick up the call. I am unable to pick up approximately 30% of all of my incoming calls and that is simply unacceptable - and I know it is not a problem handset because they have replaced it once and other people I know with it have the same complaints. A total waste of money.

WOW- what a phone.....
Being in sales, I'm one of the few damned to spend eternity on a cell phone. I'm a certified road warrior. In the past 5 months I've owned a total of 5 cell phones. the v600 from motorola, a few nokias, heck I even tried the N-Gage to entertain myself in the airports. So I am very demanding when it comes to phones. Most importantly, I want a phone that's a good phone.

The i600 blew me away. It continues to blow me away. the microsoft OS is perfect, it sychs with Outlook, and lotus notes via intellisynch software. It keeps scads of contacts, and has an option slot for the SD Memory cards.

If you;ve used an ipaq, or a CE based PDA and liked it, you'll love this phone. Best of all the phone comes with the important things. A spare extended battery, and a charging docking station that lets you charge not only the phone but the spare battery also.

Very well thought out phone, with function, and performance in mind. You cannot go wrong with this one.

Good if you want a phone w/ pda functionality
I initially bought the treo 600.But, I returned it to Verizon after a week because I couldnt get used to the form factor (In my opinion, the treo's ridiculous tiny buttons are a pain, and I am not a fan of devices that require use of a stylus).

The Samsung seems to be a phone that has added features of a pda and NOT a pda that has added features of a phone.I think this is the primary reason I like it so much more than the treo.

I had zero problems syncing with MS Outlook on my laptop when I used the cable.I had to monkey around a little to get the wireless IR sync to work, but eventually figured it out and it works BEAUTIFULLY!I have been waiting a long time for a PHONE (not a PDA) that can by easily sync'd with Outlook for calendar and contacts.This phone does that.I dont plan to sync e-mail with this phone at the time, but I understand that can be done also.This phone solves my most critical need - to have my updated calendar and contacts while I am out of the office.I also like the fact that the MS Windows Mobile O/S is intuitive and very easy to use.Overall, I am happy with the phone.

Cons - Expensive, does not include a camera (doesnt bother me too much, but it seems that it should at this price), a bit slow to "boot-up", internet performance is not as good as my 18 month-old LG from Verizon, small and poorly lit secondary lcd display, the phone needs a simple, hard-plastic belt holster (I'm not a huge fan of the bulky leather carrying case). ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Billed as an entry-level phone, the Motorola v188 is actually a feature rich beauty with quad-band global coverage capability. Instant messaging, MP3 ringtones, dual displays, USB connectivity and gaming support are all here-- a significant step up from entry level phones of the past. It's the perfect companion to T-Mobile service.

Design
The phone features a sleek clamshell design with a large 128 x 128 color display with 65,000 colors. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 32 monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. A stub antenna is placed on the top right side of the unit. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. A USB-capable data port is housed on the unit's top edge. There's a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets on the bottom of the handset, next to the phone's charging port. Face plates are available so you can create the look you're after on the phone's outer casing.

Calling Features
The v188 supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. You can also assign pictures and ringers to your most common callers. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from T-Mobile's t-zones service. There's even an included application, MotoMixer, that enables you to mix your own ringtones.

Speed dialing, which allows you to call pre-programmed numbers with one button is built in, as is a vibrating alert. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The v188 has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity. The phone features support for AOL Instant Messenger (T-Mobile messaging charges apply), and there's also a built-in web browser for t-zones downloads and mobile web browsing. T-Mobile's t-zones service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as picture and sound messaging are also supported by the phone. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the v188 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a notepad, a calendar and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
The v188's USB connectivity can be used to transfer pictures, sounds and graphics to the phone's memory from your PC. Screensavers, themes and wallpapers can be set to your tastes. The v188 is Java enabled, meaning it supports games and application downloads written on the Java platform. Games are available via the T-Mobile t-zones service.

Vital Statistics
The v188 weighs 3.39 ounces and measures 3.39 x 1.77 x .9 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.75 hours of digital talk time, and up to 14.5 days of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Motorola v188 handset, lithium-ion battery, power supply/charger, user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• Entry Level phone with a stylish and slim clamshell design
• Quad band world phone that operates on 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
• Talk handsfree with the 2 way integrated speakerphone
• External caller ID so you can see who's calling before you answer your phone
• Includes phone, charger and user documentation.

Reviews (5)

Just renewed my lease and got it from T-Mobile
I was happy with my previous phone V300.This one gives lot of dropped calls, lot of static when travelling in car...Recommend buying some other phone.

Not So Moto
I upgraded to Motorola V188 from Sony Ericsson with T-mobile as my service provider. The phone looks amazing with its nice GUI and other graphical features. It is sleek and nice to have.

But during my two years of service with T-mobile, I never had any issues with dropped calls as with this phone. On an average I get see two-to-three calls being dropped. The conversation gets disconnected; People cannot hear to what I am saying. I am finding ways to not to use this phone anymore.

I am Not so happy with this Moto Phone..V188

MONIQUE'S OPINION....
I usually put this phone in my bra... That's how small and sleek it is. The ringtones are crisp and the colors are amazing. My connections haven't been lost yet and I've had it for a month. It's usually the other person's phone with crap services like sprint and nextel that drop calls. I use the t-zones service mainly for yahoo messaging my husband over in Iraq, and checking my yahoo mail right from my phone. I also shop for wallpaper and ringers every now and then.
The only problems I have is the fact that t-mobile's network is unavailable one too many times for my taste. But that's not the phone's fault. And I'm still waiting for someone to have the changable faceplates so I can toy around with the already great look of my phone. Also there arent any holster clip's for the 188. I checked many times. I'm not into the leather thing. In the meantime there's always room in my bra for my new beautiful baby motorola v188!

If your looking for a simple phone, this is it.
To be honest, this is my first Cell. But when I finaly decided to purchase one, this is exactly what I was looking for; simple. I didn't want a camera, I didn't want a PC (or Mac, if you prefere), I didn't want an MP3 player, I wanted a phone. And this is exactly what it is. Nice crisp grahpics, uses the HiFi Ringtones, has voicemail, and text messaging. It also has enough features like AIM, a web browser, a calander, and Get More Options (dependant on SP?), to be multi-tasked. But it still knows its' purpose, a simple phone for a simple user.

good display, and ummmm yea........
bought it from a t-mobile store, new when i renewed my contract, i loved the display, crisp graphics, but thats about it that's good on this phone. i'm comming from a nokia 3595.the moto's reception is bad. it breaks up and it cut a conversation. 3 days after i bought it, less than 50 mins used. oing back asap. back to nokia :), too bad thier display sux ... Read more

Amazon.com Hands-On Review

About the Nokia 6800

The Nokia 6800 is simply a phone made for text input. The basic looking phone hides a full QWERTY keyboard (though obviously with smaller keys than you're used to) under the numeric keypad. Just flip it up and turn the device 90¼ to use the keyboard. Its unique design is only featured on the 6800 series and offers the largest full keyboard of any consumer level mobile phone in the US. The only problem with the keyboard is that because it's quite wide, it's hard to handle with one hand. If you want to jot a text message while walking, you'll have better luck by using predictive text on the numerical keypad. While sitting down, or stationary, the keyboard is very hard to beat.

It's hard to beat the Nokia 6800 keyboard's ease of use.

Besides the hidden keyboard, features of the Nokia 6800 include:

• POP3 / IMAP4 email
• WAP 2.0 web browser
• 128x128 color screen
• FM radio

Even though the Nokia 6800 is made for text, it does a great job at voice. Call quality is excellent and dropped calls should be few and far between. It has the standard Nokia series 40 operating system that should be familiar to users of past Nokia models. A joystick in the middle below the screen serves as the main navigation tool. When the keyboard is flipped out it makes using the joystick slightly awkward, since it's to the side of the screen.

The Nokia 6800 ties in very easily with your existing email account and it even supports IMAP which is email technology that keeps email in sync across multiple devices (your phone and computer for instance). It doesn't have fully push email like a BlackBerry, but you can set email to be automatically checked at short intervals. Text and data plans from T-Mobile USA are some of the most affordable in the industry, which is a good thing since you will find yourself using these services a lot.

The Nokia 6800 opens to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard under the numeric keypad.

Like other phones with a built-in radio, the Nokia 6800 uses the wired handsfree unit as an antenna. This means you'll have to plug-in the handsfree before the radio will work, which is a minor inconvenience. The screen is large enough to handle most mobile web content, such as sports scores and weather information. Since the 6800 has GPRS, it downloads data at about the same speed as a dial-up internet connection. Java MIDP 1.0 support is included, so all sorts of applications can be installed. A currency converter, portfolio manager and two games come pre-installed. Custom ring tones can be downloaded in various formats, including MIDI.

The Nokia 6800 weighs 4.3 ounces and measures4.69" x 2.17" x 0.91". It's a little longer than most phones out there, but having a full keyboard more than makes up for it. The lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of talk time, and up to 10 days of standby time, but the numbers will vary depending on your usage pattern. It's a dual band GSM 800 / GSM 1900 handset.

Nokia 6800 cell phone, 1000 mah Li-Ion battery, rapid travel charger, mono boom headset, SIM card.

--Reviewed by Jon Gales, owner of www.MobileTracker.net

Features

• Unique 2-in-1 concept with integrated full keyboard
• Supports concatenated (long) SMS/MMS/ POP/IMAP email, and instant messaging
• 128x128 color display
• Manage contacts, calendar and to-do list with reminders
• Includes phone and travel charger

Reviews (14)

An excellent phone
The phone delivers on all the points I saw in the description. The only reason it gets a 4 instead of a 5 is the fact that the perspex screen is really brittle. It cracked when I bumped into a desk. The bump was not serious enough to have cracked the screen, and now I am left with a cracked screen since neither Nokia nor tmobile will replace the phone. Otherwise an excellent phone, even if you don't do text messaging (I don't) and use the organizer features of the phone (as I do).

A great phone
About six months ago, I was in the market for a new cell phone. Being a student, having a decent phone is a must. I originally bought a Siemens CF62T through a T-Mobile representative over the phone and had nothing but problems with it. After returning the CF62 three times, I was finally able to convince the panjandrums at T-Mobile to get me a different phone. In the interim, I recommissioned an antique Nokia 3390, a five year old relic that earned me snickers and funny looks abound.

Finally, my Nokia 6800 arrived in the mail, and I was amazed at how much better it was compared to the lemon CF62s I was sent. It's user interface and menus are characteristically Nokia intuitive, and the hinge action on the keyboard is sturdy and reliable. The screen, while not the best in the world, doesn't wash out in sunlight as to be illegible. Nokia really should consider an upgrade on the screen, but hey, don't they have the 6820 with that? My only initial complaints were that the left side action button stuck, but a quick chuck across the room after an aggravating phone call cured that. It also was solid testimony of the phone's durability. Finally, the volume control on the side of the phone seems like a design afterthought and is not as intuitive as Samsung's volume buttons on phones such as the E105. Anyway, if you want a phone for texting, calling, and that's just about it, this is a wonderful option!

nokia 6800
i bought the nokia 6800 about two months ago. this phone is by far the best phone ive ever had. it may be a little big, but it has a full keyboard to make up for it. it also has an fm radio, but the headset must be plugged it to use the radio, but all you have to do is put it on speakerphone and you dont even have to use the headest. also, the joystick kinda sucks but you get used to it. also it has an awesome battery. i had it for four days without the charger and i was using it every now and then and it had half battery left when i started charging it. also, when you use the voice recorder, the playback is kind of dull and scratchy but how often do you use a recorder on a phone. overall i would defintily recommend getting this phone.

A smart phone if you use it smartly
I have used this phone almost 3 months.
Good:
1 Very easy to write short message
2 with a cable (about $12) you can download any picture and midi music and personalize it.
3 Very useful speakerphone, so even you don't carry earphone you still could be handfree when you drive
4 FM radio is good feature because when I ride my bicycle and don't want miss any call, I could listen radio instead of carrying my MP3 player.
5 the best point is,I could connect it to my Zire 72 by infradred port, thenI could dial-up go online without internet plan. Very good. I can online and check email at anywhere in T-mobile service area, no extra charge, only use your minutes.
6 with a small adapter ($3 in wal-mart), could use my regular #2.5mm earphone which I bought before for my Samsung phone. So I don't have to buy those "special earphone" in ridiculous price.

Bad point:
1 no bluetooth but I don't care, (a adapter about $49 could let it have bluetooth actually).
2 If I turn volume a little loud, the phone has some noise which makes my ear very uncomfortable. So most time I use earphone or talk with speakerphone.

For the price and excellent performance, definitely suggest if you don't care about bluetooth

Good Phone, Nice Features, Totally Content!
I'm very pleased with this phone.It's a nice upgrade from my nokia 3595.Let's get the cons out of the way first...Okay, I don't like that my keyguard doesn't automatically lock like my 3595.I'm okay with the shape, but it would feel more comfortable when you flip it open if it were shaped like a smartphone(squarish).Overall, the features like the radio, voice recorder and notepad really works for me.I can actually get a few notes(storylines/script notes) down when I'm driving down the street.I've had this phone literally less than 24 hours and I've already mastered it.I'm a gadget fiend, so that's probably why I quickly adapted to this phone.I love the "Go To" feature which is a shortcut for frequently used applications.This is a great phone for people who don't quite need a smartphone, but just something slightly below it.You'll wind up saving about $300.Lastly, I just want to say that the speakerphone is great for me as I'm always on my computer while on the phone.There's a camera attachment that you can purchase off of eBay for around $20 - 30 plus S/H and there's also a boom box type thing like for iPods that you can use in the home and play all of your radio tunes through(can also be purchased cheaply through eBay). ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

It's here and it's better than ever. With a number of big improvements over the original Sidekick, the Sidekick II is a powerful mobile companion and tri-band world phone. Flip open the big color screen and shoot off unlimited e-mails on the better-than-ever QWERTY keyboard. Snap a photo with the new built-in camera and send it to your friends. Hop online and check your top Web picks. Or just pick up your Sidekick II and make a call. And the T-Mobile To Go version of the Sidekick II is the hassle-free way to stay connected. No long-term contract. No credit check. No deposits or monthly bills.

Design

The Sidekick II's email client supports up to three POP/IMAP accounts.

The integrated VGA camera supports 640x480 resolution. There's even a flash for nighttime shots.

AOL Instant Messenger comes installed on the handset.

View any HTML website and navigate with ease using the Sidekick II's scroll wheel.

The Sidekick II is designed to be easy to use in every way. The unique, 240 x 160 pixelss screen supports 65,000 colors and opens to reveal a full keyboard for all your text messaging, emailing and calendar updates. Many users complained about the original Sidekick's lack of buttons for quick access to basic functions. All that has been remedied in this new model. New dual purpose dedicated send/end and page up/down buttons make it easier to place calls and surf the Web. Previously, users had to go into the settings menu of the device to change the volume, but new dedicated external buttons make the process easier and more intuitive. What's more, there's now an external power button-- no more opening the display to turn the handset on. There's also a new external directional pad that can be accessed without opening the screen, a big plus for gaming applications. The Sidekick II retains the handy rocker switch on the right side of the device for quick menu navigation and selection.

The overall size of the Sidekick II is another big change. The unit is approximately 25 percent thinner than the previous version. Overall, it has been improved to provide a more comfortable feel when used as a phone. It's also been designed with an integrated camera for the first time. The camera, LED flash unit and self portrait mirror are located on the back of the Sidekick II.

The Sidekick II runs on the proprietary Hiptop OS, which is designed with a unique wheel-shaped menu for easy selection of applications and functions. The device is built with a total of 48 MB of internal memory.

Calling Features
The Sidekick II's phone book can hold up to a whopping 2000 contacts with multiple entries per contact. A call list remembers your most recent missed, received and dialed calls. The device also features a speakerphone for easy handsfree talking. Polyphonic ringtones with up to 16 chords are included and more ringtones can be downloaded from T-Mobile's t-zones service. Picture caller ID lets you assign a photo to specific callers. Similarly, a ringer ID lets you assign ringtones to callers. For those times you want to keep things discreet, there's a vibrate ringer mode.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The Sidekick II covers all your messaging needs with support for text messaging and multimedia messaging (MMS) with images, sounds and pictures. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. If instant messaging is your thing, you can use the Sidekick II's built-in AOL Instant Messenger application to chat with buddies anywhere. Yahoo Messenger is also available via T-Mobile's application download service (T-Mobile messaging charges apply for text and instant messaging, unlimited messaging included in Sidekick data plan). AutoText word completion, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

If you want email on the go, the Sidekick II has you covered there, as well. You can have email from up to three of your personal accounts sent directly to your Sidekick II and browse the Web the way it was meant to be with the device's embedded browser. Plus, surf T-Mobile's t-zones service, which offers news headlines, weather updates, game and ringtone downloads, and more.

The Sidekick ships with a number of handy tools, including a calendar with up to 1000 event entries, an alarm that can be set to notify you of calendar events and a to-do list. These tools can be synchronized with Microsoft Outlook via the Sidekick II's USB data connection or wirelessly via the Sidekick II's Intellisync technology. Intellisync is a unique web-based application that runs on any PC with a web browser. It allows you to view and update your calendar and contacts information and then upload them to your Sidekick II wirelessly. You can even view all the photos on your Sidekick II in gallery format. All of your data is stored remotely, so if your Sidekick is ever lost or stolen (gasp!) your data is safe and accessible.

The Sidekick II allows you to send and receive virtual contact cards (vCards). vCards are a great way to easily save and share contact information with friends and colleagues. Lastly, if you need to find the keyhole after a night on the town, the Sidekick II has a mini LED flashlight.

Imaging and Entertainment
The Sidekick II has fun in its soul. Snap photos and share them with your friends via messaging or email, or via your online Intellisync gallery. The camera features a night mode for getting good shots in low-light situations.

One game, Rock and Rocket, ships with the Sidekick II, and more are available via the t-zones service.

Vital Statistics
The Sidekick II weighs 6.49 ounces and measures 5.12 x 2.60 x 0.87 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.5 hours of digital talk time, and up to 60 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Sidekick II handset, hands-free headset, carry case, AC adaptor, application CD. ... Read more

Features

• T-Mobile To Go is the hassle-free way to stay connected. No long-term contract. No credit check. No deposits or monthly bills.
• The T-Mobile Sidekick II is the ultimate communication device
• Built-in camera with flash w/ Photo-ID
• Built-in speakerphone and organizer
• A large color screen that flips open to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard makes for quick and easy communication

Reviews (4)

amazon charges way too much
first of all, i have owned this phone, and it's great for instant messaging and text messaging. however, web access is pretty slow, so if that's your main reason for buying, i suggest you look elsewhere. the camera is bad too, even by camera phone standards.

[...]

I cant wait to get this phone
Im 15 years old wanting to get a pre-pay T-mobile sidekick for myself . I been saving up money for one but I still need about a $180 more until I can get one. This phone is awsome and cool.I cant wait to get my.

I can't wait!!!!!!!!!
I currently have a nextel i730 and my contract ends in september. I am definetly getting the sidekick but i have to get the prepaid since i don't use a lot of minutes. This phone is the best though for young people my age! I come here everyday to look at its features. I can't wait to get this phone!!!

I'm so excited. If you want the ULTIMATE COMMUNICATION DEVICE as they say get this!

Awsome phone!
I'm not sure what the deal is, but amazon went from 150 to 200, and now to 370$. WOW.
Well this phone is awsome!
It is not good, for long conversations, cause talking on it, is a bit odd......
Internet is pretty fast , when you diable pictures, I use to for yahoo and sports scores mostly.
AIM, is lightening fast..Just as quick as my home computer.
Comes with one free rocket game that is terrible.. other games cost like 5$. Great ring tones, 2$ a piece..even though there is a bad selection (about 200 songs/sound effects/alerts)....When set to loudest ring volume, its super loud!. (good for using as alarm clock..)

5$ for alarm clock time traveler, but its awsome. You can set tons of alarms ... Your (PRE) sleep button.
The camera, is good for daytime photos. No use to even try it at night, or inside dark resturants/bars. The flash is almost useless. stores 36 pictures...but you can just email them out in seconds., so you really dont need to store them.....
I havnt set up my mail, but it looks cool...
Some people complain about SPEAKER PHONE volume, its not that bad, it could be louder.
ADRESS BOOK IS SO EASY TO SET UP...and stores everything!
THIS PHONE CAN DO EVERYTHING FOR U ! (notes,to do sections)
Typing is really easy, the key pad is just the right size, I've dropped it 2x so far, and everythings fine.
... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with TracFone prepaid cell phone service, the Motorola V60iT is a stylish, high-end contender that features voice-activated dialing and memo recording, text messaging, free voice mail, free caller ID, free call waiting, and much more, all displayed on a backlit grayscale LCD screen.

Click the image to get a closer look at the V60iT's functions.

Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the V60iT features a 4-way joystick for easy navigation to a variety of handy features, including call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, voice activated dialing, any-key answer, auto-answer, auto-redial, dual-tone multifrequency, roaming indicator, speed dial, linked (credit card) dialing, phonebook look-up, phonebook scroll, mute control, no-answer transfer, one-touch 911, system select, usage alert, vibrating ring, and a phone book capacity of 500 entries. There's also 32 different ring tones to choose from, and a special TracFone airtime balance display so you always know how much time you've got until the next refill.

Messaging and Internet
The phone's wireless Internet browser provides data transmission capabilities, two-way text messaging with iTap predictive text input, and access to news, sports, weather and more on the Wireless Internet. It also supports digital TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf).

Organizer
The Motorola V60iT's organizer features include a calendar, calculator, alarm clock, voice memo, and more. Using the included TrueSync software, you can also sync up data from your phone's organizer with your PC.

Fun and Games
This phone comes with three games, plus access to more via the Internet. You can also swap out the faceplates for others (sold separately) if you wish.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V60iT weighs less than 3.8 ounces. Its batteries are rated at from to 120 to 240 minutes talk time and 6 to 8 days standby within the digital service area. It runs on TDMA service.

What's in the Box
Motorola V60iT handset, manual. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

review..
I have a Nokia 1100 Tracfone that saves me quite a bit of money from the monthly contracts i used to have with Cingular cellphone service. Tracfones are ideal for people with light or medium cellphone usage, so it works out well for me. The tracfone website is user friendly and makes it easy to perform functions such as activation, information gathering, or additional purchases. I got a referral from a friend before i activated, which got me 100 free minutes. Since then i have referred a neighbor's tracfone. I paid an extra $10. and got the car charger that just plugs into the cigarette lighter if the tracfone battery gets low when i'm driving.
I was pleasantly surprised to find some extras included free of charge on my tracfone- 2 games, a good selection of ringtones, a calculator, and voice mail. The main downside that i've seen is that you have to be disciplined in your tracfone usage unless you're prepared to buy more airtime/minutes cards. These range in price from $20. to $130. Overall, i'm quite happy with the tracfone.

Tracfone has no customer service :(
I have had one TERRIBLE experience with Tracfone that has lasted over a month.I ordered the Motorola v60 and year card on special for $139.98.When I got the phone I had difficulty activating it, called in and was told I was sent the wrong technology phone.I was sent a TDMA phone and my area is a CDMA.Sent phone back and I had to pay for shipping out of my pocket.Got a second phone, still the wrong phone.Sent that phone back, and now more shipping costs out of my pocket.So I waited a few more days, no contact saying they were sending another phone, so I sent in an email saying I am canceling my order.The following week another phone showed up - this time I refused the package and called in to customer service again.I was told I purchased the phone card and there is no refunds on the cards.Today I finally discovered a web site that lists some very interesting information on Tracfone.http://www.bestfrauds.com/tracfone2.html.With the information at this web site I was able to contact the correct person directly (Executive Resolution Department Manager 1-800-339-9345) and was told I will receive a fill refund with in 5 business days.I will not recommend Tracfone to any one, their customer service is terrible and I wish I would have found and read this web site above before I made the purchase; it would have saved me a ton of grief.I had Virgin Mobile and they are wonderful, but offer no coverage in my current location.I will now try T-mobile, with better luck (at lease their customer. service is open 24hrs, major +++)

tracfone...
I like my Tracfone so far. Mine is small and has good reception. It's also nice that they let the unused minutes carry over month to month without ever taking them away.

Tracfone is the way to go
If you don't want to spend a lot of money each month for a plan that makes you sign up for two years, try Tracfone. After I started it, many of my workmates and friends have switched to Tracfone. If you decide it is not for you, all you have lost is the actual purchase price of the phone and the minutes that come with it, still less than what you pay to the likes of Verizon each month. (...)Please keep in mind that Tracfones won't work in Canada or anywhere outside the US.

review
My tracfone has worked out well so far. I like that they let the unused minutes carry over month to month without ever taking them away. (...) ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with TracFone prepaid cell phone service, the Motorola V60iC is a stylish, high-end contender that features voice-activated dialing and memo recording, text messaging, free voice mail, free caller ID, free call waiting, and much more, all displayed on a backlit grayscale LCD screen.

Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the V60iC features a 4-way joystick for easy navigation to a variety of handy features, including call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, voice activated dialing, any-key answer, auto-answer, auto-redial, dual-tone multifrequency, roaming indicator, speed dial, linked (credit card) dialing, phonebook look-up, phonebook scroll, mute control, no-answer transfer, one-touch 911, system select, usage alert, vibrating ring, and a phone book capacity of 500 entries. There's also 32 different ring tones to choose from, and a special TracFone airtime balance display so you always know how much time you've got until the next refill.

Messaging and Internet
The phone's wireless Internet browser provides data transmission capabilities, two-way text messaging with iTap predictive text input, and access to news, sports, weather and more on the Wireless Internet. It also supports digital TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf).

Organizer
The Motorola V60iC's organizer features include a calendar, calculator, alarm clock, voice memo, and more. Using the included TrueSync software, you can also sync up data from your phone's organizer with your PC.

Fun and Games
This phone comes with three games, plus access to more via the Internet. You can also swap out the faceplates for others (sold separately) if you wish.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V60iC weighs under less than 3.8 ounces. Its batteries are rated at from to 120 to 240 minutes talk time and 6 to 8 days standby within the digital service area. It runs on CDMA service.

In the Box
Motorola V60iC cell phone, manual ... Read more

Features

• Voice-activated dialing
• 4-way joystick for easy navigation to a variety of handy features
• Data transmission capabilities, 2-way text messaging, and access to wireless Internet
• Organizer includes calendar, calculator, alarm clock, voice memo, and more
• PC synchronization with TrueSync software

Reviews (9)

review..
I have a Nokia 1100 Tracfone that saves me quite a bit of money from the monthly contracts i used to have with Cingular cellphone service. Tracfones are ideal for people with light or medium cellphone usage, so it works out well for me. The tracfone website is user friendly and makes it easy to perform functions such as activation, information gathering, or additional purchases. I got a referral from a friend before i activated, which got me 100 free minutes. Since then i have referred a neighbor's tracfone. I paid an extra $10. and got the car charger that just plugs into the cigarette lighter if the tracfone battery gets low when i'm driving.
I was pleasantly surprised to find some extras included free of charge on my tracfone- 2 games, a good selection of ringtones, a calculator, and voice mail. The main downside that i've seen is that you have to be disciplined in your tracfone usage unless you're prepared to buy more airtime/minutes cards. These range in price from $20. to $130. Overall, i'm quite happy with the tracfone.

Tracfone is Great
Tracfone has a great program if you refer someone to tracfone they recieve 100 free minutes and the person you refer does also its great!!!! You buy the phone and just keep the word going and you have a phone with unlimited minutes (...)! thanks the phones they have are great never have a problem and i live way out in no mans land

.
I have no complaints with my tracfone. After a little practice i could send text messages and set up the voice mail the way i liked it.

tracfone...
I like my Tracfone so far. Mine is small and has good reception. It's also nice that they let the unused minutes carry over month to month without ever taking them away.

Great Deal
We did without cellphones for 6mo...was tired of the costly monthly charge and being stuck in a contract.We bought this phone over $30.00 cheaper so shop around.
So far pleased with the phone...still need to check out all the features it has.
Free minutes with the refer a friend...It works!!!
My husband is wanting one for himself now!!! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Powered by the Windows Mobile 2003 operating system and with support for corporate email accounts, the XV6600 is designed for maximum efficiency, wherever you are. A full color display slides down to reveal an integrated QWERTY keypad, while integrated Bluetooth keeps you on the cutting edge of connectivity. It's the ultimate power tool for mobile professionals.

Click the image to see the XV6600 in action, or take a closer look at the phone's features: page one - page two.

Design
The XV6600 follows the standard form factor of the latest Pocket PC devices, with one major addition; as mentioned, a sliding QWERTY keyboard is hidden below the screen. A generous, 240 x 320 full-color touchscreen display dominates the face of the unit. Just below the display is a five-way selection button that allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface. Meanwhile, shortcut buttons positioned both above and below the screen offer quick access to your Outlook calendar, contacts, messaging, Internet Explorer and more. Alternatively, the device can be directly controlled with an included stylus that slides out of the rear of the XV6600's case.

Under the hood, the XV6600 sports a 400 Mhz Intel PXA263 CPU with 128 MB of RAM and 64 MB of embedded flash memory storage. The unit's SD IO memory slot supports additional flash-based memory so you can expand available storage. The Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC operating system is completely touchscreen-enabled and features advanced handwriting recognition that is compatible with all of the device's applications. There's a standard stereo 2.5mm headset jack, while USB data and charging is handled by the XV6600's docking ports on the bottom of the device.

Calling Features
Many of the XV6600's calling features are integrated with the Windows Mobile operating system. For instance, the included Pocket Outlook software features a contacts list that is cleverly integrated with the phone's dialing functions. Meanwhile, the phone's handwriting recognition software can be used to dial numbers and enter contact information. The XV6600's built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Polyphonic ringtones are available, as is a vibrating alert. Caller ID and call waiting are also supported. Lastly, the XV6600's Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy to sync the unit with a wide range of handsfree, wireless headsets and car kits.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The XV6600 is designed as a complete mobile office solution, so Internet and messaging capabilities are robust. The unit comes packed with pocket versions of Outlook, Internet Explorer and MSN Messenger. In addition to keeping track of contacts, Pocket Outlook features integrated calendar and email functions. Microsoft's ActiveSync software keeps the device synced with all of your PC's Outlook information (via USB, IR, or Bluetooth connection). Users who want Internet connectivity on the road with their laptop or PDA can tap the XV6600's wireless modem capabilities (Verizon Broadband Access data plan charges apply). Verizon's next generation EV-DO broadband wireless network is compatible with the unit, meaning you can tap into blistering Internet speeds in areas where EV-DO coverage is provided (see below). Meanwhile, the unit fully supports basic text messaging, as well as multimedia messaging (MMS).

A generous toolset ships with the XV6600's Windows Mobile 2003 software. Pocket Outlook includes to-do lists while pocket versions of Word and Excel are included so you can review and edit documents on the go. A calculator, alarm clock and voice memo recorder round out the tools package.

Entertainment
The XV6600 delivers the ultimate music experience. You can store MP3 files and easily exchange them with your PC or stream them from the internet. The included Windows Media Player application can also play videos for even more mobile entertainment. The XV6600's wallpapers and screensavers can be customized to suit your tastes. Windows Mobile and Java-based games are also supported.

EV-DO Wireless Broadband Coverage
Covering over 75 million people in 30 markets:
Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Houston, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Madison, Miami, Milwaukee, New Haven/Hartford, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Providence, San Diego, Tampa, W. Palm Beach, and Washington, DC.

Expanding markets in 2005

Vital Statistics
The Audiovox XV6600 weighs 6.8 ounces and measures 4.9 x 2.7 x .7 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3.6 hours of digital talk time, and up to 144 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
XV6600 handset, USB Sync Station, lithium-ion battery, headset, spare stylus, travel charger, 22-pin DC jack converter, carry case, user manual, quick start guide, companion CD. ... Read more

Features

• Fast Intel Dalhart 400 MHz Processor with 64MB ROM / 128MB RAM of internal memory with a large 2.1 inc x 2.8 inch 64K color TFT LCD Touch-Screen
• Increase your productivity with Windows Mobile 2003 Software for Pocket PC - Includes Pocket versions of Microsoft Office Applications like Word, Excel, Outlook, Calendar and more
• Take pictures while on the go with built in camera and flash
• Talk wirelessly with built-in Bluetooth or handsfree with the built-in Speakerphone
• Save and store all of your images and files with a removable SD Card Slot

Reviews (14)

Bluetooth?
I'm looking to see if anyone has any possible advice or suggestions on a Bluetooth headset? I currently have tried the Motorola HS820 & Motorola HS850 (while the volume sounds perfect to whoever you are calling, you can't really hear anything on both of these). Do Not Buy Motorola Bluetooth Headsets for this phone! I have tried the Jabra 250 which gives you perfect sound due to the eargel being inserted in your ear. However, you almost have to keep the phone and the headset right in front of each other to prevent static. Can anyone help me? I was thinking of going with Plantronics or Sony Ericson. Any Advice or suggestions?

Features good - battery bad!
As a network admin, I was asked to provide 15 of the bosses and administrators with smart phones.After much investigation, we settled on the Audiovox xv6600.We've been using them for two months now and the results have been mixed...

The good -

Wireless sync works great with Exchange server and does provide a nearly real time connection to the office and critical data from Exchange. The internet (which goes full broadband in about 4 days in my area) is also a very useful function.The ability to read Word and Excel docs has been well received.Finally, the bluetooth function is useful but buggy.

The Bad -

The battery on every single one of these units will not make it through the 8 hour work day - even if the unit is never removed from it's pouch and used.In fact, about 7 of them will not make it past 2.5 hours!The functions are great, but when the unit is unuseable due to poor battery performance, you have to question it's value. Incidentally, Audiovox still has no enhanced battery available.

Additionally, my users have to perform resets (sticking the stylus in the reset hole) at least once a day as the phone function 'hangs'.Sometimes the unit times out while trying to dial out (even with a full signal).The unit will then not receive or send calls at all until you reset it.This problem is probably more attributable to the phone software operating on a Microsoft based operating system or possibly due to the wireless sync function.

Finally, the Bluetooth wireless headsets are great while they are working.In fact, mine works great on my regular (nonsmart) phone.But the xv6600 often needs the headset to be reinstalled or randomly chooses not to allow it to answer calls.But I attribute that to the burden of the Microsoft operating system it resides on.A challenge my nonsmart phone does not need to overcome.

Finally -

The xv6600 is a good idea, but it has a lot of bugs and creates a ton of support tickets for us.All in all, I'd be satisfied with it if the battery could just last all day.The other issues are ones that Windows users get used to after a while and learn to live with (freeze ups, nonreponsive programs, etc).

Great phone, great PDA
I've had my Verizon VX 6600 for about three weeks now, and I am thoroughly satisfied with it.
Since many issues are covered in other reviews, I'll just jaunt some quick thoughts.
Battery life: I have absolutely no complaint in this area, and I was actually really impressed of how long it could stay up when I've actually been using the data, calling and PDA features quite a lot. Considering the quality of the colour screen, this is all the more impressive. I move about quite a bit and get stationed in different places on the way, so I've always expected to be charging my cell on and off as much as possible. The extremely compact charger which comes with the phone makes this a breeze, unlike some of those entry-range LXs from Verizon, which have a huge bulky charger. Moreover, the battery seems to handle partiel charges very well so far.
Sync-wise, things are as smooth as can be. I'm also using a Mac, and when I bought the phone I was told that I couldn't sync with a Mac, but all you need is to do the initial physical sync with a PC, and then you can sync online with any computer (I'm pretty sure there's a way to physically sync with a Mac, but with online sync I haven't even needed to look for it). Automatic sync also means you get a data backup and don't risk losing data (I'm duplicating on a card just in case, but I haven't needed to access it to retrieve anything so far).
The sound is great, much better once again than on the Verizon LX phones. I'm not convinced that the Motorola Bluetooth headset that I'm using is the best, but the hands-free kit which comes with the phone, though wired, gives excellent sound quality (and in both ears, so even you're very hard of hearing you should have no difficulties with it).
The apps are great, though I've switched to Apple for my laptop, Pocket Windows is still really useful and Office-compatible.
The only thing I still need to get and which they should include in the package is a transparent cover for the screen -it hasn't been damaged at all so far despite bad treatment, but I'm a bit worried it'll eventually get scratched if not protected adequately.

Best of the bunch so far...
As head of IT for my company I was subjected to the brutal testing of all the new "convergence" devices. We needed something that combined the features of a Blackberry with a camera (If only RIM would make one!!!).After going through 5 or 6 devices, I thought for sure the technology just wasn't there yet.When I got the Audiovox I felt I finally found something ready for primetime.The camera is good - not great - but good enough for what we needed it for (punchlisting damages and relaying that info via email) and better than the other devices I tested.The phone is by far the loudest of all of them.I can actually hear the caller.Throw in a Motorola bluetooth earbud and you're really in business.Again, I'd love more volume, but this is very acceptable.The Microsoft Active Sync works!If your organization is running Exchange 2003 w/ Mobile Services make sure you install SP1 for Exchange2K3!It fixes a bunch of bugs with Mobile Services.Although not as fast as my Blackberry server, I get my emails within 3-4 minutes.
The battery life is not the best, but that seems to be a characteristic of all the Pocket PCs.As most people know, Blackberries will run for days - this thing needs to be charged every night!There are some tweaks to help conserve power...turn off the IR and the Bluetooth if you're not using it.And save critical info to a card using the backup utility - it avoids a lot of anguish if you're out-of-town and need to restore all your settings should you "forget" to charge it one night.And the "slide-out" keyboard is very functional.
I gave it 5 stars only because I found it to be the best of similar devices, although there are certainly still some areas that could use improvement (especially battery life).But if you need the functionality and can't wait for the technology to improve, this is the device to go with!! (They even have a Citrix client for it!!)

Poor Battery Life on XV6600
I'm returning my XV6600 today.As a PDA, it has plenty of nice features...Pocket PC is great, and the compatibility with Windows applications is nice.HOWEVER, as a primary phone, it leaves a lot to be desired.The battery life is awful.I charged it to full capacity, and less than 10 hours later, it was at 33% only from a few phone calls.I wish I would have read these reviews before making such a pricy purchase! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with TracFone prepaid cell phone service, the Motorola V120C is a sturdy, midrange phone that features voice-activated dialing and memo recording, text messaging, free voice mail, free caller ID, free call waiting, and much more, all displayed on a backlit grayscale LCD screen.

Click the image to get a closer look at the V120C's functions.

Calling Features
Used simply as a phone, the V120C features include call timers, redial, missed call indicator, call log, voice activated dialing, any-key answer, auto-answer, auto-redial, dual-tone multifrequency, roaming indicator, speed dial, linked (credit card) dialing, phonebook look-up, phonebook scroll, mute control, no-answer transfer, one-touch 911, system select, usage alert, vibrating ring, and a phone book capacity of 500 entries. There's also 32 different ring tones to choose from and a special TracFone airtime balance display so you always know how much time you've got until the next refill.

Messaging and Internet
The phone's wireless Internet browser provides data transmission capabilities, two-way text messaging with iTap predictive text input, and access to news, sports, weather and more on the Wireless Internet. It also supports digital TTY/TDD (Telecommunication Device for the Deaf).

Organizer
The Motorola V120C's organizer features include a calendar, calculator, alarm clock, voice memo, and more. Using the included TrueSync software and a handy USB connection, you can also quickly sync up data from your phone's organizer with your PC.

Fun and Games
This phone comes with three games, plus access to more via the Internet. You can also swap out the faceplates for others (sold separately) if you wish.

Vital Statistics
The Motorola V120C weighs 4.5 ounces and measures 5.0 x 1.77 x 1.1 inches. Its batteries are rated at minimum 240 minutes talk time and 242 hours standby time. It runs on CDMA service.

What's in the Box
Motorola V120C cell phone, manual. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

review..
I have a Nokia 1100 Tracfone that saves me quite a bit of money from the monthly contracts i used to have with Cingular cellphone service. Tracfones are ideal for people with light or medium cellphone usage, so it works out well for me. The tracfone website is user friendly and makes it easy to perform functions such as activation, information gathering, or additional purchases. I got a referral from a friend before i activated, which got me 100 free minutes. Since then i have referred a neighbor's tracfone. I paid an extra $10. and got the car charger that just plugs into the cigarette lighter if the tracfone battery gets low when i'm driving.
I was pleasantly surprised to find some extras included free of charge on my tracfone- 2 games, a good selection of ringtones, a calculator, and voice mail. The main downside that i've seen is that you have to be disciplined in your tracfone usage unless you're prepared to buy more airtime/minutes cards. These range in price from $20. to $130. Overall, i'm quite happy with the tracfone.

info.
The tracfones are good for people who don't require heavy cell phone usage. Basically you have to keep the phone active by buying month or year cards. If you run out of minutes then you have to buy more of those too.

great phone
The Motorola T120 is not going to win any design awards, but it is really one of the best phones I have ever used from a practical perspective, which is what counts. The durability is far superior to the flimsy flip phones that currently saturate the market. Battery life is also outstanding.

works for me
This is a good option for the light user.I only carry it so my kids can reach me in case of emergencies or for very brief calls or messages.It's been fine, and in my area the coverage has been good even inside large buildings.I have used it on longer trips too and found the roaming reception fine. I bought the 1 year card and got 100 free bonus minutes through a promotional deal online.I have had no problems activating the phone, adding minutes, setting up voicemail, etc.I have not had any reason to deal with customer service, so can't speak to that.For me it's been a reliable, affordable option as a person who doesn't use a cell phone enough to warrant a monthly service plan.

Great phone and service
My family loves their tracfone we have a total of 3 tracfones. I love being free from contracts and monthly bills. (...)
... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

If you're in your car a lot, this is the phone for you. The all-digital LG VX4500 from Verizon Wireless offers speaker-independent voice recognition, which allows any user to dial a number by speaking the name of a contact from a phone book, or by speaking the digits of a phone number. When this voice technology is used with the two-way speaker phone the VX4500 allows for true hands-free operation.

Click the image to get a closer look at the VX4500's features.

Design
The phone features a traditional clamshell design with a large TFT color display with 65,000 colors. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's blue backlit control pad. Meanwhile, the top right side of the unit houses an antenna while the USB-capable data and charging port is housed on the unit's bottom edge. There's a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets on the left side of the handset.

Calling Features
Robust calling features are at the heart of the LG VX4500. Speaker-independent voice recognition allows you to make calls and access other essential features, all without ever touching the device. Simply place the phone in driving mode and voice commands for contacts, digit dialing, redial, voice mail, driving, schedule and time are all made available so you can control all of the phone's basic functions with the sound of your voice. The VX4500's built-in address book can store up to 499 contacts for quick and easy management of phone numbers and email addresses. The phone comes with 36 built-in ringers that can be associated with 36 different callers so you can easily identify who's calling you. The speed dialing feature allows you to dial up to 99 numbers virtually instantaneously. A built-in 2-way speakerphone makes it easy for you and others in the car to talk handsfree. The VX4500's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The VX4500 covers the messaging basics with support for sending and receiving text and graphics via messages.

Getting on the Internet anywhere is easy with the VX4500, as well. Verizon's optional Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your e-mail, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater.

Verizon's Get It Now wireless download service is also fully compatible with the VX4500. This pay-per-download service features application downloads, games and productivity tools. You can also personalize your handset with ringtone downloads and digital photo-sharing tools using the Get It Now service.

The VX4500 ships with a calendar and scheduler, a voice memo application with up to 4 minutes of record time, and a notepad. An alarm clock, calculator and world clock are also included, as is the very handy restaurant tip calculator. Never dine without it!

Imaging and Entertainment
The VX4500 features customizable theme colors, screen backgrounds, fonts and caller ID graphics and pictures so you can make your phone reflect your personality. Games and other applications are available via the Get It Now service.

Vital Statistics
The LG VX4500 weighs 3.7 ounces and measures 3.46 x 1.92 x 0.94 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 189 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 110 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
LG VX4500 cell phone, desktop charger with adapter, standard lithium-ion battery, holster with belt clip, user's manual, welcome CD, quick reference guide. ... Read more

Features

• Voice command capabilities for dialing and accessing other features
• Large, 65,000-color internal display
• 26 ring tones plus vibrating alert
• 2-way speaker phone
• GPS capable for E911 emergency location

Reviews (9)

Screen Breaks
This phone was fine for about month, when both screens began blanking out. I took it back to the store and was advised to simply remove the battery for two minutes, then the screen would come back. I did this and it seemed to work. After another month, the screen began blanking out more and more. Finally, after about 5 months of use, the screen would blank out continuously - maybe 15-20 times a day.

Several people I know have the same issue with this phone - it is clearly a defective model. The people in the Verizon store all know this too, since any one of them will tell you the battery trick to get the screen working again. Don't bother with this phone.

Not bad...
First of all, I totally agree with the one reviewer about the manual...IT SUCKS. That is the first thing I noticed. The manual does NOT help at all...it's absolutely worthless. I had to call verizon 3 different times just to get my questions answered. Come on guys....get with the program and put together a decent manual. I agree with everything that the other reviewers said, the phone is really nice but now I am worried about dropped calls being a problem...that is probably going to annoy the heck out of me. The only other thing I have a problem with is that my last phone, a motorola, all I had to do was push the button on the side and say the name of the person I wanted to call and it would automatically dial because I taught it the name. This phone, you hit the button on the side, then you have to say call someone, then you have to say their name, then you have to wait for it to come up with the right one, if not, you have to choose the right one...crap, by the time I do all that, I mind as well just go to my phonebook and get it myself!! TOO MANY STEPS. I would much rather take a half hour and teach it all my contacts and just hit a button and go!

LG VX4500
Very good basic phone, Clear sound and solid for everyday use. Not fancy with bells and such but gets the job done. LCD screen difficult to view in bright light and side buttons can be pressed accidently at times. Overall a very basic but very good phone with some nice features.

LG VX4500
Nice phone, especially without the camera. I've had mine for about two months now. The best feature is the loud and clear signal. The ringer is loud, the voice is loud, and I sound clear to the other end of the line.

The "say something" feature really works well, and it doesn't waste your time learning how to pronounce "Mom," "Deli," "Job" or "Voicemail." It just knows all by itself out of the box.

An annoying feature at first was that if you don't pay attention, it is easy to think you are saving numbers into the memory but you are not. I found that I need to pay close attention to how you are adding the number and to hit "Done" twice when I'm finished.

Keys are large, good for big-fingered individuals like me. Outside LCD display tells you the time or, if you have a new message, how many there are. On the main inside display, you can adjust the font size so the names and numbers are easier to read. The battery charges quickly and doesn't seem to wear down as much as other phones I've had.

Nice phone, excellent for medium to heavy users.

A great phone, especially considering the price
I've had this phone going on 6 months now and usually wait that long before reviewing any electronics product.Ergonomics and design flaws aren't immediately evident until after you've used the item for quite some time.I'm glad to note that the LG VX4500 is an outstanding product with virtually no problems that I've noticed.

The most fantastic thing about the phone is the outstanding battery life.I never actually measured the total talk time I get on one charge, but I usually go 2-3 days between charges and I make many calls in an average day.Also, there's NO CAMERA (a must for me -- if I wanted a camera, I'd buy a camera . . . not a phone), plenty of scheduling/alarm/calender features, and an amazingly loud and crisp speaker phone.

The Driving Mode on the phone has become indispensible to me as I drive around a lot.You can say any name in your addressbook and the phone will dial it.There is no need to sit down and store the voice recording of the names so the phone understands who you mean.You can even say the phone number you want to dial and the phone does that and on incoming calls it'll say the name/number that's calling.

There are a few minor drawbacks.First is the reception.The phone still gets a great signal considering the extensive verizon network out there, but it doesn't receive as well as some of the other verizon phones.A few times, I've been on the phone next to friends who're on verizon as well and I've had my call drop while theirs stayed connected.Even putting this cell phone next to another, you'll at times see this phone with 3/5 or 4/5 bars while other verizon phones will have 5/5 bars.

Second, in Driving Mode the phone will only dial the first number associated with each name.An easy way to get around this is to just put in separate entries for someone's cell, office and home lines if you'll be calling them often using the Driving Mode.

Overall, the phone is great.It fits well into the palm of your hand.It doesn't feel clunky or heavy and has nice rounded features so as to feel unnoticable when in your pocket.It's a great phone at a great price. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With video playback, gaming, multimedia messaging and a VGA camera with digital zoom, the Motorola V220 is an affordable and powerful way to get in on all the mobile fun. It's the perfect companion to Cingular wireless service. What's more, it's a quad-band phone with global coverage support.

Design

Click the image to get a closer look at the V220's features.

The phone features a sleek clamshell design with a large 128 x 128 color display with 65,000 colors. The outside cover of the handset sports a supplementary 96 x 32 blue monochrome display that can display time, call information, battery and signal strength, and more. The VGA camera lens is housed below this display. A stub antenna is placed on the top right side of the unit. Volume buttons are placed on the left side, as is a USB port for data connectivity. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. There's a standard jack to accept universal hands-free headsets on the bottom of the handset, next to the phone's charging port.

Calling Features
The V220 allows you to assign pictures to your most common callers. It also supports polyphonic ringtones as well as MP3 ringers, allowing you to use portions of your favorite songs to alert you to incoming calls. A number of ringtones come preloaded on the phone and more ringtones can be downloaded from Cingular's MEdia service. There's even an included application, MotoMixer, that enables you to mix your own ringtones.

Speed dialing, which allows you to call pre-programmed numbers with one button is built in, as is a vibrating alert. A built-in speakerphone makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Voice activated dialing makes calling your friends, family and associates as easy as saying their names.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The V220 features support for instant messaging applications (Cingular messaging charges apply). There's also a built-in web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as picture and sound messaging (MMS) are also supported by the phone. When used in combination with the phone's built-in camera, MMS opens up a whole new world of messaging fun. iTap text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the V220 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator with currency converter, a calendar and an alarm clock.

Imaging and Entertainment
The V220's USB connectivity can be used to transfer pictures, sounds and graphics to the phone's 1.8 MB memory from your PC. Screensavers, themes and wallpapers can be set to your tastes. The V220 is Java enabled, meaning it supports games and application downloads written on the Java platform. The phone ships with a single game, Bejeweled, and additional games are available via the MEdia service. For extra gaming fun, the phone is haptics enabled, meaning the phone's vibrate system is activated by crashes or other events in games. The V220 also supports MPEG4 video playback. Load video clips from your PC or download them from a wireless web provider and enjoy video on the go.

The phone's built-in camera features VGA (640x480) resolution and a 4x digital zoom for getting great shots on the go.

Vital Statistics
The V220 weighs 3.76 ounces and measures 3.29 x 1.73 x .94 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 7.2 hours of digital talk time, and up to 380 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Motorola V220 handset, lithium-ion battery, power supply/charger, user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• Stylish and ultralight VGA (640x480) camera phone with built-in speakerphone
• Features hyptics vibration and fun lights
• Java 2.0 capable and voice dialing ready right out of the box
• Downloadable themes, wallpapers and ringtones
• Includes phone and travel charger

Reviews (43)

A little workhorse
We were moving to the greater Seattle area so we purchased a couple of V220 cell phones.They have proven to be little workhorses, but if I had to do it again, I would have up graded for better phones.

Don't get me wrong, we have no complaints for the price we paid for them.But we simply underestimated how much we were going to use our phones, and being relatively new to cell phones, we did not know what to look for in a new phone.

A pleasant surprise was the calendar.I was able to program in my appointments and as a result, rarely missed an appointment.On the downside, we are a little disappointed in its ability to receive signal.The picture option is great, but the quality of its pictures when compared to upgraded models is very poor.By the way, email me if you have figured out a way to download your pictures to your PC.I had no complaints about battery life (two days on a single charge), until I had to use it for my business (resulting in using 2000 minutes a month)I have to recharge my phone midday.Other salesmen using upgraded phones go all day on a single charge.

Would I buy this phone again, probably not.But it does make a good kids phone.So if you got some teens or preteens that are begging for a cell phone, this is the phone for them.As for me, I will probably upgrade very soon.

Great except for...
Bad things first:
The first is the voice recognition is terrible. Sometimes it won't accept what you say. Other times it brings a completely different name--not even close to what you asked for.
The second thing is the text messaging software is archaic. It's too hard to navigate.
On the good side--the clarity and battery life are great. This is pretty much what a cell phone should make a priority and Motorola does a good job here. the styling is fine, the phone seems solidly build (in China, no less!). So, it gets 3 stars.

Not worth
I bought this phone a week back. Lot of dropped calls and there is no way one can add home/mobile/work phone numbers for one entry in address book. You can add multiple phone numbers but there is no way one can differentiate which is mobile/work/home phone. So i am going back to my old Sony Ericson.

This phone is terrible
I have had this phone for 6 months and it has been nothing but trouble.I have Cingular service and they have replaced this phone 3 times for me - with the same phone - V220.It drops calls EVERY time I try to use it.It is really frustrating.Now they are telling me to turn it off every day for 3 minutes in order to receive upgrades... this isn't working either.I am now looking to BUY a Nokia phone.I never had any problems with my old Nokia phone.

I love this phone!
This phone is great!....it's compact, feels solid, and has great reception.Yes, the screen is SLIGHTLY smaller that a few other phones but if you want a phone to actually make and receive calls, this is a great phone...What I especially appreciate about this phone is the volume in loud areas....I got rid of my previous phone, an LG brand phone, because its battery did not hold a charge, it often made me restart it before I could make a call after exiting a building, and because it had low volume...The Motorola phone is plenty loud and has great reception.Some people complained about the lack of included ring tones.Well, that's a valid complaint, but ALL Motorola phones are like that...spend the $1.99 to buy the ring tone you really want from Cingular - big deal....If you want a phone to perform as a phone, then get this one. ... Read more

Amazon.com Hands-On Review

In 2004 Verizon introduced their EV-DO 3G data business services to select markets in the US.Months later at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show, they finally rolled out their first 3G consumer offering, named VCAST.For $15 per month, Verizon's VCAST service offers an unlimited number of streaming video clip downloads over their high-speed EV-DO network.The user gets access to daily updated content from news organizations such as CNN, CNBC, and ESPN as well as entertainment content from the likes of Comedy Central and others.If you live in one of the markets covered by their EV-DO 3G service, then you can get this on your mobile phone.

Click image to see full-size photo shot with auto white balance and macro lens setting.

Click image to see full-size photo shot with manually set white balance and the normal lens setting.

Of course, you need an EV-DO cell phone such as the LG VX8000 to view VCAST content.The VX8000 was the first handset to be launched with the VCAST service, and was the star of Verizon's VCAST launch event.It is a somewhat large clamshell handset that comes equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera with a macro lens setting for close-up photography.The camera takes photos that range anywhere from decent to very good in quality, depending on lighting conditions and settings (try out the manual White Balance settings).The VX8000 can also record 14 second long video clips that are also typically quite nice.Photos and videos can be painlessly uploaded to Verizon's PixPlace website, though the photos will be greatly reduced in resolution, or they can be easily sent to any internet email address.Sending a photo to an email address is the only way to get a full resolution 1.3 megapixel photo off of the VX8000, since it has no IR, Bluetooth, or data cable.

The photos and videos you take will look great on the VX8000, thanks to its dual 262k color displays.The main 2.2" display is very colorful and clear, and the unusually large 128x160 pixel external display is equally nice.The external display serves as the camera's viewfinder when you have the phone closed, allowing you to record perfectly centered photos and video clips of yourself.The controls under the display and the volume rocker allow you to navigate through your photos with the phone closed, which is handy.

The VX8000 has a very well laid out keypad, with large buttons that are as easy to read as to use.The 5-way directional-pad controller is also large, and has a nice big OK button in the middle for selecting things in the VX8000's menus.The user interface is consistent and simple to use, but has some organizational issues thanks to Verizon's desire to drive people towards their Get It Now download services (which typically costs extra).In their defense,Verizon does offer a wide selection of ringtones from various partners, and has some of the best 3D games I have seen on a mobile phone to date.

As far as doing normal phone things go, the VX8000 has pretty good reception, decent audio quality, and a simply fantastic speakerphone.The speakerphone is probably the best I have ever tested.Battery life is probably going to be an issue for most people, though. 4.5 hours of talk time is decent, but the standby time is rarely much more than two days with no calls being made, and that is unacceptable.Best to opt for the extended battery, which will provide 50% more power.

The VX8000 is a solid phone.Verizon's VCAST service will provide you with timely news and some entertainment, but might be a bit expensive for most people at this time - though it is sure to get cheaper eventually.The VX8000's camera is very nice, as are its dual displays.If nothing else, the VX8000 will let you be the first kid on the block with a 3G phone.

Pros:

• 3G Service
• Nice 1.3 megapixel camera
• Dual 262k color displays

Cons:

• Bulky
• Short standby battery life

What's in the Box:
VX8000 handset, standard lithium-polymer battery, home charger, stereo headset.

--Reviewed by Michael Oryl, editor in chief of www.MobileBurn.com

Features

• Supports EV-DO high-speed data
• Ultra smooth streaming video
• Megapixel camera w/ Flash
• Dual high-resolution TFT color displays
• Built-in stereo sound

Reviews (7)

Perfect in almost every way.
Great phone.Yes it's a bit large, but it has a great feel in your hand.The speakerphone is the best yet.People don't even know I'm on it.The camera takes superior pictures outside and acceptable inside with moderate light.Call quality is excellent.I had an old lg and could not get a signal in my house as well as other remote places.Now I have never not been able to make a call.Even when I have 1 or no bars (near wooded areas) I still get a call through.Videos are a bit weak, but easy to use.

The contacts and menus are extremely well organized and easy to use.

My only complaint about this wonderful phone is that the only Verizon supported way to get pix or flix off of your phone is to email or message them.However, you can buy unsupported software with a USB cable and upload/download to your PC for ~ $35.It certainly beats emailing yourself a picture at .25 cents a pop.

I know it is my fault, but this phone is HUGE
I knew when I looked at the sheer enormity of this phone on Feb 1st, the day it came out, that this phone was too big. I bought it though, because I had been reading about how great it was going to be for several months. I had the LG 6000 and loved it, it made me a convert from my many years as a devout Motorola disciple. I loved my vx6000, great phone, simple but great. Then I became intrigued by the camera in this phone and the EVDO capability. Well that lasted about a week. VCAST is great if you love watching things on a 2" screen. I personally found it to be a nice gimmick, but with little practical value. The web browser was nice and easy to use, but personally it doesn't really excite me. Now for the phone itself, the camera takes nice pictures, the phone gets good reception. The bad parts, is I believe the phone is feeding itself, because it seems to get bigger everyday. It is just a brick compared to my previous phones (Moto V60, LG VX6000). Take this into consideration when buying, I know that VZW's selection of phones leave something to be desired, but it may be worth waiting it out a little longer, than being anchored down by this phone.

P.S. The battery is getting worse daily. I was careful to properly charge and discharge the battery correctly when I first got the phone. It seems like I am running out of battery now almost daily.

The only phone better isn't out yet
I've been selling wireless phones for about five years and remember when LG first became competitive.I made it a point to let every customer interested in an LG phone that I would not be held responsible for anything they encounter.LG simply left a bad taste in my mouth.

Then they came out with thLG 6000 and then the 6100.I started to notice LG Phones became more popular and reliable.I then turned my skepticism of a solid phone to the Audiovox phones (and Kyocera phones).

I got hired at VerizonWireless and started playing with the LG8000.Why not, I asked, and purchased it to see what they hype was and if I could get the memories out my mind...

This phone has everything, but the Bluetooth I wanted.The VCast feature is unmatched by any other carrier.Never really one for all the bells and whistles, I find myself checking out the latest news and sports from my handset with video instead of reading text from the traditional mobile web sites.I missed having a speaker phone from my Sanyo days.LG8000's speaker is actually a lot better than I thought it would be.Pretty loud and clear.

The DSL connection makes IMing from the phone a breeze.No one realizes I'm IMing from a cell phone.I IM with MSN, AOL and Yahoo.The menu, something LG was been terrible at, is extremely user-friendly and too easy to learn.

The feature I like most about the phone is being able to answer the phone while wearing an earpiece without having to open the phone, press send, then close it.INstead, I press a button below the huge external display.I end my calls like that too.I read my text messages from the huge external display.

For those into camera phones, the 1.3Meg camera is crisp.And the macro feature allows me to take pictures of extremely small details, like the writing on a coin, without it being blurry.

I could go on and on, but you just have to go check it out yourself.The only phone I can think of that even competes at this level (and no, the Razr has nothing on this phone) is the LG8100 which isn't out yet.Only because it has Bluetooth.

If you're serious about having a solid phone that's easy to use, has big numbers to make it easy to dial compared to some of these phones with tiny buttons, a huge external display that is interactive and the streamline video that is crisp, this is the only phone available.

A great phone for now
I switched to LG phones from being a long-time Nokia user because I wanted a flip phone and all of LG's phones seem to offer so many more options, and picked up the VX8000 because it's currently the best LG has to offer.Fortunately, I was not disappointed.While this phone does have some flaws, it has proven to be the best cell phone I've ever owned.

Reception - After two months I have never had a dropped call or poor reception, ever.I've never even had to extend the antenna.I didn't receive too many dropped calls with my Nokia, but with Suncom, there were several "dead" areas in my city where my phone just wouldn't work.I haven't found one yet with Verizon.

Features - This phone has just about every feature you could want.The contact list is extensive and holds 500 names.It provides one entry per name, and within that entry you can assign two mobile numbers, two emails, and a work and home number.You can also assign picture and ringer ID by caller.It would have been nice to have a space for notes such as being able to store an address for contacts but this isn't available. Pressing the SEND button brings up a list of recent calls, and shows all calls received, missed, and dialed, so no more clicking on "call log" then selecting "dialed calls" etc.The recent call list clearly shows the type of call.I find this very convenient.

Alarm - The phone has an alarm that is integrated with the calendar.The alarm is great because you can set a recurring alarm by day. You can set a weekly alarm that will go off Mon-Fri, and then set a separate alarm for the weekends, and never have to set it again. With my old phone, I had to set the alarm every night.The only problem is there is no snooze feature, which would have been nice.You can also set an alarm to go off every Third Tuesday of the month if you want.

Camera - I didn't really want a camera phone at first, but I find that I really enjoy mine.This phone comes with a 1.3 Mega pixel camera, which is the highest resolution currently available.This thing takes incredible pictures for a camera phone.You canincrease the resolution all the way to 1280x960, which are huge pictures.Outdoor shots look great even at that resolution. Night shots don't look nearly as good.The phone comes with a built in flash, but it's just not powerful enough to take shots in dark areas such as a bar.Pictures come out grainy and out of focus.The camera does have numerous built in settings you can change for night mode and to adjust the gamma and brightness, so it's possible I just don't have it configured right.But if you're looking for a phone with a good camera, this is the way to go. An additional problem though is that it's very hard to take a good self-shot.Trying to photograph yourself while holding the phone shows a full-resolution picture on the front LCD, but it is hard to hold the camera far enough away to get a good shot. I haven't really found a good use for the video camera other than novelty since it only captures 15 seconds, but the quality also appears great.

Ease of use - One of the best qualities of this phone is how convenient everything is.There is a beautiful full color LCD on the front of the phone to show calls without having to open the flip.You can also turn on the flash from a side button, activate voice dialing and the camera from convenient buttons on the side.Vibrate mode and the speaker phone are very easy to turn on by holding down a button on the phone, and adjusting the phone to silent or vibrate mode takes less than a couple seconds. Most of the phone's features can be activated by simply 1-button shortcuts, and I rarely have to navigate through menus to reach any of the more important features.

Extras - The ring tones that come with the phone are fairly limited, but sound great.The speaker on this phone is also the best I've ever heard.There is no need for a car adapter kit, since you can simply turn on the speaker phone and put the phone in the seat beside you.No one can ever tell when I'm talking to them on speaker and you can turn up the volume so high it sounds like they're sitting next to you.

I definitely recommend the web access for $5 a month.It's hard to navigate sites that aren't designed for mobile phones, but the screen is so huge that Verizon's built in web access comes out great.They have all of the top stories and built in areas to access Yahoo and AOL mail.The phone comes with no built in games, which would have been nice, but you can download some from Verizon for around $6-$10.The quality rivals a Game boy, although the controls on most of the arcade games is difficult. The main feature of this phone is the EV-DO VCast network from Verizon, which lets you download sports and news clips for $15 a month.However unless you live in a very large city (like Atlanta or New York), this network most likely isn't available to you.

If you get this phone and you're into the tech side of it, you should definitely get a USB data cable for it.I can transfer all of my pictures, wallpaper, ring tones, and Mp3s (it has a great MP3 player) directly with it and free software you can find on the web.Just make sure your data cable is made for this model and can charge the phone while plugged in.Battery life is great already however.

My one main concern with this phone (and the reason it only gets 4 stars) is the size.I'm used to very small phones and had heard this thing was a brick.It's not as big as made out to be, but it is definitely a large phone.I've gotten used to it and it doesn't bother me, but if you can, I would hold out for the next model, the VX8100, which will be much smaller and contain Bluetooth support.I will most likely pay a few hundred to upgrade to that model when it comes out just for the size alone.The phone also scratches rather easily so you have to be careful with it.

a great phone
I think this is a great phone. it has two large color lcds. this phone has camera and video. there is IM and downoadable features with get it now. also there is vcast which alows you to stream broadband videos like cnn weather E!, music videos, movie trailers sports and 3D games. and you can change the menu color to tropical, blue, busines, or default. It is also thin not razor thin but thin and not bulky. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Camera phone meets Windows Mobile PDA in Samsung's CDMA-based incarnation of the Pocket PC platform, the i700. The phone includes pocket versions of all the Windows software you need to keep working on the go-- Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player and Microsoft Reader. It's a total mobile office solution with advanced calling features and powerful PDA functionality.

Click the image to get a closer look at the i700's features.

Design
The i700 follows the standard form factor of the latest Pocket PC devices. A large, 240 x 320, touchscreen display dominates the face of the unit. Just below the display is a five-way selection button that allows you to navigate and control the Windows Mobile interface. Alternatively, the device can be directly controlled with an included stylus that slides out of the i700's case. The Windows Mobile for Smartphones 2002 operating system is completely touchscreen-enabled and features advanced handwriting recognition that is compatible with all of the device's applications. The VGA (640 x 480) camera unit on top of the device features a unique rotating head-- great for getting self portraits. Adjacent to the camera are the external antenna and the infrared data port. The rear of the i700 houses the speakerphone unit, just above the battery door. There's a standard 2.5mm headset jack, while USB data and charging is handled by the i700's docking ports on the bottom of the device. A slot for MultiMediaCard (MMC) and Secure Digital (SD) cards is placed on the left side of the unit. The i700 ships with 64 MB of internal memory, which is expandable via the memory card slot. The device features a 300MHz Intel StrongArm processor.

Calling Features
The i700's built-in speakerphone with support for 3-way conference calling makes it easy to talk without having the phone to your ear. Nine ringtones are available, as is a vibrating alert. The i700 also features speaker-independent voice recognition, which allows any user to dial a number by speaking the name of a contact from a phone book, or by speaking the digits of a phone number. Caller ID lets you see who's calling and GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911. The included Pocket Outlook software features a contacts list that is cleverly integrated with the phone's dialing functions.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The i700 is designed as a complete solution for people who want to bring their office with them. The unit comes packed with pocket versions of Outlook and Internet Explorer. In addition to keeping track of contacts, Pocket Outlook features integrated calendar and email functions. Microsoft's ActiveSync software keeps the device synced with all of your PC's Outlook information (via USB or IR connection). Users who want Internet connectivity on the road with their laptop or PDA can tap the i700's wireless modem capabilities (Verizon data plan charges apply). The phone also supports Verizon's "wireless sync" technology, which enables i700 users to sync data (calendars, contacts and email) with their Internet-connected desktop PC while they're on the road.

You can use the i700's built-in Internet Explorer browser for Verizon Mobile Web downloads and browsing. Verizon's optional Mobile Web package allows you to read and send e-mails, exchange instant messages and view your favorite web content on your phone. You can check your e-mail, trade stocks online, compare prices while shopping, access flight information, get movie listings and find directions to the theater. Traditional text messaging is also supported by the phone. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

For complete functionality on the go, the i700 includes pocket versions of Microsoft Word and Excel. Open, view and edit documents and spreadsheets right on your handheld, then send them to associates. A number of additional handy software tools are bundled with the i700 including a voice memo recorder, a calculator, a to-do list, and an alarm clock. Microsoft's Reader application, which allows you to read eBooks on your i700, is also included.

Imaging and Entertainment
The i700 can view and send images and graphics in JPEG, GIF, BMP and PNG formats. The included camera features resolution and quality settings, white balance, exposure settings, a timer, thumbnail and slide show views, and a picture zoom. The inclusion of Windows Media on the i700 means that you can use the handset as an MP3 player. The amount of music you can store is only limited by the unit's memory, and the included stereo headset is designed for music enjoyment. Personalize your i700 with customizable wallpapers and home screens. If you're into mobile gaming, the i700 supports Pocket PC-compatible games.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung i700 weighs 6.9 ounces and measures 5.2 x 2.8 x .8 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 250 minutes of digital talk time, and up to 240 hours of digital standby time. It runs on theCDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Samsung i700 handset, standard battery, extended battery, desktop charger (sync cradle), travel charger, leather portfolio, 2 styli, stereo headset, companion software CD. ... Read more

Features

• Mobile versions of Microsoft applications
• Built-in digital camera with rotating camera lens, multiple resolution and quality settings
• Breakthrough voice recognition software
• 9 ring tones plus vibrating alert and speakerphone
• Image Support - JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG

Reviews (9)

Pathetic as a phone
If you want to use this primarily as a phone, do not buy it! The voice quality is poor and it is difficult to use. It has no keypad, only a touch screen, so you cannot dial it while driving, walking, etc. You cannot see the screen in daylight. It is too big to fit into a shirt pocket, so you end up carrying it around in your hand.

Now the worst part - apparently Samsung does not understand the concept of non-volatile memory. On 2 occasions my battery has run down, and both times the phone dumped all of it's memory. Contrast this to my old Nokia phone that I have not used or charged in a year - it still has all of it's memory contents.

The PDA functions are difficult to use and master, and there is no manual to help. I have colleagues that have had their e-mail connections dissapear for no reason. There are intermittemt problems sending e-mail to addresses outside of my company's domain. The MS Office functions are worthless, since you have to constantly manipulate the screen - you cannot rescale the image on the screen. The web access is 10 times worse than dial-up.

In short, stay far, far away from this phone - look at a Treo or a Blackberry if you want a Smart Phone.

best pda,phone ever
i am a gadget freak...and believe me i had my share of the latest phones and pdas including the dell x50v.now i can toss the man bag which i used to carry the dell 700m laptop, axim x50v pda and the lg 3mega pixel camera phone.i never realized the how versetile this thing was until i used the samsung i700 for 4 months.now i can't be without it.1st of all its top quality stuff...i even dropped it several times and its still functioning.its probably the most user friendly pda or phone u can buy.and the batt life is exceptional..for an all in one unit.its just an amazing machine and the display is clear and bright..even better than my axim with 16mb graphics card.i wish i had known about this unit earlier.now my beloved dell axim and the lg phone will retire.hope ebay can find them a good home.i will hold on to this for years...thank u samsung.

Best phone/camer/ voice recorder/ date book I ever had!
This phone rocks!I have had it for about a year now.I have never had a problem with it.The sync works like a dream so it saves me from carrying a pda, pager, and separate phone.Now I have them all in one good-looking package.Don't wait, get one today!

Excellent
I've had mine for over a year now and it has been outstanding.
PDA - I wouldn't know what to do without it. Synchronizing is not a problem and I even have desktop themes that changes from every 30 seconds to daily and it can handle it. Organizing is a breeze due to operational ease of the calendar and contacts.
Internet - we moved cross country and used the internet for weather and hotel lookup. It was incredible and it still is.
Email - it comes handy since we took a lot of pictures during our trip, even in the Sequoia National Park. Just take a picture and send.
Phone - I use it everyday with and without the earphones. Conversations are crystal clear even on a cloudy day. I even used it during the hurricanes that came through Florida. No problem.
Durability - I have dropped this PDA/phone a few times and it's still working. I even have the scratches to prove it.
Summary - It was a Valentine's Day gift from my husband and it has been very helpful. I don't have to go walking around with a phone, PDA, and or laptop. I intend to take good care of it so it will last a while because I am not rich and can't afford to buy one everytime I can't figure out how to work it. Thanks Samsung.

Okay PDA, Non-working phone
The PDA part of the i700 worked fine and synchronization was relatively easy.However, the phone part only worked for about two months.First the speaker quit, then the microphone, and finally the headset part.Since I bought it primarily for the phone, it did not meet my standards for usage.A co-worker experienced similar problems having gone through 3 phones in six months, all due to the phone not working. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Compatible with Nextel cellular service, this updated iDEN smartphone contains the latest calling, Web, and personal organizer features found in other iDEN phones, but in a smaller, cooler-looking package.

For your calling convenience, the i830 features a speakerphone function, mute, a contacts list, call forwarding, a selection of ring tones and downloadable ring tones, and vibrate mode. You'll also get text messaging, a date book, and the ability to download and run Java applications. Plus, if your car breaks down, you can use the i830's built in GPS to help make an emergency call.

The i830 is also equipped with a voice recorder and many office phone-like functions, such as call waiting, switching between calls, putting calls on hold, and conference calling. You can program a variety of shortcut keys to make dialing easier, and you can create profiles. The i830 also features high speed data download, TTY/TDD for hearing impaired customers, Java compatibility, a few games, and the usual polyphonic ring tones and customizable graphics. ... Read more

Features

• Nextel's smallest phone ever
• Full Color Display and Speakerphone
• Record Incoming and Outgoing cellular audio as well as voice memos with the Voice Recorder
• One Touch Direct Connect
• Comes with a Slim Bettery, Battery Door, Carry Holster, and 600 Contact SIM Card

Reviews (10)

Nextel I830- 4 stars for a Nextel
I have been a cellular user for 10 years, and I have had Sprint, Verizon, Cingular, AT&T and now Nextel.The only reason that I have this phone is for professional buisness reasons.I am not, and probably never will be a fan of Nextel service, cellular call quality, or their customer service which is bound to get worse now that the Sprint/Nextel unholy alliance has gone through.

But regardless of my personal feelings, I still rate the I830 a four star phone, for being a Nextel.Against phones from Verizon, or Cingular the I830 is a 1 1/2 star at the most, for the following reasons.

Pros
1.Compact size, until you have this phone in your hand, you have no idea how nice a small phone can be.
2.Durable, and quality construction, for a style fashion piece, this is a very tough phone.The majority of phones that I owned felt like they were made out of egg shells.
3.Ultra reliable direct connect capability.
4.Looks.This is a super smooth, and hip phone.
5.Media, and menus run smooth.

Cons
1.I do not have enough time or words to properly express my disgust with Nextel cellular phone call quality.Nextel phone calls have all of the crisp sound of two tin cans tied together with string.Even living in the second largest, and most concetrated cell phone grid coverage area does nothing to improve your chances of making, maintaining, understanding, or completing a Nextel cell call.I carry a Verizon cell phone. and a prepaid Cingular phone in the event that I have to make a cell call.NEXTEL CELLULAR QUALITY IS THE WORST THERE IS, WAS, OR EVER WILL BE.
2. The buttons are small.
3. Battery life is terrible 1 1/2 hours on DC, or cellular if you are lucky.I highly recommend the extended life battery.It will increase your talktime to about 5-6 hours.

And there you have it.It you have to have a Nextel, go with this Nextel.

Good Phone
The I830 is perfect for people who need to carry their phone in their pocket, purse, or belt with increased comfort. The I830
weighs only 3.6 ounces and comes in your choice of Silver
or Bronze color. But had ordered it off of Nextels site.They even gave me a code that saved me $50.00.Here it is for you all to share (CL897L) case sensitive.On the shopping cart page.It is like an invoice thing.But I think it is a very good choice.You will enjoy the phone.

Love the Phone...
I love this phone.. it is sooo much smaller then my old Nextel phone (the I95) it is easy to ues. loud when you want it.. the only that sucks it dont get GREAT reseption... it has more optios..

Im a picky person. and i still like this phone..

This phone stinks compared to the i860
all i can say is if you get this phone you must realize that a smaller phone means smaller battery.the battery life is horible on this phone.it never made it past 1 whole day.the other things that i did not like about this phone is that it has a tiny screen & the metal cover gets scratched very easily.DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS PHONE, GO GET THE i860 BECAUSE THAT PHONE ROCKS!!!

Nextel's shining bronze star!
Finally, Nextel brings long-time users like myself a choice other than carrying around a brick. I've had Nextel service through my employer and also personally for years. I've gone through a gammit of phones - i1000, i88, i90, i95c, i730. I'm sure some have been left out. I almost consider myself an expert on their phones. The i830 is a vast improvement over all predecessors. It is incredibly thin. I can carry this in the front pocket of my jeans and one barely notices. The bronze is simply gorgeous!
The LCD displays incredibly vivid and bright colors. I really liked the i95c and prayed for a smaller, thinner and lighter version. I cannot use this phone in public without being approached by admirers and fellow Nextel users. Everyone gawks over it's size and beauty. The bronze is more visually stunning than silver. However, I don't think the i830 is a phone for heavy business users due to battery capacity. I still use the i95c for heavy M-F business traffic. My i830 is perfect for afterhours and weekends. I do carry an extra battery and have a car charger to ensure I won't be stuck when battery goes dead. You will most likely need to charge phone each night. It has 60 hrs of standby and 1 hr talk on full charge. Overall, I'm very very pleased with this product. *Note: I have an extra i95c in very good condition with slight scratches and is fully operational for sale. SIM card is included and no contract. This was my personal phone. Flat $120.00 includes shipping in USA. I will accept paypal only. Please email me if interested at leel1@netscape.com. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

With a VGA camera and flash, dual color displays and voice dialing, the PM-740 is a great mobile companion and a great way to get and receive images on the go. It's the perfect complement to Sprint PCS service and Sprint PCS Vision wireless services.

Design
The PM-740's sleek clamshell form factor houses an internal 128 x 160, 65,000-color display. There's also a supplementary, 96 x 96 full-color display that displays pictures, call information, battery life, time of day, signal strength and more. An extendable antenna is located on the top right side of the phone. The VGA camera and LED flash unit are housed just above this display. Handy up/down buttons are located on the left side of the phone for quick menu navigation. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button above the handset's dial pad. A 2.5mm headset jack is also provided. Power charging is handled by a port on the bottom of the phone.

Calling Features
The phone's built-in address book allows you to assign up to 300 contacts with up to 6 entries per contact. You can customize your caller ID by linking a downloaded image or photo to a specific phone number in your contact list. Polyphonic ring tones are supported and there's also a vibrating alert to keep things discreet. The ringer ID function lets you assign ringtones to specific callers, and the voice dialing feature allows for quick, voice activated calling of pre-programmed contacts. The PM-740's GPS location technology pinpoints your exact location when you dial 911 (where available). Perhaps most importantly for users in rural areas, the RL-A760 is a tri-mode phone, meaning it can operate on Sprint's digital PCS network, as well as analog networks that serve many outlying areas.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The PM-740 covers the messaging basics with support for sending and receiving text and picture messages. With Sprint PCS Picture Mail, you can take a picture anytime and send it to family and friends instantly while on the Sprint PCS Network (Sprint messaging charges apply). Easily save your pictures on your PM-740 or store them online at sprint.com/picturemail, where you can share and upload unlimited pictures to create albums. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built-into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

The PM-740 also supports PCS Vision email and instant messaging capabilities. Sprint PCS Vision transforms the wireless experience from something that's simply functional into something visual, entertaining and highly personalized. MSN Hotmail, Yahoo Mail and AOL Instant Messenger are all supported by Sprint's PCS Vision service. PCS Vision mobile Web services let you check out sports scores, get your seven-day forecast, check your flight status, and stay up to date with the latest news. Experience full-color graphic versions of popular Web sites.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the PM-740 including a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock and a to-do list. A voice recorder lets you record short memos for later retrieval.

Imaging and Entertainment
The fun really starts with the PM-740's built-in VGA camera. Capture great pictures in low-light situations with the built-in LED flash. The camera also features image brightness control and a handy self-timer-- so you can be in the picture, too.

The PM-740 lets you choose different screensavers and backgrounds to make the phone suit your style. With PCS Vision service, you can download games like Tetris and Pac-Man, as well as additional ringers, screensavers and backgrounds.

Vital Statistics
The Samsung PM-740 weighs 3.46 ounces and measures 3.5 x 1.8 x 1 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 3 hours of digital talk time, and up to 192 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the AMPS 800/CDMA 800/CDMA 1900 frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
PM-740 handset, AC battery charger, lithium-ion battery, user's manual. ... Read more

Features

• Picture mail and text messaging capable
• Built-in VGA digital camera with 4x zoom
• Innovative slideshow screen saver
• Download ringers, games, wallpapers and screensavers
• Enhanced voice recognition

Reviews (4)

Great features - some issue with the sound
I agree with just about everything that the previous reviews have said about the features. One thing I really like on Sprint with this phone is you can very easily send SMS or E-mail directly from a menu without going through a web page (which takes like several minutes). Very useful tool!

The only issue I have with the phone is the sound quality. On some calls it seems perfect on others, especially with other Sprint phones, the A740 seems to "clip" the sound and you get a noticable sound as if someone was switching on and off a mute button. I returned one phone that had this problem and got another which seems to do it less but still does it. I have an older LG phone and tried them side by side and the LG has none of these problems on identical calls in identical places - it also seems like the problem is worse when the battery is not at 100% charge. I took the phone to a local SprintPCS retail center and they tested it ok and told me that "nobody else is returning theirs". If you have one of these and notice anything, maybe you could send me an e-mail at leifer "at" delcoms.com

One of Many Samsung Phones I've Had Over the Years
I have always had Samsung phones. I made a switch back in September of 2004 to a Sanyo 8200. It had the speakerphone and so many features plus everybody told me how great the Sanyo phones are compared to all the other offerings from Sprint PCS. Well, I just returned the 8200 last weekend. It was the biggest piece of garbage phone I've ever used. To start, the audio was terrible on calls. But anyway, enough about the Sanyo.
The Samsung PM 740 is a great little phone. I wanted a small phone that had not only a bright screen but also a brightly lit up keyboard. This phone is one of the brightest lit up keypads I've ever had. I used to have a Samsung A 500 a couple of years ago. It was a great phone. Also small. The 740 is smaller. I would agree with the other reviewer tht the menu screen should be changed from icons to a list as it is hard to tell what the pictures represent. Audio quality is top notch...very loud on calls. The ringer could be a little louder...at full volume up, the ringer is a little weak...not a huge deal as it does have vibration alert too. The battery that comes standard is OK but I know already that a longer life battery is a purchase I will soon make as they really do extend life between charges. It's construction seems like it will last without any problems. One thing I like about the Samsung phones much better than the Sanyo phnes is that if you want to call somebody that either called you or you dialed within the last 20 calls, all you have to do is push talk and scan up or down a few numbers and push OK or talk to dial. On the Sanyo, you have to navigate to the call log, then search for outgoing or incoming, then navigate up or down, and it is just a lot more pushing of buttons which can be a nuisance when driving. Also, this is the first phone that I remember from Samsung that has finally placed the "OK" button in the middle of phone keypad where it belongs, instead of on the left side which was hard to get used to. I would reccomend this phone to anyone who is looking for a very small and lightweight phone that also has a quality feel to it. Love the really, really brightly lit keypad!!!

great phone
i've had the phone for 2 weeks now and everything is great.the phone has a very solid feel; feels well constructed.i get reception everywhere, usually at least 2 bars (out of 4).clarity and volume are great.the camera is fun to have, but it's more of a novelty than anything.the external display is also very nice to have, especially in full color.the screen has a nice resolution and brightness.built in ringtone selection is very large, including both traditional rings and musical ones.the navigation is very easy.managing your contacts is also simple, and being able to assign different ringtones to different groups is also nice.in response to the other review, you can change the main menu from pictorial to a list.battery life is okay, but this is my first phone, so i can't make a great comparison.very sleek, it will definitely make your friends jealous.amazon ought to add a picture to the site :)lots of stuff not in the manual that you can do.great features, usability, look, and quality.great phone.

I recommend!
I purchased this phone last weekend and have been quite happy with it, so far.By no means am I a technical expert when it comes to cell phones (so this review may be a bit lacking) but everything seems great.

Usability:

The menus are easy to navigate.The first change I'd make on the phone is to pick a new format for the menu.I'd view the menu in a list format.The default is set to show the little picture icons.It's a little hard to tell what each small icon is.The small size of the navigation arrows are a bit frusterating, but something I've already gotten use to.

Reception:

The reception seems fine.I'm able to get decent reception (at least 2 bars when the antenna is down.)Most areas are either 3 or 4 bars.My old phone was a Sanyo 4900 and I notice the same type of call quality.

Volume:

Ringer volume and earpiece volume are both good.

Camera:

This is my first camera phone, it works well.Don't plan on using the camera a whole lot, but of course, it's great to have.

Overall Quality:

This is the area that I really look for in a purchase like this.I have yet to find an aspect of this phone that does not seem well built or that worries me about breaking in the future.Okay, maybe the antenna is a bit flimsy when extended, but I'm not concerned.There is nothing on this phone that screams, "Break me."That's a good thing!

As I said, this phone has been very good so far.I recommend it. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

This great dual band, entry-level phone boasts features more often found on more expensive handsets. With support for multimedia messaging, mobile instant messaging, and Cingular MEdia Net wireless Internet services, this phone is anything but plain Jane. It's the perfect complement to Cingular wireless service.

Design
The X427M sports a slim, sleek clamshell design with a large 128 x 160 color display with 65,000 colors. A stub antenna is placed on the top right side of the unit. Up and down buttons for volume control are placed on the left side. Most of the phone's features and on-screen menus are controlled by a five-way center button on the handset's control pad. There's a standard jack on the top of the unit to accept universal hands-free headsets, while the phone's charging and data ports are placed on the bottom of the unit.

Calling Features
The X427M features 40-chord polyphonic ringtones, and in addition to the built-in ringers you can download more from Cingular's MEdia service. A vibrate alert silently notifies you of incoming calls when you want to be discreet. The phone's internal memory lets you create an internal phone book of 500 alphanumeric entries. Caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, three-way calling and other standard features help you more efficiently handle your phone conversations.

Messaging, Internet and Tools
The X427M has all the bases covered when it comes to messaging and Internet connectivity. The phone features support for AOL Instant Messenger (Cingular messaging charges apply), and there's also a built-in web browser for MEdia downloads and mobile web browsing. Cingular's MEdia service lets you receive and send emails, read news headlines, get weather updates, download games and ringtones, and more. Traditional text messaging, as well as picture and sound messaging are also supported by the phone. T9 text entry, which is a technology that makes it easier for people to enter words and text on handsets, is built into the unit-- a plus for mobile email and text messaging users.

The phone supports the GPRS wireless data protocol, meaning that when used with a Cingular data plan and the phone's data port, the X427M can be used as a wireless modem for laptops and PDAs.

A number of handy software tools are bundled with the X427M including a calculator with currency converter, an alarm, a to-do list, and a calendar.

Imaging and Entertainment
The X427M allows you to set screensavers, themes and wallpapers to suit your tastes. The phone is Java enabled, meaning it supports games written on the Java platform. The unit ships with three games and more are available via the Cingular MEdia service.

Vital Statistics
The X427M weighs 2.80 ounces and measures 3.30 x 1.80 x .80 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 7 hours of digital talk time, and up to 216 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Samsung X427M handset, AC battery charger, lithium-ion battery, user manual. ... Read more

Features

• 128 x 160 pixel, 65k color display
• GPRS high-speed data and Java downloadable applications
• 40-chord polyphonic ringtones
• 7 hours of talk time and 216 hours of standby time
• Supports wireless Internet and text messaging

Reviews (11)

Avoid at all cost
This phone lasted two months before it the horrible reception forced me to get a new phone. What can I say cingular costs far too much for the terrible service.

DO NOT GET THIS PHONE

Good little phone.
I like the big screen.
Great color.
Great sound.
Sturdy.

I think this phone is quality.I like it.
I don't like the fact that it doesn't have a speaker phone or voice dialing, but it's a good little phone and I wouldn't change it.

Now I know why it was FREE!
This phone was great to start off with. But after about 3 1/2 months the phone started to drop calls every so often. Now 1 month later it is dropping calls very frequently. Sometimes with five bars the call just dissconects. I know it's not Cingular the Motorola v551 in the same exact spot is still crystal clear. Do your self a favor stay away from the x427m. If you buy Cingular try to get the v551 from www.cellularchoices.com and you will get a great quality phone for free! (P.S.-This phone shouldnt even have 1 star)

Great starter phone
I got this phone for my daughter as an added line on family plan(free from Cingular, because I bought the Motorola V551 from Amazon as the main phone line), and it is perfect for her use(she is 15.) Seems solid, very very lightweight, nice bright screen, good sound, and better signal than my motorola! The battery life is EXCELLANT! My motorola burns out before a day is over, hers goes for days. However, very litte features, which is ok for someone like her. No camera of course, but she didnt want one. Not very customizable. Cant change what is assigned to the buttons(like I can on my phone) and I hate how the middle and the right arrow buttons connect to media or the internet. I put an internet block on her phone from Cingular(customer service), but she was still able to access the media mall and was browsing ringtones before I realized, and made her stop! The data transfer costs!Comes with a few games, mine had one demo game. More wallpaper choices than mine as well. Cant view who's calling or the time from outside of phone when closed. We set the option to not answer when opened, so we arent answering calls we dont know who it is first. All in all, pretty nifty phone, simple, easy to use, one touch to write a text message, and other simple menu features.Buttons are flat, as are mine, but if looking at it(to type text message) not a problem, but if in a prompt command on a call, have to move it from ear to see what numbers I am pressing. All accessories are cheaper here at Amazon versus anywhere else.

Good, basic phone - missing some helpful features
I got this phone as a replacement for my venerable and trusty Siemens S46. I'll comment solely on -the phone- and not on the service (which has been fine).

Good points:
- Fantastic screen
- Good to excellent reception
- Fairly simple menu navigation* (note caveats below)
- Included applications, media, games, etc. are high quality
- Very thin and light, even with battery
- Excellent battery life (5-7 days on standby)

Bad points:
- The button configuration on this phone is very strange - maybe this is just due to the Cingular configuration, but I keep thinking the largest button (with the Cingular logo) should be "Dial" by default, when instead it is inexplicably mapped to flip over to GPRS mode.
- The phonebook lookup is -awful-.
- There is no copy to/from SIM card feature. This means that if you want to, say, copy phonebook entries without buying the USB cable, you have to enter them by hand.
- The headset jack is very hard to open and suffers from a loose connection and static.
- The keys have no raised dots to center yourself without looking at the phone - while hard to describe, this makes it very hard to dial the phone with one hand, something which I have been able to easily do with most other phones. ... Read more