4. cell phone reviews

You also have the option to purchase a variety of Verizon applications including VZ Navigator, ChaperoneParent, and Backup Assistance and a host of alternative services such as Fox Sports Mobile Pro and Accuweather. Theres even an application called TinyBartender that will give you drink recipes on the fly. And of course Verizons Get it Now Internet service has even more programming choices. The enVs camera is fully equipped. The enVs 2-megapixel camera is impressive and comes stocked with a wealth of options. You can take pictures in four resolutions (1,600x1,200, 1,280x960, 640x480, 320x240) and choose from four color effects and four white-balance settings. Theres also a 2.5x digital zoom (unusable at the highest resolution), a brightness control, a night mode, a self-timer, and three shutter sounds (plus a silent option). The autofocus is a particularly nifty feature; it helped us to the keep the phone steady and eliminated blurriness when taking our shots. On the downside, you can access the photo-editing options only with the internal display, which is a bit inconvenient for self-portraits. We liked the enVs photo quality. The camcorder takes clips with sound in two resolutions (320x240 and 176x144) with editing options similar to those of the still camera. Clips meant for multimedia messages are limited to 15 seconds; otherwise you can shoot for up to an hour. Speaking of which, the enV comes with 64MB of shared memory for saving photos, but youre better off saving to a memory card. Photo quality was quite good overall. Colors remained bright, and object outlines were distinct--we could even read text from a computer screen in one of our shots. There was also enough brightness, though the flash hardly helped in darker situations. Videos were decent if you held the camera steady, but it couldnt handle quick movements.You can personalize the enV with a variety of included wallpapers, display themes, clock formats, and sounds, or you can buy more options if you want them. There are no included games, but you can always buy titles via the WAP 2 wireless Web browser; just remember that Verizon uses BREW instead of Java. In yet another change from the VX9800, the enVs QWERTY keypad has five keys colored in gray that you can use for playing selected games.Performance We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900) enV in San Francisco using Verizons service. Call quality was admirable and a bit improved over that of the VX9800. There still was a slight tinny, metallic quality to voices, but the clarity and volume level were satisfying. There was a slight hiss of static as well, but it happened very infrequently. Callers reported no problems, though they could tell we were using a cell phone. We did have to speak close to the handset to be heard, however. Speakerphone calls were quite good, with clean audio quality and plenty of volume from the stereo speakers. Callers had a little more trouble hearing us, but it was fine overall. Also, we liked that you can activate the speakerphone not only by using the dedicated controls but also by opening the phone during a call. Calls with a Bluetooth headset also were decent.Within San Francisco, reception was strong, and the EV-DO connection was solid. Games and files downloaded in seconds, and Web browsing was speedy. Streaming video quality over the V Cast network was average--improved over the LG Chocolate but not quite as good as the LG VX8300. The stereo speakers provided great sound that was in sync with the images, but the video itself was rather pixelated and choppy, even on the sizeable internal display. Overall, though, its fine for short stints, and we were pleased the streaming clips never froze or paused. On the upside, music quality was more consistent. The audio was loud and clear both through the phones stereo speakers and through a headset. The music downloading service was sluggish occasionally, but it wasnt bothersome.The LG enV (VX9800) has a rated talk time battery life of 4 hours and 30 minutes and a tested talk time of 4 hours and 45 minutes. It has a promised standby time of 19 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the enV has a digital SAR rating of 0.7 watts per kilogram. ),
(870,Motorola FireRed RAZR V3m (US Cellular), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: The Motorola Razr V3m US Cellular is an alternate version of the Razr V3m for Verizon. Though the feature set is comparable, US Cellulars Razr V3m comes in both silver and fire red. You can get it for $109 with service. For a thorough analysis of the Verizon model, please see our review. ),
(871,Motorola Razr V3m (Alltel) - silver, Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: The Motorola Razr V3m for Alltel is an alternate version of the Razr V3m for Verizon. Though the feature set is comparable, Alltels Razr V3m comes in both silver and fire red. You can get it for $249 with service. For a thorough analysis of the Verizon model, please see our review. ),
(872,Motorla Razr V3m (Alltel) - fire red, Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: The Motorola Razr V3m for Alltel is an alternate version of the Razr V3m for Verizon. Though the feature set is comparable, Alltels Razr V3m comes in both silver and fire red. You can get it for $249 with service. For a thorough analysis of the Verizon model, please see our review. ),
(873,Motorola Krzr K1m (white),Positives: The Motorola Krzr K1m is downright sexy and offers Bluetooth, EV-DO support, and good call quality. Negatives: The Motorola Krzr K1m suffers from metallic music quality, poor streaming videos, and sluggish performance. Also, it offers a lower-resolution camera than on the GSM Krzr K1. Facts: Though its oh-so pretty, the Motorola Krzr K1m doesnt offer any new features. Plus, multimedia performance wasnt reliable. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Krzr K1 series. ., Just when you thought Motorola couldnt ride the wave from its popular Razr any longer, the once-staid, now-cool company rolls out its line of Krzr handsets. Styled similar to the Razr but with a few important improvements, the Motorola Krzr K1m casts a slim and striking profile thats sure to send cell phone fashionistas into a tizzy. As with its predecessor, the style-focused form factor entails some usability sacrifices in the controls, but the Krzr K1m ranks as the one of the prettiest cell phones weve seen thus far. On the downside, performance had its high and low points, and the Krzr K1ms features set, which includes Bluetooth, a megapixel camera, and support for EV-DO networks, doesnt offer any changes over Verizons Razr V3m. And in all seriousness, just where did Motorola get the silly name? The Krzr K1m is so hyped that Verizon Wireless and Sprint announced availability within a week of each other, yet Verizons version is the first to go on sale. You can get it for as low as $199 with service. (Theres also a GSM version of the phone, the Krzr K1). While we don't hide the fact that were growing tired of the thin-phone phenomenon, well admit readily that the Krzr is getting us excited about diet handsets all over again. To put it mildly, the Krzr K1m is very pretty, so pretty that it makes the Razr look like some circa-1980s car phone. While the Razr was a one-trick pony with its design--thin from the side, yes, but also boxy and plain from the front--the Krzr is beautiful all around. At 4.05 by 1.73 by 0.67 inches, it has a slightly thicker profile than the Razr while also being taller and thinner when measured across its front face. The dimensions make the Krzr much more comfortable to hold in the hand and it feels better when cradled against your face. Also, at 3.6 ounces (a tad more than the Razrs 3.3 ounces), it enjoys a more solid construction and a sturdier hinge. Its still a bit hard, however, to feel such a small phone vibrate when its in your pocket. As Moto is quick to point out, the Krzr includes a plate of hardened reflective glass on its front face. Though that sounded a bit gimmicky when we first heard about it, the result is undeniably appealing with a sleek and sharp look. The dark gray color is nice as well, though were partial to the blue face on the GSM Krzr K1. On the other hand, the K1ms darker hue attracts fewer smudges and fingerprints than the K1m. Motorola promises the glass will withstand cracking and scratches, but we didnt try to prove that wrong. Another highlight was the shiny chrome plating on the handsets bottom end.The postage stamp external display is a bit small for the phones size, but it shows an acceptable 65,536 colors. You can view the date, time, signal strength, battery life, and caller ID (where available), and you can use the display as a viewfinder for self-portraits. The display disappears entirely when the backlighting is off, but a flick of any exterior button will activate it again. Alternatively, you can change the backlighting time to always-on. The Krzr K1m has touch-sensitive music controls. The camera lens lies above the display, though its disappointing that yet again theres no flash. On the upside, however, one of the phones more interesting design features sits just below the display near the bottom of the front flap. Here are three touch-sensitive buttons for controlling the music player. Fortunately they are lit and usable only when the player is on--a wise design decision, as its impossible to activate the player accidentally--but they can be too sensitive when the player is on. We paused out music unintentionally a few times, which was annoying. Overall, however, wed favor the Krzrs touch controls above those on the LG Chocolate.Completing the outside of the phone is a voice-dialing button on the left spine and a volume rocker and speakerphone/smart key on the left spine. A covered mini USB port sits on the left spine as well, but its worth noting that, because its the port for both the headset and the charger, you can use only one accessory at a time. The Micro SD card slot is located somewhat inconveniently behind the battery cover. Were glad you don't have to remove the battery as well, but wed prefer to find it on the outside of the handset. The Krzr K1ms memory slot is hidden behind the battery cover. The Krzrs internal display measures a roomy 1.9 inches (176x220 pixels) and supports 65,536 colors. The result is a rich and vibrant screen that displays most anything well. Even Verizons clunky standardized menu interface, which few people are crazy about, looks good here. You can change the backlighting time and the brightness, but no other options are customizable.The navigation array and keypad buttons will look familiar to Razr fans; they have a similar design and layout. The four-way toggle doubles as a shortcut to four user-defined functions, while the OK button in the toggles center opens the menu when in standby mode. Surrounding the toggle are two soft keys, a dedicated camera shortcut, a Clear/Back key and the traditional Talk and End/Power controls. Though the navigation array as a whole is smaller than on the Razr (due to the Krzrs smaller size), its still spacious enough for users with big paws. Keypad buttons are a holdover from the Razr as well, with a flat design and no separation between the individual buttons. They have a bit less texture than on some of the newer Razrs (such as the V3i), so its harder to dial by feel, and the keys can be slippery and difficult to master. On the other hand, they are brightly backlit.We admit weve just spent a lot of time taking about the Krzrs design, but look and feel are really what the phone is all about. As we said previously, it doesnt offer anything new in terms of features, so theres a lot less to talk about in that department. Theres a 1,000-contact phone book with room in each entry for five phone numbers and two e-mail addresses. You can organize contacts into groups or pair them with a photo or one of 20 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones for caller ID. Basic features include a vibrate mode, a voice recorder, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calendar, a calculator, a world clock, and a notepad. On the higher end, theres a speakerphone, voice dialing and commands, a mini USB port, e-mail, and PC syncing. Bluetooth is onboard as well, but its options are limited. Though you still cant use it to transfer music files and ring tones, in a welcome move toward customer-friendliness Verizon is now offering photo transfers via that feature. Onboard usable memory is a bit skimpy at 18MB, but the Micro SD card slot gives you even more room. In a strange move, the K1ms camera is 1.3-megapixel, while the GSM Krzr K1 offers a 2-megapixel shooter. Were scratching our heads at the disparity, which doesnt make a whole lot of sense. Nonetheless the K1ms camera does the job. You can take pictures in four resolutions (1,280x1,024; 640x80; 320x240; and 160x120) but you don't get a selection of quality settings. Other options include a multishot option, brightness and white-balance controls, a self-timer, three color effects, an 8X zoom, 10 fun frames, and three shutter sounds (plus a silent option).The camcorder shoots clips in 176x144 resolution with sound; editing options are similar to the still camera. Videos meant for multimedia messages are capped at 14 seconds; otherwise you can shoot for as long as the available memory permits. Image quality was decent but not quite what we expected from a megapixel camera. Images were bit blurry, and colors werent always sharp. The Krzr K1m had average photo quality for a megapixel camera. As an EV-DO phone, the Krzr K1m supports the full range of Verizons 3G services including the V Cast video service and the V Cast music store. The music players interface is standard for all phones from the carrier that support the music store. You also get access to a variety of Verizon applications including VZ Navigator, Backup Assistance, and Chaperone as well as a host of alternative programs and services such as Fox Sports Mobile Pro, Extra TV, and Weathernews. There isnt much for gamers; you get demo versions of just two titles (Tetris and Pac-Man). Full versions and other games are available for purchase with the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Just remember that Verizon uses BREW instead of Java. You can personalize the Krzr K1m with a variety of wallpapers, screensavers, and sounds. You can always buy more choices if you want them.We tested the (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) Motorola Krzr K1m in San Francisco using Verizons service. Sound quality was unchanged from other Verizon phones like the V3m. Voices were clear, and volume actually was a bit louder than most of the Razrs weve tried. On their end, callers said we sounded fine, and they could hear us plainly in louder environments. At times there was a slight hiss in the background, but it wasnt bothersome. Reception was sharp, and the EV-DO connection was strong even in buildings. Speakerphone calls sounded a bit hollow but with enough volume, and Bluetooth headset calls were satisfactory.Music audio quality was decent, though the hiss that was audible during phone calls seemed louder here. It didnt make our tunes intolerable by any means, but it did give them a robotic and bass-heavy effect. The music player itself was sluggish at times, and it often paused for a fewseconds when navigating though different options. Also, unless you set it as a shortcut through the navigation toggle, it took too many clicks to activate the player. A 2.6MB song took about a minute and 30 seconds to download, which is rather slow. V Cast video also was unimpressive. It took up to a minute to access the applications main menu and navigation through menus was sluggish here as well. Whats more, clips showed a fair amount of pixilation. If youre a multimedia nut, Verizon has better, but less-pretty options such as the LG VX8300. The Motorola Krzr K1m has a rated talk time of 4.2 hours and a promised standby time of 18 days. In our tests, we managed to get a talk time of 4 hours and 16 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests the Krzr K1m has a digital SAR rating of 1.03 watts per kilogram. ),
(874,Motorola Krzr K1m (US Cellular), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Krzr K1 series. ., US Cellulars Motorola Krzr K1m is similar in both design and features to the Motorola Krzr K1m for Verizon Wireless. You can get it for $179 with service. Read our review of Verizons handset for a thorough analysis. ),
(875,Motorola Krzr K1m (Alltel), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Krzr K1 series. ., Alltels Motorola Krzr K1m is similar in both design and features to the Motorola Krzr K1m for Verizon Wireless. You can get it for $249 with service. Read our review of Verizons handset for a thorough analysis. ),
(876,Samsung SPH-M610,Positives: The Samsung SPH-M610 has an attractive design, a fantastic internal display, and admirable performance. It also offers a solid set of features including Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera, and EV-DO support. Negatives: The Samsung SPH-M610s volume was a tad low, its external display is too small, and it lacks stereo speakers. Also the microSD card slot is in a poor location. Facts: Despite some minor performance and design issues, the Samsung SPH-M610 is a strong addition to Sprints lineup and a great choice for a slim phone. , Photo gallery:Samsung SPH-M610),
(877,Kyocera K323,Positives: The light and compact Kyocera K323 offers integrated Bluetooth, a VGA camera with flash, a speakerphone, and good call quality. The phone is also simple to use and works with Verizons VZ Navigator service. Negatives: The Kyocera K323 has a low-resolution internal screen and took sub-par pictures. Facts: The Kyocera K323 offers good call quality and a decent feature set, including integrated Bluetooth, but there are better camera phones out there. , The Kyocera K323 has made its way to Verizons lineup of entry-level camera phones, but the handset doesnt quite pass the mark. Though its easy to use both in design and function and includes some nice extras, such as integrated Bluetooth, if its a good camera phone you seek, look beyond the K323. Disappointingly, it produced some really blurry and dark images, and we think Kyocera could have included a better internal screen. As such, we recommend the LG VX5300 for a better VGA camera phone option. The K323 is reasonably priced at $29 with service.DesignOne look at the Kyocera K323 and you might just see a face staring back at you. A curved silver bar that somewhat resembles a mouth sits smack dab in the top middle of the phone, while just above it is the rectangular external display. We don't mean to say the K323 is a bad-looking phone but it definitely is unique. The 96x16-pixel resolution monochrome screen shows the vitals, including the date, time, network strength, battery life, and caller ID (where available; no photo ID). On the upside, the K323 is compact and lightweight (3.5x1.8x0.9 inches; 3.4 ounces) and though its a tad slippery, it had a comfortable and solid feel in the hand. The charcoal gray color is a nice touch as well. Rounding out the design features is a 2.5mm headset jack, a volume rocker, and a camera activation button on the left spine, and a power connector port along the bottom edge. A small speaker grille sits on the bottom left of the front flap, while a camera lens sits just above the display. There is a flash set into the aforementioned silver bar, and the reflective ring around the camera lens is meant to act as a self-portrait mirror.Open up the phone and youre presented with a 1.75-inch diagonal color screen. It displays 65,000 colors at a low 128x160 pixel resolution, so its definitely not the sharpest or brightest screen weve seen. We think Kyocera could have bumped up the resolution just a bit, especially when you consider the comparable LG VX5300 camera phone has a 262,000-color screen. Below the display, youll find a set of standard navigation keys and a spacious keypad. You get two soft keys, talk and end buttons, a programmable, four-way toggle with a center OK button, a clear button, and a speakerphone activation key, which we absolutely love. Not only does this save us from having to dig through the phones menus to turn it on, but you also can activate it before making a call--nice. All controls are well spaced, as is the numerical keypad so we didnt have any problems with misdials. Theyre also adequately backlit for dialing in darker environments.FeaturesThe Kyocera K323 is a basic camera phone, so you wont get all the bells and whistles, but it does include some nice extras, such as integrated Bluetooth. First, the handset has a 500-name phone book with room in each entry for 5 numbers and 2 e-mail addresses. For caller ID purposes, you can assign a contact a photo, a group ID, or 1 of 5 polyphonic ring tones. Other features include a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, a vibrate mode, MP3 ring tones support, a Web browser, text and multimedia messaging, and a set of PIM tools, such as a calendar, a to-do list, a calculator, an alarm clock, and a voice recorder. As we mentioned earlier, the K323 does have integrated Bluetooth 1.2, which was a pleasant surprise. The handset supports hands-free headsets and kits, object push, and dial-up networking capabilities, though we suspect Verizon will kill this last feature. The K323 also supports Verizons VZ Navigator service so you can get color maps and driving directions right on your phone. In addition, you can access other Verizon Get It Now services, such as Fox Sports Mobile Pro and AccuWeather.com. The K323 supports BREW games, but youll have to purchase them on your own as the phone doesnt come with any preinstalled titles--boo. Of course, other ring tones and wallpaper are also available through Verizon. The K323s camera doesnt offer a self-portrait mirror. The Kyocera K323 comes with a VGA camera with flash and 5x digital zoom. Theres a self-timer, a multishot mode, and the option to turn off the shutter sound. In addition, you get a choice of three resolutions (640x480, 320x240, or 160x120), color effects, a 5x zoom, and white balance and brightness settings. Once youre done snapping photos, you can save it to the phones 43MB of internal memory, send them via multimedia message, and save them as wallpaper or caller ID. We were really disappointed by the photo quality of the K323s camera. First, it was really hard to get a clear picture as they consistently turned out blurry. We had to keep our hands extremely still to get a somewhat viewable image, and even then, the lighting and colors were dark. Though the LG VX5300 and Motorola V325i didnt have the best photo quality either, we much prefer them over the K323. The K323s photo quality was disappointing. PerformanceWe tested the tri-mode (CDMA 850/1900; AMPS 850) Kyocera K323 using Verizon service and call quality was decent. We noticed a faint hiss in the background, but could still hear our callers just fine. Our friends reported much of the same, though they said our voice sounded a bit flat. Activating the speakerphone diminished the audio quality a bit. There was a slight echo on both ends, but volume was adequate even in louder environments. We also were able to successfully pair the phone with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.The Kyocera K323 battery has a rated talk time of 3.5 hours and up to 6.8 days of standby time. It has a tested talk time of 2 hours and 6 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the K323 has a digital SAR rating of 1.42 watts per kilogram. ),
(878,LG VX8600,Positives: The LG VX8600 is a beautiful phone thats both elegant and slim. It has a 1.3-megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, stereo Bluetooth, built-in GPS, and support for V Cast Music and V Cast Video. Negatives: The LG VX8600s glossy finish is extremely prone to finger smudges. The touch-sensitive music player controls were tricky to handle, plus the phones keypad is flush to the surface, resembling one large touchpad. Facts: The LG VX8600 is a stylish successor to the LG VX8500 Chocolate, and, dare we say, a lot nicer in terms of navigation and feel. If youre wary of the Chocolates quirky touchpad but still want a Chocolate-like phone in a clamshell design, you could do well to give the VX8600 a try. , The LG VX8500 Chocolate phone arrived in the public arena with much fanfare and plenty of advertisements touting its luscious design. Our expectations were understandably high, but we were soundly disappointed when we discovered it wasnt all it was hyped up to be. The biggest problem with the VX8500 Chocolate (as well as with its GSM cousin, the LG KG800) was that the touch-sensitive keypad required too much of a learning curve to master. Not to mention that its features simply did not live up to the hype. However, LG may have learned its lesson with the LG VX8600, the flip-phone version of the Chocolate. The external music controls are still touch-sensitive but the keypad is decidedly not; this makes menu navigation much easier even though it is still hampered by a flat keypad. And while the feature set is the same as the VX8500, at least it now comes with the speakerphone built in. The LG VX8600 is available for $179.99 at retail but you can get it for $129.99 with a 2-year service agreement from Verizon Wireless.The LG VX8600 is an elegant and attractive phone.The wide and flat clamshell design of the LG VX8600 does not really lend itself to the \"Chocolate\" moniker, unlike that of the original slider versions (the VX8500 and the KG800) that resemble (albeit vaguely) the size and shape of dark chocolate candy bars. It measures 3.89 by 1.93 by 0.58 inches, making it wider and fatter than the VX8500 Chocolate. However, it still retains the Chocolates trademark glossy black finish, and it remains quite slim as flip phones go. We think its very elegant and sexy, rivaling that of the Motorola Krzr K1 in style and design. The one downside to such a glossy finish is that the phone is extremely prone to fingerprint smudges--it was unavoidable. The phones lightweight 3.26 ounces felt really nice in the hand, and we thought it felt pretty comfortable when held next to our ear. Opening the phone was pretty easy; just one push of the thumb would do it, though closing it is more of a two-handed operation. The VX8600 comes with a 1.3-megapixel camera.On the face of the phone is its 65,000-color, 1.3-inch diagonal, external screen. It displays signal and battery strength, the date and time, photo caller ID, and the current track if the music player is on. The external screen also acts as a self-portrait viewfinder when you activate the camera, which sits above the display. Below the screen are the red touch-sensitive music player controls (that are lit only when the phone is activated.) When the backlighting is off, it seems as if there are no controls at all, but you can activate them again by pressing any of the buttons on the sides. We were a little more forgiving with the touch-sensitive music player controls on the VX8600 as opposed to the touch-sensitive navigation pad on the previous Chocolate handsets; since these controls are only for the music player and are therefore not as much of a liability. That said, they still can be a pain. Once the touch-sensitive music player controls are activated, they take just three to four seconds to turn off. If you happen to brush the controls accidentally during those three to four seconds, you might accidentally skip a track or stop a song. There appears to be no way to change this lag time, and the phone doesnt have a hold switch. The left spine of the top flap is home to the volume rocker, while its right spine is home to a dedicated camera button and a dedicated voice-command button. These buttons are a little too skinny for our taste; it would make more sense if they were on the sides of the bottom flap, which is slightly thicker. The charger jack is on the left spine of the bottom flap, and the microSD card slot is on the right. Flip open the phone and youll find a beautiful 2.2-inch, 262,000-color, TFT (thin film transistor) display that is as gorgeous as the screen on the previous Chocolate handsets. Graphics appeared rich and detailed, and images were saturated with color. You can alter the settings of the backlight timer and the clock format, as well as the size of the dialing font. We were a little disappointed that you couldnt alter its brightness or contrast, but seeing as how brilliantly sharp the display was, well let that one slide. Verizon offers a few different menu styles to choose from, so youre not stuck with the tedious Verizon Wireless interface. We especially liked the Arch theme that arranges all the menu shortcuts into a wheel-like design. The navigation array lies underneath the screen, and thankfully the controls are not touch-sensitive like those on the previous Chocolate handsets. Theres a square four-way toggle with a central OK button, two soft keys, the Talk and End/Power buttons, and a Clear control. Each direction of the toggle also doubles as a shortcut for the Web browser, Verizons Get It Now Internet service, the calendar, and the picture/video menu. While the array is spacious and user-friendly, the numeric keypad doesnt follow suit unfortunately. The buttons are flush with the surface of the phone with very little delineation between them, so theyre not very tactile, and it is pretty difficult to dial by feel.While the VX8600 is certainly a very design-centric phone, its feature set is pretty impressive, too. It has a 500-entry phone book, and each entry can hold up to five numbers, 2 e-mail addresses, a picture ID, and 1 of 17 polyphonic ring tones, as well as be assigned to a group. Basic but essential features include text and multimedia messaging, instant messaging, speed dialing, a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, voice recording, voice commands including voice dialing, e-mail, a wireless Web browser, a calendar, a calculator, an alarm clock, a world clock, a notepad, and a tip calculator. The VX8600 also has stereo Bluetooth support so that you can use stereo Bluetooth headsets to listen to your music, and VZ Navigator support, which turns your phone into a GPS navigation device.As with the VX8500, the VX8600 supports V Cast Music and V Cast Video. With V Cast Music, the same restrictions and costs apply--songs downloaded to your PC are 99 cents, while songs downloaded to both your PC and your phone are $1.99 each. Alternatively, you can import your existing music collection from your PC using Verizons Music Essentials kit, which costs an additional $30. The music player supports both WMA and MP3 files, and music player settings include the ability to create playlists as well as a shuffle mode. Even though we liked the music players basic interface, it was marred by the touch-sensitive controls we mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, the VX8600 doesnt come with a pair of earbuds, only a headset adapter for you to use your own. On the flip side, V Cast Video gives you access to a wide range of on-demand mobile video content, from music videos to short clips of popular TV shows. You can read more about it in our review of the V Cast service.We were impressed with the photo quality of the VX8600.The VX8600 comes packed with a 1.3-megapixel camera with 8x zoom that also doubles as a camcorder with 4x zoom. It comes with a slew of options that allow you to make your simple snapshots stand out. You can adjust the resolution (1280x960, 640x480, 320x240, 176x144, 160x120)or the brightness; choose from five white balance settings, three shutter sounds (plus a silent option) and six color effects; and turn night mode on or off. Theres also a camera self-timer and the ability to turn the external display into a viewfinder. Camcorder options include brightness and white balance settings, and two recording times (15 seconds for a multimedia message or unlimited according to the available memory). Picture quality was pretty good, though we cant say the same for the shoddy video quality, since it can only record in 176x144 video resolution. On the other hand, thats to be expected from a camera phone.Personalization options are pretty good on the VX8600. If you arent satisfied with the included graphics and ring tones, you can purchase and download more via Verizons Get It Now service. You can also download games and applications, though no games were included in the phone.We tested the dual-band dual-mode (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) LG VX8600 Chocolate in San Francisco using Verizons service. Call quality was excellent, and callers couldnt even tell we were on a cell phone. Speakerphone quality was pretty good as well. We were quite impressed with the download speed of the phone, thanks to the EV-DO coverage. Downloading a song took less than a minute and Web pages loaded in a few seconds. However, we had mixed performance issues when watching streaming video on V Cast. Some of the videos seemed pixilated, and we experienced a few buffering issues.We managed to pair the VX8600 with the Cardo Scala 700 Bluetooth headset successfully. The audio quality of the music was pretty impressive. Though listening to the songs via the phones internal speakers sounded a tiny bit tinny, it still sounded great. The VX8600 has a rated talk time of 3.6 hours and a rated standby time of 16 days. Our tests showed a talk time of 3 hours and 6 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the LG VX8600 has a digital SAR rating of 0.68 watts per kilogram. ),
(879,Palm Treo 680 (Cingular),Positives: The Palm Treo 680 features a sleeker design; integrated Bluetooth with the ability to use it as a wireless modem; more user-accessible memory; and e-mail capabilities. It also offers a bright touch screen and productivity tools and is easy to use. Negatives: The smart phone doesnt have integrated Wi-Fi nor does it support Palms Wi-Fi card or voice dialing. Whats more, the VGA camera is disappointing, the QWERTY keyboard is a bit cramped, and the speakerphone quality is a bit scratchy. Facts: With a user-friendly interface, decent performance, and an affordable price point, the Palm Treo 680 is a good smart phone for the first-time buyer or for mobile users looking to be more productive on the road; we just wish it had a better camera and Wi-Fi support. Note: This product is part of the Palm Treo 680 series. ., Photo gallery: Palm Treo 680),
(880,Kyocera K325 Cyclops (Virgin Mobile),Positives: The Kyocera K325 Cyclops has an attractive, user-friendly design and offers Virgin Mobiles first 1.3 megapixel camera. Negatives: The Kyocera K325 Cyclops speakerphone has variable voice quality and a low-resolution internal display. In addition, it has no analog roaming. Facts: Though its not perfect, the Kyocera K325 Cyclops is one of the better Virgin Mobile phones weve seen. , Virgin Mobile gets a little quirky when it comes to naming its phone models. After introducing the Switch Back, the Oystr and the Slice in the past year, the company now brings you the Cyclops. Made by Kyocera and also called the K325, the Cyclops gets its name from the prominent camera lens on its front face. Though it doesnt resemble Odysseus legendary monster, it does have an, ahem, eye-catching design that should appeal to Virgin Mobiles youth audience. Aside from offering the carriers first 1.3-megapixel camera, the features are pretty standard and satisfactory, with the exception of the speakerphones performance. The Cyclops is available for $99 with Virgin Mobiles prepaid service.Measuring 3.54 by 1.81 by 0.92 inches and weighing 3.4 ounces, the Cyclops is small and light and felt comfortable to hold in the hand. And though the Cyclops overall form is unremarkable, it certainly has some touches that make it stand out among the flip-phone crowd. For starters, its red and off-white color scheme reminds you that its a Virgin Mobile phone, while the vertical orientation of its rectangular display is a unique touch that we wish to see more often. The display is monochrome, but it alternates between showing the date and time or the battery life and signal strength. The displays backlighting time cant be altered, but pressing any one of the external controls will activate again.Above the display is a small flash and the large camera lens. A small speaker sits under the display, while a volume rocker, a covered headset jack, and a dedicated camera button rest on the left spine. The charger port sits at the bottom end of the Cyclops.The Cyclops internal screen shows just 65,000 colors--we were hoping for 262,000 hues on a megapixel camera handset--but it manages to be sufficiently bright and readable. Graphics and photos werent as vivid as they could be, but we can live with it overall. The menus come in two styles, list and graphics, and we found the latter a bit peculiar. Although its not a huge deal, some of the animated icons didnt make a whole lot of sense. Messaging is represented by a fire-breathing dragon, while the My Stuff folder icon is a donkey (maybe the designers are Democrats). Meanwhile, My Account is a piggy bank flying away--how appropriate. You can change the internal screens backlighting time, the contrast, the brightness and the time and date format.Just below the screen are the well-designed navigation controls. A four-way toggle surrounds the central OK button and a lighted ring. For shortcuts, the toggle gives one-touch access to the calls list, Virgin Mobiles XL Internet service, messaging, and your account tracker menu. There are also two soft keys, the Talk and End power buttons, a back control and a dedicated speakerphone key--nice. All controls are relatively spacious and tactile. Our only complaint was that in standby mode, the OK button starts the camera rather than opening the main menu. The keypad buttons on the Cyclops are a decent size and are spaced adequately far apart. We liked that theyre raised above the surface of the phone and that the middle column is black. The red backlighting is bright and we had no trouble with misdials or with dialing by feel.The Cyclops has a 500-contact phone book, with room in each entry for six phone numbers, two e-mail addresses, an Instant message handle, two Web site addresses, two street addresses, and notes. You can assign callers to groups but only groups can be paired with a photo and one of eight polyphonic ring tones. And in any case, the photos wont show up on the external display. Other basic offerings include a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, voice dialing, instant messaging, e-mail access, a scheduler, an alarm clock, a tip calculator, a timer, a stop watch and a calculator. Theres also a speakerphone, which is activated using the aforementioned control, but theres no Bluetooth, a feature that Virgin Mobile is overdue to offer.The K325s camera lens gives it its name.The Cyclops 1.3-megapixel camera takes pictures in four resolutions (1280x1024, 640x480, 320x240 and 160x120) and three quality settings. Other editing features include three color tones, a white balance, a multi-shot mode, a self-timer, a night mode, eight fun frames and a brightness control. Theres also a zoom but its not usable at the highest resolution. The Cyclops camera doesnt support video recording. Photo quality showed distinct objects with good color resolution albeit with a washed-out effect. The Cyclops has decent image quality.You can personalize the Cyclops with a variety of color themes, screen savers, and wallpapers. You can always buy more options and more sounds from Virgin Mobile via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser if youre bored with those. Gamers get a choice of two Java (J2ME) titles (Bikini Beach Party and Midnight Bowling) and two demos (New York Nights and Lumines Mobile). More options are available from the carrier.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900) Cyclops in San Francisco using Virgin Mobiles service. Call quality was admirable, with clear voice quality and loud volume. At times the sound could be harsh, and there was a minor amount of static but we were pleased with what we heard. Callers didnt report any problems and but they could tell we were using a cell phone. Speakerphone quality was fine but sounded warbled quite a bit and callers could hear us only if we were in quiet surroundings.The Kyocera K325 Cyclops has a rated talk time battery life of 3.5 hours and a promised standby time of 6.6 days. Our tests revealed a talk time of 4 hours. According to FCC radiation tests the Cyclops has a digital SAR rating of 1.23 watts per kilogram. ),
(881,Motorola Slvr L7e (unlocked),Positives: The Motorola Slvr L7e is slim, sexy, and very lightweight. It offers a 1.3-megapixel camera, stereo Bluetooth, a music player, a microSD card slot, quad-band EDGE support, and exceptional sound quality. Negatives: The Motorola Slvr L7e has a flat hard-to-press keypad and a generic Motorola music player. Facts: The attractive Motorola Slvr L7e has a few notable upgrades from the L7, such as a megapixel camera and EDGE support, but it still suffers from stiff keys that are a bittoo close to the surface of the phone. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Slvr series. ., Photo gallery:Motorola Slvr L7e ),
(882,LG KG800 Chocolate (pink),Positives: The LG KG800 Chocolate has decent call quality and offers Bluetooth, world phone support, and a gorgeous display. Negatives: The LG KG800 Chocolate has tricky controls, and it lacks a speakerphone, an external memory card slot, and voice dialing. Facts: The LG KG800 Chocolate is indeed pretty, but its feature set and performance don't back up its trendy design. Note: This product is part of the LG Chocolate series. ., Even before its formal debut last July, the LG Chocolate had been one of the most discussed cell phones of the year. Though it offered nothing new in the way of features, its slim slider design captured two hot trends currently streaking through cell phone design houses. As of this writing, Verizon Wireless is the only carrier that offers the CDMA LG VX8500 Chocolate, but LG has also produced an unlocked GSM version of the handset that is available stateside. The LG KG800 Chocolate sports the same eye-catching design as the VX8500, save for a few adjustments to the still-tedious touch pad controls. The feature set is also similar, but the KG800 lacks an external memory slot and does not support 3G networks. The KG800 should cost about $300.Like the VX8500, the KG800 Chocolate has a rectangular shape thats vaguely reminiscent of a chocolate bar. The sleek form factor and straight lines are familiar as is the basic black color scheme (an all-white model is available as well). The KG800s dimensions (3.7x1.9x0.6 inches) are only slightly different from its cousins, and its a tad lighter but still has a comfortable and solid feel in the hand. Just keep in mind that as with other slider designs, the KG800 doesnt cradle your head when held against the ear. The slider mechanism slips up and down easily but firmly; we needed only one finger to make it work.Though the KG800s display has a slightly lower resolution than the VX8500s, its still a treat to view. With support for 256,000 colors, the two-inch (176x220 pixels) display shows off everything beautifully, from photos to graphics to its simple, user-friendly menus. The screen is more difficult to see in direct light and disappears completely when the backlighting is off. You can change the backlighting time, the font color, and the brightness. The KG800s touch-sensitive controls are rather difficult to use. For menu navigation, the KG800 Chocolate uses the quirky touch-sensitive controls found on the VX8500. But instead of arranging the controls in a wheel, the KG800 puts them in a square. Though we like this version a tad better for aesthetic reasons, the new design doesnt improve usability. The controls still take a lot of acclimation--we didnt know quite where to put our finger at first--and are too sensitive even at the lowest setting. Overall, these flaws caused a lot of misdials. Also, the controls disappear completely when the backlighting is off. The other navigation controls are carried over from the Verizon Chocolate. There are two soft keys, a talk button, and a clear key. Theyre touch sensitive as well, so you don't get the tactile feel of pressing down on a button.Weve griped about it before and well gripe about it again: we cant imagine what LG was thinking when it moved the Chocolates end/power button to the left spine--we kept forgetting where the control was. A covered headset jack and a dedicated control for launching the camera and the MP3 player sit on the right spine, while a sole volume rocker is on the left spine. The camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the rear face of the slider, so you must have it open to take pictures.While somewhat slippery, the keypad buttons are easy to use and have a slightly better design than on the VX8500. We liked the alternating black and gray color scheme that resulted in a checkered effect. Also its great that the backlit keys are tactile and have a clear separation between them.The KG800 Chocolates phone book holds 1,000 contacts with room in each entry for four numbers and an e-mail address (the SIM card holds an additional 250 names). You can save contacts to groups, pair them with a photo, or assign them one of 44 polyphonic ring tones. Other basics include a vibrate mode, a voice recorder, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calculator, a unit converter, a world clock, a calendar, and a memo pad. As for high-end features, theres Bluetooth, e-mail, and USB data storage and transfer capability, and you can use the phone as a modem. Unfortunately, theres no speakerphone or voice dialing. The omission of the former is especially puzzling on such a trendy phone. Verizon released a firmware upgrade to add a speakerphone into its Chocolate; we only hope the same will happen with the KG800.The KG800s music player is serviceable but nothing fancy. You can play music in MP3 and AAC formats. Features arent plentiful--you cant make playlists--but it does offer rudimentary equalizer controls and basic visualizations for when your music is playing. The included stereo headset is top quality, but be warned: it uses a proprietary plug. We loaded music on the phone with the included USB cable without any problems. The KG800s camera lens is hidden on the back of the slider. The 1.3-megapixel camera takes pictures in five resolutions (1,280x960, 640x480, 320x240, 220x176, and 72x72) and three quality settings (normal, fine, and superfine). Additional camera options include a self-timer, brightness and white balance controls, a multishot mode and three color effects. In an improvement over the VX8500 Chocolate, theres also a flash, a self-portrait mirror, and a 4X zoom for use at the lower resolutions. The camcorder takes clips with sound in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96); editing options are similar to the still camera. You can limit clips to a minute or record for as long as the phones memory permits. With 128MB onboard, the GSM Chocolate does have more integrated memory than the VX8500, but theres no external memory card slot. Photo quality was quite good in our tests, with sharp colors and distinct object outlines. In bright conditions, the lighting was a bit washed out. Videos were decent but nothing special as they tended to be grainy and pixelated.\t We like the KG800s image quality. You can personalize the KG800 Chocolate with a variety of wallpapers, alert sounds, and menu colors. If you want more options or more ring tones, polyphonic or MP3, you can download them via the WAP 2.0 wireless browser. The phone includes one game (ZooZooClub) but the integrated Java (J2ME) support ensures you can get more. Be advised that gameplay through the touch pad is a bit difficult.We tested the triband (GSM 900/1800/1900) KG800 Chocolate world phone with Cingular Wireless service in San Francisco. Call quality was decent but not quite as sharp as on Verizons Chocolate. Voice quality had a slight echo effect, and volume was a tad low, so at times it sounded as if callers were talking through a screen. On the other hand, reception was great, and we encountered no interference from other devices. Music quality was fine but a bit tinny, so its nothing wed want to listen to for long. On the data end, the KG800 maxes out at GPRS speeds and does not support 3G networks.The LG KG800 Chocolate has a rated talk-time battery life of 6 hours and a standby time of 8.3 days. Our tests resulted in a talk time of 5 hours and 45 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the KG800 has a digital SAR rating of 0.14 watt per kilogram. ),
(883,LG KG800 Chocolate (white),Positives: The LG KG800 Chocolate has decent call quality and offers Bluetooth, world phone support, and a gorgeous display. Negatives: The LG KG800 Chocolate has tricky controls, and it lacks a speakerphone, an external memory card slot, and voice dialing. Facts: The LG KG800 Chocolate is indeed pretty, but its feature set and performance don't back up its trendy design. Note: This product is part of the LG Chocolate series. ., Even before its formal debut last July, the LG Chocolate had been one of the most discussed cell phones of the year. Though it offered nothing new in the way of features, its slim slider design captured two hot trends currently streaking through cell phone design houses. As of this writing, Verizon Wireless is the only carrier that offers the CDMA LG VX8500 Chocolate, but LG has also produced an unlocked GSM version of the handset that is available stateside. The LG KG800 Chocolate sports the same eye-catching design as the VX8500, save for a few adjustments to the still-tedious touch pad controls. The feature set is also similar, but the KG800 lacks an external memory slot and does not support 3G networks. The KG800 should cost about $300.Like the VX8500, the KG800 Chocolate has a rectangular shape thats vaguely reminiscent of a chocolate bar. The sleek form factor and straight lines are familiar as is the basic black color scheme (an all-white model is available as well). The KG800s dimensions (3.7x1.9x0.6 inches) are only slightly different from its cousins, and its a tad lighter but still has a comfortable and solid feel in the hand. Just keep in mind that as with other slider designs, the KG800 doesnt cradle your head when held against the ear. The slider mechanism slips up and down easily but firmly; we needed only one finger to make it work.Though the KG800s display has a slightly lower resolution than the VX8500s, its still a treat to view. With support for 256,000 colors, the two-inch (176x220 pixels) display shows off everything beautifully, from photos to graphics to its simple, user-friendly menus. The screen is more difficult to see in direct light and disappears completely when the backlighting is off. You can change the backlighting time, the font color, and the brightness. The KG800s touch-sensitive controls are rather difficult to use. For menu navigation, the KG800 Chocolate uses the quirky touch-sensitive controls found on the VX8500. But instead of arranging the controls in a wheel, the KG800 puts them in a square. Though we like this version a tad better for aesthetic reasons, the new design doesnt improve usability. The controls still take a lot of acclimation--we didnt know quite where to put our finger at first--and are too sensitive even at the lowest setting. Overall, these flaws caused a lot of misdials. Also, the controls disappear completely when the backlighting is off. The other navigation controls are carried over from the Verizon Chocolate. There are two soft keys, a talk button, and a clear key. Theyre touch sensitive as well, so you don't get the tactile feel of pressing down on a button.Weve griped about it before and well gripe about it again: we cant imagine what LG was thinking when it moved the Chocolates end/power button to the left spine--we kept forgetting where the control was. A covered headset jack and a dedicated control for launching the camera and the MP3 player sit on the right spine, while a sole volume rocker is on the left spine. The camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the rear face of the slider, so you must have it open to take pictures.While somewhat slippery, the keypad buttons are easy to use and have a slightly better design than on the VX8500. We liked the alternating black and gray color scheme that resulted in a checkered effect. Also its great that the backlit keys are tactile and have a clear separation between them.The KG800 Chocolates phone book holds 1,000 contacts with room in each entry for four numbers and an e-mail address (the SIM card holds an additional 250 names). You can save contacts to groups, pair them with a photo, or assign them one of 44 polyphonic ring tones. Other basics include a vibrate mode, a voice recorder, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calculator, a unit converter, a world clock, a calendar, and a memo pad. As for high-end features, theres Bluetooth, e-mail, and USB data storage and transfer capability, and you can use the phone as a modem. Unfortunately, theres no speakerphone or voice dialing. The omission of the former is especially puzzling on such a trendy phone. Verizon released a firmware upgrade to add a speakerphone into its Chocolate; we only hope the same will happen with the KG800.The KG800s music player is serviceable but nothing fancy. You can play music in MP3 and AAC formats. Features arent plentiful--you cant make playlists--but it does offer rudimentary equalizer controls and basic visualizations for when your music is playing. The included stereo headset is top quality, but be warned: it uses a proprietary plug. We loaded music on the phone with the included USB cable without any problems. The KG800s camera lens is hidden on the back of the slider. The 1.3-megapixel camera takes pictures in five resolutions (1,280x960, 640x480, 320x240, 220x176, and 72x72) and three quality settings (normal, fine, and superfine). Additional camera options include a self-timer, brightness and white balance controls, a multishot mode and three color effects. In an improvement over the VX8500 Chocolate, theres also a flash, a self-portrait mirror, and a 4X zoom for use at the lower resolutions. The camcorder takes clips with sound in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96); editing options are similar to the still camera. You can limit clips to a minute or record for as long as the phones memory permits. With 128MB onboard, the GSM Chocolate does have more integrated memory than the VX8500, but theres no external memory card slot. Photo quality was quite good in our tests, with sharp colors and distinct object outlines. In bright conditions, the lighting was a bit washed out. Videos were decent but nothing special as they tended to be grainy and pixelated.\t We like the KG800s image quality. You can personalize the KG800 Chocolate with a variety of wallpapers, alert sounds, and menu colors. If you want more options or more ring tones, polyphonic or MP3, you can download them via the WAP 2.0 wireless browser. The phone includes one game (ZooZooClub) but the integrated Java (J2ME) support ensures you can get more. Be advised that gameplay through the touch pad is a bit difficult.We tested the triband (GSM 900/1800/1900) KG800 Chocolate world phone with Cingular Wireless service in San Francisco. Call quality was decent but not quite as sharp as on Verizons Chocolate. Voice quality had a slight echo effect, and volume was a tad low, so at times it sounded as if callers were talking through a screen. On the other hand, reception was great, and we encountered no interference from other devices. Music quality was fine but a bit tinny, so its nothing wed want to listen to for long. On the data end, the KG800 maxes out at GPRS speeds and does not support 3G networks.The LG KG800 Chocolate has a rated talk-time battery life of 6 hours and a standby time of 8.3 days. Our tests resulted in a talk time of 5 hours and 45 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the KG800 has a digital SAR rating of 0.14 watt per kilogram. ),
(884,Helio Drift (white),Positives: The Helio Drift is a compact and lightweight slider handset with a comfortable grip and a stylish user interface. It features a 2-megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, a media player for music and video, EV-DO support, and GPS capabilities. The Drift also comes with cool Web features like MySpace Mobile integration, Google Maps for Mobile, and Buddy Beacon, a friend-location service. Negatives: The Helio Drift has slippery keys that are a little too flat to the surface of the phone. Facts: While the Helio Drift may not be as attractive as the Helio Kickflip, the Drifts high-end multimedia features, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities make it probably the best handset that Helio has to offer. Note: This product is part of the Helio Drift series. ., Of all the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) targeting the youth market, Helio has been getting the most buzz. A joint effort by California-based Earthlink and Korea-based SK Telecom, Helio launched earlier this year with a slick marketing campaign that emphasized its offbeat phones and unique, hipster-friendly features.Though its launch devices, the Hero and the Kickflip, largely delivered on those promises with MySpace Mobile integration, video and music downloads, and a flashy interface, we werent impressed by their lack of Bluetooth. Fortunately, the new Helio Drift is different. Manufactured by Samsung, the Drift not only features Bluetooth and instant messaging, but also offers built-in GPS technology for applications like Google Maps. The Helio Drift is available for $225. The Helio Drift is a compact handset. At first glance, the Helio Drift seems a lot like the other Samsung sliders weve seen. In fact, we found it reminiscent of the Samsung SCH-U420 Nimbus in terms of size and style. On closer inspection, however, we noticed the Drift has rounder edges and softer contours, resulting in a very comfortable feel in the hand. And while we wouldnt call it sleek, its still quite an attractive handset with its all-black exterior. Measuring 3.8x1.8x0.7 inches and weighing 3.53 ounces, the Drift is compact, lightweight, and easily fits in a pocket or a purse. There is a slight lip underneath the screen that acts as an anchor when sliding the phone open and closed, though you can open the phone by simply pushing the bottom end of the phone upward. The sliding mechanism was really smooth, and we found that we could open and close the phone with one hand.Weve been impressed with the quality of the display on previous Helio models, and the Drift does not disappoint. The 2.12-inch QVGA 262,000-color display is stunning and provided an excellent showcase for Helios colorful menus. As on the Kickflip and the Hero, the interface has bold and modern graphics arranged in a circle, instead of the traditional grid. You cant adjust the screens brightness or contrast, but you can adjust the screens backlight time, the font size, and the style. On the left spine of the phone are the volume rocker, a music player button that can play and pause music, a voice-memo button, and a microSD card slot. The right spine is home to the headset jack, the charger jack, and a dedicated camera button. The cameras lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the back of the phone. The Helio Drift has a 2-megapixel camera. Underneath the screen is the navigation array, which is made up of two soft keys; a four-way toggle that doubles as a shortcut to a Web browser, a games menu, messaging, and the video and music menu; a middle OK key; the Talk and End power keys; and the back/cancel key. The alphanumeric keypad is revealed when you slide the phone upward. Slider phones seem particularly prone to flat and slippery keys and the Drift is no exception. Both the navigation array and the alphanumeric keypad are slippery and pretty flat to the surface. Though we wouldnt recommend dialing by feel, the keys did have slightly textured edges and gave nicely to pressure. Before we delve into the Drifts improvements, lets begin with the basics. The Drift has an impressive 1,000-entry address book, and each entry can hold up to five numbers, an e-mail address, a birth date, a home address, and a memo. You can personalize contacts with 1 of 20 polyphonic ring tones, organize them into a caller group, and assign them a photo or video caller ID. Other features include text and multimedia messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, speed-dialing, a calendar, a to-do list, a wake-up call feature, an alarm clock, a speakerphone, a vibrate mode, a calculator, world clocks, a unit converter, a notepad, a microSD card slot, built-in speakers, a stopwatch, high-speed 3G support, stereo Bluetooth support, a Web browser, and a voice-memo recorder. As with other Helio phones, the Drift has tight MySpace Mobile integration. (Read more about it in our review of the Helio Hero). Theres also a dynamic news-feed aggregator called Helio On Top (H.O.T.) that displays the latest headlines from Yahoo News, Yahoo Most Viewed, IGN Mobile, MTV Mobile, and Fox Sports, as well as promotions from the Helio download store. H.O.T. displays these headlines along the bottom of the main display when the phone is in standby mode. Pressing the OK button will launch a larger view of the aggregator, and clicking a news headline will lead you to the actual story. While we certainly appreciate the news-feed aggregator feature, we were disappointed that you still cannot add your own feeds. Helios Internet offerings are pretty widespread, including Yahoo Search and shortcuts to a variety of news and shopping sites (CNN, Digg, and eBay, to name just a few), as well as the ability to download music videos and ring tones. You can also stream video clips from TV shows (network partners are ABC, Fox, MTV, Ripe TV, Spike, and VH1), movie trailers, viral videos, and more. Music videos cost $2.50 each, ring tones cost $1.00, and video ringers cost $2.99 each. You can buy one for yourself, \"Gift\" one to a friend, or \"Beg\" for one and ask a friend to get it for you. As we mentioned, the GPS technology allows Helio to offer new innovative services. The first is GPS-enabled Google Maps for Mobile, a miniaturized version of Google Maps designed just for the cell phone. We found this to be a pretty slick application, and it managed to pinpoint our location exactly. You can check out real-time traffic, get detailed step-by-step directions, and access an integrated search engine to find local businesses and their contact information. You also can move the map around, zoom in and out, and bring up the satellite image of the map. Another innovative feature is called Buddy Beacon, which broadcasts your location to your friends so they can find you easily. You can add up to 25 people to your Buddy Beacon friends list, and when you broadcast your location, their Buddy Beacon-enabled phones will receive your nearest address. In turn, you can SMS them to activate their Buddy Beacon so that you, too, can find your friends. Both Google Maps and Buddy Beacon are free to subscribers who pay for Helios \"all-in\" membership, while data charges will apply for those with the a la carte membership. We were impressed with the Drifts photos. The Drift comes with a 2-megapixel camera with an array of settings, including image resolution (1600x200, 1280x960, 800x600, 640x480, 320x240, 240x240), quality (fine, normal), white balance (auto, daylight, cloudy, incandescent, and fluorescent), lighting (normal, spotlight), color effects, photo frames, a self timer, and a flash. There are also a few settings for the video camera, including resolution (320x240, 176x144), rate of frames per second (14fps, 7fps), white balance, lighting adjustment, a mute control, and color effects. You can also adjust shutter sound, block calls when in camera mode, and choose the location of the saved media. The Drift comes with 128MB memory or you can use a microSD card, though a card doesnt come with the phone. We were very impressed with the quality of the photos, though not so much by the low-resolution videos. The Drift also comes with a Photo Studio, which lets you edit the photos and videos by adding filters, effects, stickers, a fade between frames, or an overlay. You can also resize, rotate, flip, stretch, and swirl your images. Helio does not have a music store, so youll have to upload your own MP3s to the Drifts music player. You can either transfer them to the microSD card or upload them via a USB connection while using Helios free MediaMover application. The music sounded pretty good, whether we listened via earbuds or the phones built-in speakers. Theres also a video player on the Drift, so you can upload your favorite MPEG4 video files as well. Personalization options are plentiful on the Drift. You can purchase and download graphics like wallpaper and screensavers from the Helio store, as well as alerts, ring tones, and \"video ringers,\" which are short videos that play when theres an incoming call. The Drift comes with four games--Gameloft Mega Hits, Fight Night Round 3, Baseball Superstars, and Bomb Link--but you can always download more.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) Drift in San Francisco using Helios service. We must say were impressed with the call quality, and callers reported a very crisp and clear sound. The speakerphone quality was also excellent. We managed to pair up the Drift and the Cardo Scala 700 Bluetooth headset without a problem. File downloads took mere seconds, as did streaming media, though we experienced the occasional network lag when surfing the Internet. The Helio Drift has a rated talk time of 3 hours and a rated standby time of 7 days. According to FCC radiation tests, the Drift has a digital SAR rating of 0.41 watts per kilogram. ),
(885,Helio Drift (black),Positives: The Helio Drift is a compact and lightweight slider handset with a comfortable grip and a stylish user interface. It features a 2-megapixel camera, a microSD card slot, a media player for music and video, EV-DO support, and GPS capabilities. The Drift also comes with cool Web features like MySpace Mobile integration, Google Maps for Mobile, and Buddy Beacon, a friend-location service. Negatives: The Helio Drift has slippery keys that are a little too flat to the surface of the phone. Facts: While the Helio Drift may not be as attractive as the Helio Kickflip, the Drifts high-end multimedia features, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities make it probably the best handset that Helio has to offer. Note: This product is part of the Helio Drift series. ., Of all the mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) targeting the youth market, Helio has been getting the most buzz. A joint effort by California-based Earthlink and Korea-based SK Telecom, Helio launched earlier this year with a slick marketing campaign that emphasized its offbeat phones and unique, hipster-friendly features.Though its launch devices, the Hero and the Kickflip, largely delivered on those promises with MySpace Mobile integration, video and music downloads, and a flashy interface, we werent impressed by their lack of Bluetooth. Fortunately, the new Helio Drift is different. Manufactured by Samsung, the Drift not only features Bluetooth and instant messaging, but also offers built-in GPS technology for applications like Google Maps. The Helio Drift is available for $225. The Helio Drift is a compact handset. At first glance, the Helio Drift seems a lot like the other Samsung sliders weve seen. In fact, we found it reminiscent of the Samsung SCH-U420 Nimbus in terms of size and style. On closer inspection, however, we noticed the Drift has rounder edges and softer contours, resulting in a very comfortable feel in the hand. And while we wouldnt call it sleek, its still quite an attractive handset with its all-black exterior. Measuring 3.8x1.8x0.7 inches and weighing 3.53 ounces, the Drift is compact, lightweight, and easily fits in a pocket or a purse. There is a slight lip underneath the screen that acts as an anchor when sliding the phone open and closed, though you can open the phone by simply pushing the bottom end of the phone upwards. The sliding mechanism was really smooth, and we found that we could open and close the phone with one hand.Weve been impressed with the quality of the display on previous Helio models, and the Drift does not disappoint. The 2.12-inch QVGA 262,000-color display is stunning and provided an excellent showcase for Helios colorful menus. Like on the Kickflip and the Hero, the interface has bold and modern graphics arranged in a circle, instead of the traditional grid. You cant adjust the screens brightness or contrast, but you can adjust the screens backlight time, the font size, and the style. On the left spine of the phone are the volume rocker, a music player button that can play and pause music, a voice-memo button, and a microSD card slot. The right spine is home to the headset jack, the charger jack, and a dedicated camera button. The cameras lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the back of the phone. The Helio Drift has a 2-megapixel camera. Underneath the screen is the navigation array, which is made up of two soft keys, a four-way toggle that doubles as a shortcut to a Web browser, a games menu, messaging, the video and music menu, a middle \"OK\" key, the Talk and End/power keys, and the back/cancel key. The alphanumeric keypad is revealed when you slide the phone upward. Slider phones seem particularly prone to flat and slippery keys and the Drift is no exception. Both the navigation array and the alphanumeric keypad are slippery and pretty flat to the surface. Though we wouldnt recommend dialing by feel, the keys did have slightly textured edges and gave nicely to pressure. Before we delve into the Drifts improvements, lets begin with the basics. The Drift has an impressive 1000-entry address book, and each entry can hold up to five numbers, an e-mail address, a birth date, a home address, and a memo. You can personalize contacts with one of 20 polyphonic ring tones, organize them into a caller group, and assign them a photo or video caller ID. Other features include: text and multimedia messaging, instant messaging, e-mail, speed-dialing, a calendar, a to-do list, a wake-up call feature, an alarm clock, a speakerphone, a vibrate mode, a calculator, world clocks, a unit converter, a notepad, a microSD card slot, built-in speakers, a stopwatch, high-speed 3G support, stereo Bluetooth support, a Web browser, and a voice-memo recorder. Like other Helio phones, the Drift also has tight MySpace Mobile integration. (Read more about it in our review of the Helio Hero). Theres also a dynamic news-feed aggregator called Helio On Top (H.O.T.) that displays the latest headlines from Yahoo News, Yahoo Most Viewed, IGN Mobile, MTV Mobile, and Fox Sports, as well as promotions from the Helio download store. H.O.T. displays these headlines along the bottom of the main display when the phone is in standby mode. Pressing the OK button will launch a larger view of the aggregator, and clicking a news headline will lead you to the actual story. While we certainly appreciate the news-feed aggregator feature, we were disappointed that you still could not add your own feeds. Helios Internet offerings are pretty widespread, including Yahoo Search, shortcuts to a variety of news and shopping sites (CNN, Digg, and eBay, to name just a few), as well as the ability to download music videos and ring tones. You can also stream video clips from TV shows (network partners are ABC, FOX, MTV, Ripe TV, Spike, and VH1), movie trailers, viral videos, and more. Music videos cost $2.50 each, ring tones cost $1.00, and video ringers cost $2.99 each. You can buy one for yourself, \"Gift\" one to a friend, or \"Beg\" for one and ask a friend to get it for you. As we mentioned, the GPS technology allows Helio to offer new innovative services. The first is GPS-enabled Google Maps for Mobile, a miniaturized version of Google Maps designed just for the cell phone. We found this to be a pretty slick application, and it managed to pinpoint our location exactly. You can check out real-time traffic, get detailed step-by-step directions, and access an integrated search engine to find local businesses and their contact information. You also can move the map around, zoom in and out, and bring up the satellite image of the map. Another innovative feature is called Buddy Beacon, which broadcasts your location to your friends so they can find you easily. You can add up to 25 people to your Buddy Beacon friends list, and when you broadcast your location, their Buddy Beacon-enabled phones will receive your nearest address. In turn, you can SMS them to activate their Buddy Beacon so that you, too, can find your friends. Both Google Maps and Buddy Beacon are free for subscribers that pay for Helios \"all-in\" membership, while data charges will apply for those with the a la carte membership. We were impressed with the Drifts photos. The Drift comes with a 2-megapixel camera with an array of settings, including image resolution (1600x200, 1280x960, 800x600, 640x480, 320x240, 240x240), quality (fine, normal), white balance (auto, daylight, cloudy, incandescent, and fluorescent), lighting (normal, spotlight), color effects, photo frames, a self timer, and a flash. There are also a few settings for the video camera, including resolution (320x240, 176x144), frame rate (14 fps, 7 fps), white balance, lighting adjustment, a mute control, and color effects. You can also adjust shutter sound, block calls when in camera mode, and choose the location of the saved media. The Drift comes with 128MB memory or you can use a microSD card, though a card doesnt come with the phone. We were very impressed with the quality of the photos, though not so much by the low-res videos. The Drift also comes with a Photo Studio, which lets you edit the photos and videos by adding filters, effects, stickers, a fade between frames, and an overlay. You can also resize, rotate, flip, stretch, and swirl your images. Helio does not have a music store, so youll have to upload your own MP3s to the Drifts music player. You can either transfer them to the microSD card or upload them via a USB connection while using Helios free MediaMover application. The music sounded pretty good, whether we listened via earbuds or the phones built-in speakers. Theres also a video player on the Drift, so you can upload your favorite MPEG4 video files as well. Personalization options are plentiful on the Drift. You can purchase and download graphics like wallpaper and screensavers from the Helio store, as well as alerts, ring tones, and \"video ringers,\" which are short videos that play when theres an incoming call. The Drift comes with four games--Gameloft Mega Hits, Fight Night Round 3, Baseball Superstars, and Bomb Link--but you can always download more.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) Drift in San Francisco using Helios service. We must say were impressed with the call quality, and callers reported a very crisp and clear sound. The speakerphone quality was also excellent. We managed to pair up the Drift and the Cardo Scala 700 Bluetooth headset without a problem. File downloads took mere seconds, as did streaming media, though we experienced the occasional network lag when surfing the Internet. The Helio Drift has a rated talk time of 3 hours and a rated standby time of 7 days. Our tests showed a talk time of 3 hours and 5 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the Drift has a digital SAR rating of 0.41 watts per kilogram. ),
(886,UTStarcom PPC-6700 (Alltel), , The UTStarcom PPC-6700 is a full-featured Windows Mobile smart phone that should be a good fit for Alltels business customers. The all-in-one device offers a slide-out QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and the Microsoft Office Mobile suite. Its available now for $249.99 after rebates and promotions. For more information about the UTStarcom PPC-6700 for Alltel, please read our review of the Sprint PPC-6700. ),
(887,RIM BlackBerry 7130e (Alltel), Note: This product is part of the RIM BlackBerry 7100 series. ., The RIM BlackBerry 7130e is a good fit for Alltels customers who need to be able to work and check e-mail on the go. The smart phone features integrated Bluetooth, a speakerphone, 64MB of flash memory, 16MB of SRAM, and of course, push e-mail technology. The BlackBerry 7130e is available now for $199.99 after discounts and promotions. For more information about the smart phones design and features, please read our review of the RIM BlackBerry 7130e. ),
(888,Palm Treo 650 (Alltel, CDMA), , The Palm Treo 650 for Alltel offers all the same features as the other carrier variations, including Bluetooth, a speakerphone, Palm OS 5.4, multimedia, and e-mail support. The Palm-based smart phone is available for $249.99 after discounts and rebates. For more information about the smart phones design and features, please read our review of the Palm Treo 650. ),
(889,Motorola ic502,Positives: The Motorola ic502 offers a rugged design, access to Nextels Direct Connect network, and good call quality. Negatives: The Motorola ic502 has a limited feature set and a low-resolution display, and its menu interface is jarring for Nextel stalwarts. Facts: Though the Motorola ic502 successfully combines the Sprint and Nextel networks, its limited feature set and design peculiarities make it a poor choice for Nextel loyalists. , When Nextel and Sprint announced their marriage last year, everyone who follows cell phones was a bit surprised. Not only do the two carriers use incompatible technologies (Sprint has Code Division Multiple Access, Nextel has Integrated Digital Enhanced Network), but their handset lineup and service offerings are completely different. Yet with the new Motorola ic502, the two companies have made their union official. As the first dual-mode CDMA-iDEN cell phone, the ic502 uses Sprints network for voice calls and Nextel for Direct Connect Push-to-Talk (PTT) conversations. Other features are limited--theres no camera or Bluetooth--but it does come with most of Nextels PTT offerings. And while the exterior design is soundly Nextel, the interface has some Sprint touches that Nextel stalwarts may not like. If we were a Nextel loyalist we wouldnt convert just yet. Its a bit pricey ($249) if you pay full price, but you can get it for $59 with service. From the outside, the ic502 is a Nextel phone through and through. The black color is attractive but ultimately theres not much to say about the design. As expected, its rather large (3.7x2.1x0.9 inches) and heavy (4.4 ounces) and has rubberized sidings that add some extra durability. It feels comfortable in the hand and of course it meets the usual military specifications for dust, shock, vibration, temperature extremes, low pressure and solar radiation. Theres also a stubby antenna but youd be wise to use its extendable portion with care, as it bends easily. The rectangular (96x32 pixels) external display is standard Nextel as well. Though its monochrome and the text is rather small, it manages to cram in the date, time, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID. The backlighting time isnt adjustable but you can still see the screen when it turns off. Exterior controls are limited to the usual volume rocker and PTT control on the right spine and the speakerphone button and smart key on the top of the handset. The charger port on the ic502s bottom end is different from previous Nextel-only models in that it uses a mini-USB connection. That means you cant use the standard Nextel charger to power the phone, but you can use the newer Motorola chargers. The headset jack between the top-mounted buttons uses a standard 3.5mm plug, however. Astute Nextel watchers also will note another sign that the ic502 is a hybrid phone: above the Motorola icon on the front flap is a logo that says \"Nextel from Sprint.\" And of course, because it uses iDEN, the ic502 has a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card. For a Sprint phone, that in itself is remarkable enough. On the ic502s inside, the Sprint touches are readily apparent, but that may not please Nextel loyalists. Rather than employing the Nextel standard menu system, the ic502 uses the Motorolas generic interface and icons. The experience is decidedly different, and though weve never been huge fans of either interface, it does require a change on the users part. On a related note, the 1.75-inch display doesnt have the best resolution (128x160 pixels); images and graphics have a retro feel. And call us spoiled, but we prefer a display with 262,000 colors over the ic502s 65,000-color support. It is possible to change the screensaver and the backlighting time. The design of the navigation controls below the display may appear typical Nextel, but there are subtle variations. For starters, theres no dedicated menu key. Instead, the menu control button in the middle of the navigation doubles as an OK key. Also, theres a Web browser shortcut. And instead of featuring a dedicated power button below the keypad, the End button turns the phone on and off. Otherwise the array is pretty basic. There are two soft keys, a Talk button, and back key, and the four-way toggle can be set as a shortcut to four user-defined features. The navigation buttons are large, tactile and easy to use. They keypad buttons are well-designed. Besides being large and clearly separate, they are raised slightly above the surface of the phone for easy dialing. The backlit keys also benefit from large numerals. Similar to the Motorola i880, stereo speakers sit below the keypad. There is no speaker on the back of the ic502. Stereo speakers sit just below the ic502s keypad. Due to the aforementioned interface change, the ic502s features appear somewhat differently than they did on previous Nextel phones. The 900-contact phone book is bigger than most Nextel phones and has room in each entry for five phone numbers, a Direct Connect number, e-mail and Web addresses, notes, and a reminder date (as in a birthday). You can save callers to a variety of groups for voice or PTT calls and pair them with one of 14 polyphonic tones. You also can assign them a picture, but images wont show up on the external display, and since the ic502 doesnt support multimedia messaging theres really no point. Other features are sharply limited. Youll find only a vibrate mode, text messaging, a speakerphone, a voice recorder, an alarm clock, a calendar and a world clock. Theres no Bluetooth though there really should be.Things are strong on the PTT side, however. The ic502 supports Nextels Direct Connect walkie-talkie service (including Group Connect, which lets you chat with up to 20 others at once, via PTT) and Direct Talk, which allows out-of-network walkie-talkie chat with another Direct Talk handset at a range of up to six miles. A newer feature is Direct Send, which sends PTT contact information to compatible Nextel phones.You can personalize the ic502 with a selection of screen savers, clock styles, menu layouts, and greeting messages, downloaded from Sprint via the WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Data runs on the carriers 1xRTT network so speeds are sluggish; we were hoping for 3G EV-DO speeds at least. We also were disappointed that the ic502 doesnt come integrated with many of Nextels e-mail applications or its popular Java offerings like 1KTV and TeleNav. The handset did come with a trial edition of Weathernews, but since it uses Sprints PCS Vision Internet service, youre offered a different set of downloadable applications than if you were on Nextels Web browser.We tested the dual-mode (iDEN 800; CDMA 1900) Motorola ic502 in San Francisco. Voice calls on the Sprint network were clearly audible with enough volume. Voices sounded natural and callers said they could hear us plainly. There was a slight background hiss at times, but we were pleased with calls overall. Speakerphone calls also were satisfactory, and we had no problems hearing others. We also made PTT calls to our Motorola i880; the audio was loud and clear on both ends, and we had no connection problems.The Motorola ic502 has a rated talk-time battery life of 3.3 hours and a tested talk time of 3 hours and 30 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the ic502 has a digital SAR rating of 1.24 watts per kilogram. ),
(890,Motorola V325i, , Quick take: The Motorola V325i for Verizon Wireless is nearly identical to the Motorola V325 in both features and design but it adds Bluetooth for connecting to a headset. It also has less memory than its predecessor with 30MB of shared space instead of 64MB. The V325i is a reasonable $30 with service. ),
(891,Samsung Sync SGH-A707 (black),Positives: The Samsung Sync has an attractive design that includes a great internal display. It also supports Cingular Music and offers a full range of features, including support for HSDPA networks, stereo Bluetooth, and a satisfying 2-megapixel camera. Negatives: The Samsung Sync had average call quality at times, and we werent impressed by the navigation controls or keypad. Also, it doesnt come with a USB cable in the box. Facts: The Samsung Sync is a great choice for music-mad cell phone users, but its call quality could be better. Note: This product is part of the Samsung Sync SGH-A707 series. ., Photo gallery:Samsung Sync (SGH-A707) ),
(892,Nokia 6131 (unlocked), , The Nokia 6131 is a variant of T-Mobiles Nokia 6133, with a closely similar design and feature set. Read our review of the 6133 for a full assessment. ),
(893,Motorola Razr V3r, Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., The Motorola Razr V3r for Cingular is similar to the carriers Razr V3i except that it does not support iTunes. Features include a 1.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and world phone support. For music, the V3r comes with a generic Motorola MP3 player. The Razr V3r is $149 with service. For more on the Razr V3r, see our review of the Razr V3i. ),
(894,Motorola Slvr L7 (red), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Slvr series. ., Quick take: The Motorola Slvr L7 has received a fresh coat of red, thanks to Bono and Bobby Shrivers Project Red initiative to help combat HIV and AIDS in Africa. In the United States, its not available with a carrier but you can get it as an unlocked model. Please read our review of Cingulars original Motorola Slvr L7 for more information on the phones features. ),
(895,Motorola Slvr L6 unlocked, Note: This product is part of the Motorola Slvr series. ., Quick take: The unlocked Motorola Slvr L6 can be used with any U.S. GSM carrier but its design and feature set is similar to the Motorola Slvr L6 for Cingular. Read our review for a full assessment. ),
(896,Motorola Slvr L7 unlocked with iTunes, Note: This product is part of the Motorola Slvr series. ., Quick take: The unlocked Motorola Slvr L7 can be used with any U.S. GSM carrier. Though its feature set is identical to the Cingulars original Motorola Slvr L7 (including the support for iTunes), this alternative L7 model comes in silver instead of black. Read our review of Cingulars Slvr L7 for a full assessment. ),
(897,Samsung BlackJack,Positives: The 3G-enabled Samsung BlackJack is sleek, has a gorgeous screen, and a full QWERTY keyboard. Highlights include Bluetooth 2.0, push e-mail capabilities, and good call quality. This Windows Mobile smart phone also comes with support for Cingular Video and Cingular Music services. Negatives: Navigation controls are cramped, and there is no integrated Wi-Fi. Certain applications take some time to load. Facts: The Samsung BlackJack heralds another 3G-enabled smart phone to Cingulars lineup. While it supports the carriers video and music service, some design and performance issues trip up this otherwise sexy device. , Photo gallery:Samsung BlackJack),
(898,Motorola Slvr L6 unlocked (black), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Slvr series. ., Quick take: The black Motorola Slvr L6 is an unlocked version of the thin Motorola candy bar phone. Its features are comparable to the original Slvr L6 in silver. See our review of that Cingular handset for a full assessment. ),
(899,Motorola Slvr L6 unlocked (pink), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Slvr series. ., Quick take: The pink Motorola Slvr L6 is an unlocked version of the thin Motorola candy bar phone. Its features are comparable to the original Slvr L6 in silver. See our review of that Cingular handset for a full assessment. ),
(900,HP iPAQ hw6920 Mobile Messenger,Positives: The HP iPaq hw6900 series has integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. This smart phone also offers push e-mail capabilities, document editing and viewing, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a solid talk-time battery life. Negatives: The buttons of the QWERTY keyboard are small, and the lower-resolution screen pales in comparison with its competitors. The smart phone also ran sluggishly at times, and the speakerphone volume was low. Facts: The HP iPaq hw6900 series offers a lot for the road warrior, including GPS functionality, e-mail, and productivity tools, but there are better-designed and faster-performing smart phones out there. Note: This product is part of the HP iPAQ hw6900 series. ., Weve waited a long time to get our hands on the HP iPaq hw6900 series. Though Hewlett-Packard first unveiled it at the 3GSM World Congress back in February, it wasnt until late October that HP and Cingular announced the official availability of the Windows Mobile smart phone. Was it worth the wait? Well, sort of. With an integrated GPS receiver, the iPaq hw6900 sets itself apart from its competitors by doubling as a handheld GPS device supporting Cingulars new location-based service. In addition, it offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a full suite of productivity apps, making it a road warriors dream. However, its not all that dreamy.Though we appreciate the full QWERTY keyboard, the buttons are tiny, so we often pressed the wrong key and the 240x240-pixel-resolution screen pales in comparison with other smart phones weve tested. In addition, all that functionality seemed to take a toll on the devices responsiveness, and it doesnt support Cingulars HSPDA network like the recently launched Cingular 8525 does.Yet overall, the smart phone performs its primary functions well. The HP iPaq hw6900 series consist of four models: the HP iPaq hw6925 and the cameraless iPaq hw6920 are available through Cingular for a pricey $359.99 with a two-year contract, or you can get the unlocked hw6945 or hw6940 (no camera) directly through HP for $599.99. For our review, we used the HP iPaq hw6945. Design The design of the HP iPaq hw6900 series has not changed much from the hw6500 series. It retains that PDA-like form factor, which is to say that its a bit blocky (4.6x2.8x0.7 inches) and heavy (6.3 ounces) for a phone. Though its not any bigger than the Nokia E62 or Palm Treo 700wx, if you havent used a Pocket PC phone before, its wider body might require some acclimation when using it as a phone. On the other hand, there are some advantages to the larger size. The first benefit is a nice, wide display. The iPaq hw6900 series features a 3-inch diagonal touch-screen that displays 64,000 colors. The extra real estate makes it better for viewing Web pages. The touch screen is responsive, but the 240x240 pixel resolution isnt as sharp as some of the other Windows Mobile smart phones weve reviewed recently, such as the Cingular 8525. The display is still readable in direct sunlight, however, and HP includes an attachable plastic flip cover to protect the screen from scratches. There is a small status-LED above the screen that illuminates different colors for wireless connections and battery status. To the right of the LED is the power button, and the stylus holder is on top of the unit. The QWERTY keyboard is spacious, but we found the buttons to be tiny. Another perk of having a larger phone is that HP was able to fit in a full QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging. Now, while the iPaq hw6900s round keys are brightly backlit (much improved over its predecessor) and seem well-spaced, they are so tiny that our thumbs often covered two buttons, and so we had to be very careful to press the right key. That said, we give a slight edge (and we mean slight) to the hw6900 series over the Treo 700wx because of the extra spacing between the keys. Above the QWERTY keyboard are two soft keys, a small joystick, and the Talk and End buttons for making calls. For dialing phone numbers, you can use either the spacious onscreen virtual dial pad or the number keys that share space with the letters on the right half of the QWERTY keyboard. The latter are highlighted in black for easy identification.On the left spine is a volume slider and a camera activation key, while the camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the back of the unit. To store all those photos, youll of course need plenty of memory, so there is a mini-SD expansion slot on the right spine of the hw6900 series. Finally, there is a 2.5mm headset jack, a connector port, and a reset hole on the bottom of the device. The HP iPaq hw6945 comes packaged with a number of accessories, including a belt holster. FeaturesThe HP iPaq hw6900 series improves upon the iPaq hw6515/hw6510 in several ways. First, its powered by a higher-speed 416MHz Intel PXA270 processor (compared to 312MHz) and runs the latest Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition. This version has the full Microsoft Office Mobile suite for viewing and editing Word and Excel documents and opening PowerPoint presentations. In addition, you get the standard set of PIM tools--calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks--and other useful utilities, such as a software download manager, a voice recorder, and a Today Panel Lite app, which installs a convenient toolbar on your Today screen to indicate battery life, backlight setting, and available memory. Speaking of which, the hw6900 series comes with 64MB SDRAM for running applications and 45MB user accessible memory. For even more storage space, theres also a mini-SD card expansion slot. A mini-SD expansion slot enables you to carry large files, such as music and videos, on a media card, leaving the internal memory available for apps. With its integrated QWERTY keyboard, e-mail is an obvious draw for a device like the hw6900 series, which also ships with Microsofts Messaging and Security Feature Pack, so you get direct push technology for wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange and your Outlook e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks. Most likely youll want to contact your I.T. department for help setting up access to your corporate e-mail. If your company uses Good Technology, don't worry, the hw6900 also supports this solution, as well as Cingular XpressMail. The latter allows you to not only access work e-mail but also POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP accounts. We used XpressMail to receive our Yahoo e-mail on the hw6945, and after entering our user ID and password, we started getting messages within 15 minutes with no problems.One thing that sets the HP iPaq hw6900 series apart from the rest of its smart phone brethren is the integrated GPS receiver, so it can double as a handheld GPS device. Even better, the smart phone supports Cingulars recently launched location-based service, TeleNav GPS Navigator so you can get turn-by-turn, text- and voice-guided directions and color maps, a Biz Finder for searching local businesses, a Fuel Finder, and a Spot Marker so you can find your car wherever you parked it. The service costs $9.99 per month for unlimited use or $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips. (Check back for our full review.) The hw6900 series also ships with the Microsoft Pocket Streets 2006 mapping program. In addition to the GPS radio, the iPaq hw6900 series also packs in Bluetooth 1.2 and Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless connections. The iPaq Wireless utility found on the device conveniently allows you to turn on either or both of the wireless options with a tap of a button. Supported Bluetooth profiles include file transfer, information exchange, dial-up networking, and hands-free kits. While the integrated Wi-Fi will help you cruise the Web, the EDGE brings faster data connection speeds. Its too bad the hw6900 series cant accommodate Cingulars 3G HSPDA network. As for voice features, the HP iPaq hw6900 series is a quad-band world phone, so you can use it while you travel overseas. The address book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts), and it can store up to 12 numbers for a single entry, as well as home and work addresses, e-mail, IM screen name, birthday, spouses name, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can pair a contact with a photo, a caller group, or one 9 ring tones. The phone also supports MIDI, WAV, and WMA ring tones. Other highlights include a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, and voice dialing. The HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 offer 1.3-megapixel cameras with video recording capabilities. The hw6940 and hw6920 do not. Both the HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 are equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities and flash. For still images, you have a choice of 4 resolutions, 3 compression sizes, and settings for white balance and color. Theres also a self-timer and an option to turn off the capture sound. In video mode, you can record clips with sound and no time limit, but youre restricted to just 3 resolutions. There are a couple of cool things about the iPaqs camera: First, HP kindly includes a photo management app, called HP Photosmart Mobile, where you can view your images in a slide show, add voice notes, send them via e-mail, and so forth. Second, when youre using the camera, you may notice a GPS icon along the bottom edge. When you press it, the hw6945 will record the GPS coordinates (as long as you have a satellite fix at the time) of the location where youre taking the photo. Then, if you happen to want to return to the spot at a later time, the device can map out the location based on the saved GPS coordinates. The feature is very similar to the one found in the Navman iCN 750 portable navigation system--and its very cool. As far as image quality goes, the hw6945 was mediocre with fairly sharp lines but washed-out color. We appreciate that HP and Cingular offer cameraless versions in the iPaq hw6920 and hw6940, given that more and more businesses are prohibiting the use of camera phones for security reasons. We werent all that impressed with the hw6945s camera quality. Finally, as with all Windows Mobile devices, the HP iPaq hw6900 series comes with Windows Media Player 10 for your multimedia needs. The device supports AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, MPEG-4, and WMV files. Also, if you have TV shows recorded on your Windows Media Center PC, you can transfer them to the hw6945 and view them on the go. In addition, the smart phone comes preloaded with two games: Bubble Breaker and Solitaire.PerformanceWe tested the quad-band HP iPaq hw6945 (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) world phone in San Francisco using Cingulars service, and call quality was generally positive. Like the i-mate Jaq, we had to adjust the phones earpiece several times in order to find the audio sweet spot, but once we did, conversations were loud and clear. Our callers reported the same. Unfortunately, the audio quality diminished when we activated the speakerphone. There was a slight echo and volume was low. On the bright side, we had no problems pairing the hw6945 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.Beyond phone quality, the HP iPaq hw6945 was a mediocre performer. The Web browsing experience was good as pages loaded quickly, though it was nothing compared to the super-fast Cingular 8525. The handheld was generally responsive to our commands as well, but we noticed a definite delay when we activated the camera or GPS function. Music playback through the devices speakers was pretty dismal, as songs sounded weak and tinny. We plugged in a pair of earbuds, however, and sound was much better.The hw6945 is rated for four hours of talk time and up to 7 days of standby time. In our tests, we got 7 hours of talk time before having to recharge. We did notice that using the other wireless options really had an affect on the battery life. If you don't need to use these features, we recommend you turn the radio off to conserve your battery. ),
(901,HP iPAQ hw6940 Mobile Messenger,Positives: The HP iPaq hw6900 series has integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. This smart phone also offers push e-mail capabilities, document editing and viewing, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a solid talk-time battery life. Negatives: The buttons of the QWERTY keyboard are small, and the lower-resolution screen pales in comparison with its competitors. The smart phone also ran sluggishly at times, and the speakerphone volume was low. Facts: The HP iPaq hw6900 series offers a lot for the road warrior, including GPS functionality, e-mail, and productivity tools, but there are better-designed and faster-performing smart phones out there. Note: This product is part of the HP iPAQ hw6900 series. ., Weve waited a long time to get our hands on the HP iPaq hw6900 series. Though Hewlett-Packard first unveiled it at the 3GSM World Congress back in February, it wasnt until late October that HP and Cingular announced the official availability of the Windows Mobile smart phone. Was it worth the wait? Well, sort of. With an integrated GPS receiver, the iPaq hw6900 sets itself apart from its competitors by doubling as a handheld GPS device supporting Cingulars new location-based service. In addition, it offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a full suite of productivity apps, making it a road warriors dream. However, its not all that dreamy.Though we appreciate the full QWERTY keyboard, the buttons are tiny, so we often pressed the wrong key and the 240x240-pixel-resolution screen pales in comparison with other smart phones weve tested. In addition, all that functionality seemed to take a toll on the devices responsiveness, and it doesnt support Cingulars HSPDA network like the recently launched Cingular 8525 does.Yet overall, the smart phone performs its primary functions well. The HP iPaq hw6900 series consist of four models: the HP iPaq hw6925 and the cameraless iPaq hw6920 are available through Cingular for a pricey $359.99 with a two-year contract, or you can get the unlocked hw6945 or hw6940 (no camera) directly through HP for $599.99. For our review, we used the HP iPaq hw6945. Design The design of the HP iPaq hw6900 series has not changed much from the hw6500 series. It retains that PDA-like form factor, which is to say that its a bit blocky (4.6x2.8x0.7 inches) and heavy (6.3 ounces) for a phone. Though its not any bigger than the Nokia E62 or Palm Treo 700wx, if you havent used a Pocket PC phone before, its wider body might require some acclimation when using it as a phone. On the other hand, there are some advantages to the larger size. The first benefit is a nice, wide display. The iPaq hw6900 series features a 3-inch diagonal touch-screen that displays 64,000 colors. The extra real estate makes it better for viewing Web pages. The touch screen is responsive, but the 240x240 pixel resolution isnt as sharp as some of the other Windows Mobile smart phones weve reviewed recently, such as the Cingular 8525. The display is still readable in direct sunlight, however, and HP includes an attachable plastic flip cover to protect the screen from scratches. There is a small status-LED above the screen that illuminates different colors for wireless connections and battery status. To the right of the LED is the power button, and the stylus holder is on top of the unit. The QWERTY keyboard is spacious, but we found the buttons to be tiny. Another perk of having a larger phone is that HP was able to fit in a full QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging. Now, while the iPaq hw6900s round keys are brightly backlit (much improved over its predecessor) and seem well-spaced, they are so tiny that our thumbs often covered two buttons, and so we had to be very careful to press the right key. That said, we give a slight edge (and we mean slight) to the hw6900 series over the Treo 700wx because of the extra spacing between the keys. Above the QWERTY keyboard are two soft keys, a small joystick, and the Talk and End buttons for making calls. For dialing phone numbers, you can use either the spacious onscreen virtual dial pad or the number keys that share space with the letters on the right half of the QWERTY keyboard. The latter are highlighted in black for easy identification.On the left spine is a volume slider and a camera activation key, while the camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the back of the unit. To store all those photos, youll of course need plenty of memory, so there is a mini-SD expansion slot on the right spine of the hw6900 series. Finally, there is a 2.5mm headset jack, a connector port, and a reset hole on the bottom of the device. The HP iPaq hw6945 comes packaged with a number of accessories, including a belt holster. FeaturesThe HP iPaq hw6900 series improves upon the iPaq hw6515/hw6510 in several ways. First, its powered by a higher-speed 416MHz Intel PXA270 processor (compared to 312MHz) and runs the latest Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition. This version has the full Microsoft Office Mobile suite for viewing and editing Word and Excel documents and opening PowerPoint presentations. In addition, you get the standard set of PIM tools--calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks--and other useful utilities, such as a software download manager, a voice recorder, and a Today Panel Lite app, which installs a convenient toolbar on your Today screen to indicate battery life, backlight setting, and available memory. Speaking of which, the hw6900 series comes with 64MB SDRAM for running applications and 45MB user accessible memory. For even more storage space, theres also a mini-SD card expansion slot. A mini-SD expansion slot enables you to carry large files, such as music and videos, on a media card, leaving the internal memory available for apps. With its integrated QWERTY keyboard, e-mail is an obvious draw for a device like the hw6900 series, which also ships with Microsofts Messaging and Security Feature Pack, so you get direct push technology for wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange and your Outlook e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks. Most likely youll want to contact your I.T. department for help setting up access to your corporate e-mail. If your company uses Good Technology, don't worry, the hw6900 also supports this solution, as well as Cingular XpressMail. The latter allows you to not only access work e-mail but also POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP accounts. We used XpressMail to receive our Yahoo e-mail on the hw6945, and after entering our user ID and password, we started getting messages within 15 minutes with no problems.One thing that sets the HP iPaq hw6900 series apart from the rest of its smart phone brethren is the integrated GPS receiver, so it can double as a handheld GPS device. Even better, the smart phone supports Cingulars recently launched location-based service, TeleNav GPS Navigator so you can get turn-by-turn, text- and voice-guided directions and color maps, a Biz Finder for searching local businesses, a Fuel Finder, and a Spot Marker so you can find your car wherever you parked it. The service costs $9.99 per month for unlimited use or $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips. (Check back for our full review.) The hw6900 series also ships with the Microsoft Pocket Streets 2006 mapping program. In addition to the GPS radio, the iPaq hw6900 series also packs in Bluetooth 1.2 and Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless connections. The iPaq Wireless utility found on the device conveniently allows you to turn on either or both of the wireless options with a tap of a button. Supported Bluetooth profiles include file transfer, information exchange, dial-up networking, and hands-free kits. While the integrated Wi-Fi will help you cruise the Web, the EDGE brings faster data connection speeds. Its too bad the hw6900 series cant accommodate Cingulars 3G HSPDA network. As for voice features, the HP iPaq hw6900 series is a quad-band world phone, so you can use it while you travel overseas. The address book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts), and it can store up to 12 numbers for a single entry, as well as home and work addresses, e-mail, IM screen name, birthday, spouses name, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can pair a contact with a photo, a caller group, or one 9 ring tones. The phone also supports MIDI, WAV, and WMA ring tones. Other highlights include a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, and voice dialing. The HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 offer 1.3-megapixel cameras with video recording capabilities. The hw6940 and hw6920 do not. Both the HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 are equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities and flash. For still images, you have a choice of 4 resolutions, 3 compression sizes, and settings for white balance and color. Theres also a self-timer and an option to turn off the capture sound. In video mode, you can record clips with sound and no time limit, but youre restricted to just 3 resolutions. There are a couple of cool things about the iPaqs camera: First, HP kindly includes a photo management app, called HP Photosmart Mobile, where you can view your images in a slide show, add voice notes, send them via e-mail, and so forth. Second, when youre using the camera, you may notice a GPS icon along the bottom edge. When you press it, the hw6945 will record the GPS coordinates (as long as you have a satellite fix at the time) of the location where youre taking the photo. Then, if you happen to want to return to the spot at a later time, the device can map out the location based on the saved GPS coordinates. The feature is very similar to the one found in the Navman iCN 750 portable navigation system--and its very cool. As far as image quality goes, the hw6945 was mediocre with fairly sharp lines but washed-out color. We appreciate that HP and Cingular offer cameraless versions in the iPaq hw6920 and hw6940, given that more and more businesses are prohibiting the use of camera phones for security reasons. We werent all that impressed with the hw6945s camera quality. Finally, as with all Windows Mobile devices, the HP iPaq hw6900 series comes with Windows Media Player 10 for your multimedia needs. The device supports AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, MPEG-4, and WMV files. Also, if you have TV shows recorded on your Windows Media Center PC, you can transfer them to the hw6945 and view them on the go. In addition, the smart phone comes preloaded with two games: Bubble Breaker and Solitaire.PerformanceWe tested the quad-band HP iPaq hw6945 (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) world phone in San Francisco using Cingulars service, and call quality was generally positive. Like the i-mate Jaq, we had to adjust the phones earpiece several times in order to find the audio sweet spot, but once we did, conversations were loud and clear. Our callers reported the same. Unfortunately, the audio quality diminished when we activated the speakerphone. There was a slight echo and volume was low. On the bright side, we had no problems pairing the hw6945 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.Beyond phone quality, the HP iPaq hw6945 was a mediocre performer. The Web browsing experience was good as pages loaded quickly, though it was nothing compared to the super-fast Cingular 8525. The handheld was generally responsive to our commands as well, but we noticed a definite delay when we activated the camera or GPS function. Music playback through the devices speakers was pretty dismal, as songs sounded weak and tinny. We plugged in a pair of earbuds, however, and sound was much better.The hw6945 is rated for four hours of talk time and up to 7 days of standby time. In our tests, we got 7 hours of talk time before having to recharge. We did notice that using the other wireless options really had an affect on the battery life. If you don't need to use these features, we recommend you turn the radio off to conserve your battery. ),
(902,HP iPAQ hw6945 Mobile Messenger,Positives: The HP iPaq hw6900 series has integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. This smart phone also offers push e-mail capabilities, document editing and viewing, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a solid talk-time battery life. Negatives: The buttons of the QWERTY keyboard are small, and the lower-resolution screen pales in comparison with its competitors. The smart phone also ran sluggishly at times, and the speakerphone volume was low. Facts: The HP iPaq hw6900 series offers a lot for the road warrior, including GPS functionality, e-mail, and productivity tools, but there are better-designed and faster-performing smart phones out there. Note: This product is part of the HP iPAQ hw6900 series. ., Weve waited a long time to get our hands on the HP iPaq hw6900 series. Though Hewlett-Packard first unveiled it at the 3GSM World Congress back in February, it wasnt until late October that HP and Cingular announced the official availability of the Windows Mobile smart phone. Was it worth the wait? Well, sort of. With an integrated GPS receiver, the iPaq hw6900 sets itself apart from its competitors by doubling as a handheld GPS device supporting Cingulars new location-based service. In addition, it offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a full suite of productivity apps, making it a road warriors dream. However, its not all that dreamy.Though we appreciate the full QWERTY keyboard, the buttons are tiny, so we often pressed the wrong key and the 240x240-pixel-resolution screen pales in comparison with other smart phones weve tested. In addition, all that functionality seemed to take a toll on the devices responsiveness, and it doesnt support Cingulars HSPDA network like the recently launched Cingular 8525 does.Yet overall, the smart phone performs its primary functions well. The HP iPaq hw6900 series consist of four models: the HP iPaq hw6925 and the cameraless iPaq hw6920 are available through Cingular for a pricey $359.99 with a two-year contract, or you can get the unlocked hw6945 or hw6940 (no camera) directly through HP for $599.99. For our review, we used the HP iPaq hw6945. Design The design of the HP iPaq hw6900 series has not changed much from the hw6500 series. It retains that PDA-like form factor, which is to say that its a bit blocky (4.6x2.8x0.7 inches) and heavy (6.3 ounces) for a phone. Though its not any bigger than the Nokia E62 or Palm Treo 700wx, if you havent used a Pocket PC phone before, its wider body might require some acclimation when using it as a phone. On the other hand, there are some advantages to the larger size. The first benefit is a nice, wide display. The iPaq hw6900 series features a 3-inch diagonal touch-screen that displays 64,000 colors. The extra real estate makes it better for viewing Web pages. The touch screen is responsive, but the 240x240 pixel resolution isnt as sharp as some of the other Windows Mobile smart phones weve reviewed recently, such as the Cingular 8525. The display is still readable in direct sunlight, however, and HP includes an attachable plastic flip cover to protect the screen from scratches. There is a small status-LED above the screen that illuminates different colors for wireless connections and battery status. To the right of the LED is the power button, and the stylus holder is on top of the unit. The QWERTY keyboard is spacious, but we found the buttons to be tiny. Another perk of having a larger phone is that HP was able to fit in a full QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging. Now, while the iPaq hw6900s round keys are brightly backlit (much improved over its predecessor) and seem well-spaced, they are so tiny that our thumbs often covered two buttons, and so we had to be very careful to press the right key. That said, we give a slight edge (and we mean slight) to the hw6900 series over the Treo 700wx because of the extra spacing between the keys. Above the QWERTY keyboard are two soft keys, a small joystick, and the Talk and End buttons for making calls. For dialing phone numbers, you can use either the spacious onscreen virtual dial pad or the number keys that share space with the letters on the right half of the QWERTY keyboard. The latter are highlighted in black for easy identification.On the left spine is a volume slider and a camera activation key, while the camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the back of the unit. To store all those photos, youll of course need plenty of memory, so there is a mini-SD expansion slot on the right spine of the hw6900 series. Finally, there is a 2.5mm headset jack, a connector port, and a reset hole on the bottom of the device. The HP iPaq hw6945 comes packaged with a number of accessories, including a belt holster. FeaturesThe HP iPaq hw6900 series improves upon the iPaq hw6515/hw6510 in several ways. First, its powered by a higher-speed 416MHz Intel PXA270 processor (compared to 312MHz) and runs the latest Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition. This version has the full Microsoft Office Mobile suite for viewing and editing Word and Excel documents and opening PowerPoint presentations. In addition, you get the standard set of PIM tools--calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks--and other useful utilities, such as a software download manager, a voice recorder, and a Today Panel Lite app, which installs a convenient toolbar on your Today screen to indicate battery life, backlight setting, and available memory. Speaking of which, the hw6900 series comes with 64MB SDRAM for running applications and 45MB user accessible memory. For even more storage space, theres also a mini-SD card expansion slot. A mini-SD expansion slot enables you to carry large files, such as music and videos, on a media card, leaving the internal memory available for apps. With its integrated QWERTY keyboard, e-mail is an obvious draw for a device like the hw6900 series, which also ships with Microsofts Messaging and Security Feature Pack, so you get direct push technology for wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange and your Outlook e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks. Most likely youll want to contact your I.T. department for help setting up access to your corporate e-mail. If your company uses Good Technology, don't worry, the hw6900 also supports this solution, as well as Cingular XpressMail. The latter allows you to not only access work e-mail but also POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP accounts. We used XpressMail to receive our Yahoo e-mail on the hw6945, and after entering our user ID and password, we started getting messages within 15 minutes with no problems.One thing that sets the HP iPaq hw6900 series apart from the rest of its smart phone brethren is the integrated GPS receiver, so it can double as a handheld GPS device. Even better, the smart phone supports Cingulars recently launched location-based service, TeleNav GPS Navigator so you can get turn-by-turn, text- and voice-guided directions and color maps, a Biz Finder for searching local businesses, a Fuel Finder, and a Spot Marker so you can find your car wherever you parked it. The service costs $9.99 per month for unlimited use or $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips. (Check back for our full review.) The hw6900 series also ships with the Microsoft Pocket Streets 2006 mapping program. In addition to the GPS radio, the iPaq hw6900 series also packs in Bluetooth 1.2 and Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless connections. The iPaq Wireless utility found on the device conveniently allows you to turn on either or both of the wireless options with a tap of a button. Supported Bluetooth profiles include file transfer, information exchange, dial-up networking, and hands-free kits. While the integrated Wi-Fi will help you cruise the Web, the EDGE brings faster data connection speeds. Its too bad the hw6900 series cant accommodate Cingulars 3G HSPDA network. As for voice features, the HP iPaq hw6900 series is a quad-band world phone, so you can use it while you travel overseas. The address book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts), and it can store up to 12 numbers for a single entry, as well as home and work addresses, e-mail, IM screen name, birthday, spouses name, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can pair a contact with a photo, a caller group, or one 9 ring tones. The phone also supports MIDI, WAV, and WMA ring tones. Other highlights include a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, and voice dialing. The HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 offer 1.3-megapixel cameras with video recording capabilities. The hw6940 and hw6920 do not. Both the HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 are equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities and flash. For still images, you have a choice of 4 resolutions, 3 compression sizes, and settings for white balance and color. Theres also a self-timer and an option to turn off the capture sound. In video mode, you can record clips with sound and no time limit, but youre restricted to just 3 resolutions. There are a couple of cool things about the iPaqs camera: First, HP kindly includes a photo management app, called HP Photosmart Mobile, where you can view your images in a slide show, add voice notes, send them via e-mail, and so forth. Second, when youre using the camera, you may notice a GPS icon along the bottom edge. When you press it, the hw6945 will record the GPS coordinates (as long as you have a satellite fix at the time) of the location where youre taking the photo. Then, if you happen to want to return to the spot at a later time, the device can map out the location based on the saved GPS coordinates. The feature is very similar to the one found in the Navman iCN 750 portable navigation system--and its very cool. As far as image quality goes, the hw6945 was mediocre with fairly sharp lines but washed-out color. We appreciate that HP and Cingular offer cameraless versions in the iPaq hw6920 and hw6940, given that more and more businesses are prohibiting the use of camera phones for security reasons. We werent all that impressed with the hw6945s camera quality. Finally, as with all Windows Mobile devices, the HP iPaq hw6900 series comes with Windows Media Player 10 for your multimedia needs. The device supports AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, MPEG-4, and WMV files. Also, if you have TV shows recorded on your Windows Media Center PC, you can transfer them to the hw6945 and view them on the go. In addition, the smart phone comes preloaded with two games: Bubble Breaker and Solitaire.PerformanceWe tested the quad-band HP iPaq hw6945 (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) world phone in San Francisco using Cingulars service, and call quality was generally positive. Like the i-mate Jaq, we had to adjust the phones earpiece several times in order to find the audio sweet spot, but once we did, conversations were loud and clear. Our callers reported the same. Unfortunately, the audio quality diminished when we activated the speakerphone. There was a slight echo and volume was low. On the bright side, we had no problems pairing the hw6945 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.Beyond phone quality, the HP iPaq hw6945 was a mediocre performer. The Web browsing experience was good as pages loaded quickly, though it was nothing compared to the super-fast Cingular 8525. The handheld was generally responsive to our commands as well, but we noticed a definite delay when we activated the camera or GPS function. Music playback through the devices speakers was pretty dismal, as songs sounded weak and tinny. We plugged in a pair of earbuds, however, and sound was much better.The hw6945 is rated for four hours of talk time and up to 7 days of standby time. In our tests, we got 7 hours of talk time before having to recharge. We did notice that using the other wireless options really had an affect on the battery life. If you don't need to use these features, we recommend you turn the radio off to conserve your battery. ),
(903,HP iPAQ hw6925 Mobile Messenger,Positives: The HP iPaq hw6900 series has integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. This smart phone also offers push e-mail capabilities, document editing and viewing, a full QWERTY keyboard, and a solid talk-time battery life. Negatives: The buttons of the QWERTY keyboard are small, and the lower-resolution screen pales in comparison with its competitors. The smart phone also ran sluggishly at times, and the speakerphone volume was low. Facts: The HP iPaq hw6900 series offers a lot for the road warrior, including GPS functionality, e-mail, and productivity tools, but there are better-designed and faster-performing smart phones out there. Note: This product is part of the HP iPAQ hw6900 series. ., Weve waited a long time to get our hands on the HP iPaq hw6900 series. Though Hewlett-Packard first unveiled it at the 3GSM World Congress back in February, it wasnt until late October that HP and Cingular announced the official availability of the Windows Mobile smart phone. Was it worth the wait? Well, sort of. With an integrated GPS receiver, the iPaq hw6900 sets itself apart from its competitors by doubling as a handheld GPS device supporting Cingulars new location-based service. In addition, it offers Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a full suite of productivity apps, making it a road warriors dream. However, its not all that dreamy.Though we appreciate the full QWERTY keyboard, the buttons are tiny, so we often pressed the wrong key and the 240x240-pixel-resolution screen pales in comparison with other smart phones weve tested. In addition, all that functionality seemed to take a toll on the devices responsiveness, and it doesnt support Cingulars HSPDA network like the recently launched Cingular 8525 does.Yet overall, the smart phone performs its primary functions well. The HP iPaq hw6900 series consist of four models: the HP iPaq hw6925 and the cameraless iPaq hw6920 are available through Cingular for a pricey $359.99 with a two-year contract, or you can get the unlocked hw6945 or hw6940 (no camera) directly through HP for $599.99. For our review, we used the HP iPaq hw6945. Design The design of the HP iPaq hw6900 series has not changed much from the hw6500 series. It retains that PDA-like form factor, which is to say that its a bit blocky (4.6x2.8x0.7 inches) and heavy (6.3 ounces) for a phone. Though its not any bigger than the Nokia E62 or Palm Treo 700wx, if you havent used a Pocket PC phone before, its wider body might require some acclimation when using it as a phone. On the other hand, there are some advantages to the larger size. The first benefit is a nice, wide display. The iPaq hw6900 series features a 3-inch diagonal touch-screen that displays 64,000 colors. The extra real estate makes it better for viewing Web pages. The touch screen is responsive, but the 240x240 pixel resolution isnt as sharp as some of the other Windows Mobile smart phones weve reviewed recently, such as the Cingular 8525. The display is still readable in direct sunlight, however, and HP includes an attachable plastic flip cover to protect the screen from scratches. There is a small status-LED above the screen that illuminates different colors for wireless connections and battery status. To the right of the LED is the power button, and the stylus holder is on top of the unit. The QWERTY keyboard is spacious, but we found the buttons to be tiny. Another perk of having a larger phone is that HP was able to fit in a full QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging. Now, while the iPaq hw6900s round keys are brightly backlit (much improved over its predecessor) and seem well-spaced, they are so tiny that our thumbs often covered two buttons, and so we had to be very careful to press the right key. That said, we give a slight edge (and we mean slight) to the hw6900 series over the Treo 700wx because of the extra spacing between the keys. Above the QWERTY keyboard are two soft keys, a small joystick, and the Talk and End buttons for making calls. For dialing phone numbers, you can use either the spacious onscreen virtual dial pad or the number keys that share space with the letters on the right half of the QWERTY keyboard. The latter are highlighted in black for easy identification.On the left spine is a volume slider and a camera activation key, while the camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the back of the unit. To store all those photos, youll of course need plenty of memory, so there is a mini-SD expansion slot on the right spine of the hw6900 series. Finally, there is a 2.5mm headset jack, a connector port, and a reset hole on the bottom of the device. The HP iPaq hw6945 comes packaged with a number of accessories, including a belt holster. FeaturesThe HP iPaq hw6900 series improves upon the iPaq hw6515/hw6510 in several ways. First, its powered by a higher-speed 416MHz Intel PXA270 processor (compared to 312MHz) and runs the latest Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Phone Edition. This version has the full Microsoft Office Mobile suite for viewing and editing Word and Excel documents and opening PowerPoint presentations. In addition, you get the standard set of PIM tools--calendar, contacts, notes, and tasks--and other useful utilities, such as a software download manager, a voice recorder, and a Today Panel Lite app, which installs a convenient toolbar on your Today screen to indicate battery life, backlight setting, and available memory. Speaking of which, the hw6900 series comes with 64MB SDRAM for running applications and 45MB user accessible memory. For even more storage space, theres also a mini-SD card expansion slot. A mini-SD expansion slot enables you to carry large files, such as music and videos, on a media card, leaving the internal memory available for apps. With its integrated QWERTY keyboard, e-mail is an obvious draw for a device like the hw6900 series, which also ships with Microsofts Messaging and Security Feature Pack, so you get direct push technology for wireless synchronization with Microsoft Exchange and your Outlook e-mail, calendar, contacts, and tasks. Most likely youll want to contact your I.T. department for help setting up access to your corporate e-mail. If your company uses Good Technology, don't worry, the hw6900 also supports this solution, as well as Cingular XpressMail. The latter allows you to not only access work e-mail but also POP3, IMAP4, and SMTP accounts. We used XpressMail to receive our Yahoo e-mail on the hw6945, and after entering our user ID and password, we started getting messages within 15 minutes with no problems.One thing that sets the HP iPaq hw6900 series apart from the rest of its smart phone brethren is the integrated GPS receiver, so it can double as a handheld GPS device. Even better, the smart phone supports Cingulars recently launched location-based service, TeleNav GPS Navigator so you can get turn-by-turn, text- and voice-guided directions and color maps, a Biz Finder for searching local businesses, a Fuel Finder, and a Spot Marker so you can find your car wherever you parked it. The service costs $9.99 per month for unlimited use or $5.99 per month for up to 10 trips. (Check back for our full review.) The hw6900 series also ships with the Microsoft Pocket Streets 2006 mapping program. In addition to the GPS radio, the iPaq hw6900 series also packs in Bluetooth 1.2 and Wi-Fi (802.11b) wireless connections. The iPaq Wireless utility found on the device conveniently allows you to turn on either or both of the wireless options with a tap of a button. Supported Bluetooth profiles include file transfer, information exchange, dial-up networking, and hands-free kits. While the integrated Wi-Fi will help you cruise the Web, the EDGE brings faster data connection speeds. Its too bad the hw6900 series cant accommodate Cingulars 3G HSPDA network. As for voice features, the HP iPaq hw6900 series is a quad-band world phone, so you can use it while you travel overseas. The address book is limited only by the available memory (the SIM card holds an additional 250 contacts), and it can store up to 12 numbers for a single entry, as well as home and work addresses, e-mail, IM screen name, birthday, spouses name, and more. For caller ID purposes, you can pair a contact with a photo, a caller group, or one 9 ring tones. The phone also supports MIDI, WAV, and WMA ring tones. Other highlights include a vibrate mode, a speakerphone, and voice dialing. The HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 offer 1.3-megapixel cameras with video recording capabilities. The hw6940 and hw6920 do not. Both the HP iPaq hw6945 and hw6925 are equipped with a 1.3 megapixel camera with video recording capabilities and flash. For still images, you have a choice of 4 resolutions, 3 compression sizes, and settings for white balance and color. Theres also a self-timer and an option to turn off the capture sound. In video mode, you can record clips with sound and no time limit, but youre restricted to just 3 resolutions. There are a couple of cool things about the iPaqs camera: First, HP kindly includes a photo management app, called HP Photosmart Mobile, where you can view your images in a slide show, add voice notes, send them via e-mail, and so forth. Second, when youre using the camera, you may notice a GPS icon along the bottom edge. When you press it, the hw6945 will record the GPS coordinates (as long as you have a satellite fix at the time) of the location where youre taking the photo. Then, if you happen to want to return to the spot at a later time, the device can map out the location based on the saved GPS coordinates. The feature is very similar to the one found in the Navman iCN 750 portable navigation system--and its very cool. As far as image quality goes, the hw6945 was mediocre with fairly sharp lines but washed-out color. We appreciate that HP and Cingular offer cameraless versions in the iPaq hw6920 and hw6940, given that more and more businesses are prohibiting the use of camera phones for security reasons. We werent all that impressed with the hw6945s camera quality. Finally, as with all Windows Mobile devices, the HP iPaq hw6900 series comes with Windows Media Player 10 for your multimedia needs. The device supports AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA, MPEG-4, and WMV files. Also, if you have TV shows recorded on your Windows Media Center PC, you can transfer them to the hw6945 and view them on the go. In addition, the smart phone comes preloaded with two games: Bubble Breaker and Solitaire.PerformanceWe tested the quad-band HP iPaq hw6945 (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) world phone in San Francisco using Cingulars service, and call quality was generally positive. Like the i-mate Jaq, we had to adjust the phones earpiece several times in order to find the audio sweet spot, but once we did, conversations were loud and clear. Our callers reported the same. Unfortunately, the audio quality diminished when we activated the speakerphone. There was a slight echo and volume was low. On the bright side, we had no problems pairing the hw6945 with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.Beyond phone quality, the HP iPaq hw6945 was a mediocre performer. The Web browsing experience was good as pages loaded quickly, though it was nothing compared to the super-fast Cingular 8525. The handheld was generally responsive to our commands as well, but we noticed a definite delay when we activated the camera or GPS function. Music playback through the devices speakers was pretty dismal, as songs sounded weak and tinny. We plugged in a pair of earbuds, however, and sound was much better.The hw6945 is rated for four hours of talk time and up to 7 days of standby time. In our tests, we got 7 hours of talk time before having to recharge. We did notice that using the other wireless options really had an affect on the battery life. If you don't need to use these features, we recommend you turn the radio off to conserve your battery. ),
(904,Samsung SGH-D900 (Black carbon),Positives: The Samsung SGH-D900 is a slim, lightweight phone that feels great in the hand. It has a gorgeous display, and features a 3.0-megapixel camera, a music player, a MicroSD card slot, a speakerphone, and quad-band EDGE support. Negatives: The Samsung SGH-D900 has a flat keypad that makes menu navigation and dialing tricky. Facts: If you can afford it, the Samsung SGH-D900 is a sleekly designed slider phone with a stellar feature set, including a great camera. , Photo gallery:Samsung SGH-D900 (Black carbon) ),
(905,Motorola i880,Positives: The i880 has a user-friendly design and a generous range of features including Bluetooth, a music player, and a 2-megapixel camera. Call quality was good too. Negatives: The i880 is a tad big and its integrated memory is small. Also, music quality was unexceptional. Facts: The Motorola i880 is a strong addition to Nextels lineup and brings some much needed features. , Photo gallery:Motorola i880),
(906,Nokia 6133,Positives: The good-looking Nokia 6133 performs well, has a superior internal display, and a well-rounded feature set, including: Bluetooth; a 1.3-megapixel camera; a speakerphone; a FM radio, and world-phone support. Negatives: The Nokia 6133s keys are slippery, and its MicroSD card slot is poorly located. Music quality is unimpressive, and you cant use MP3 files as ring tones. Facts: The midtier Nokia 6133 is well-designed, packed with features, and performs well, too. , Not every good phone finds a carrier willing to adopt it. Though it had been rumored for some time that Cingular would grab the excellent Nokia 6126, the carrier ultimately passed. Fortunately for Nokia, T-Mobile stepped in to offer the Nokia 6133. The 6133 is practically a carbon copy of the 6126, except for a redesigned keypad and an added FM radio. Features, design and performance are comparable, and with T-Mobile on board, the price is a wallet-friendly $99 with service. Of course, the addition of a carrier comes with some minor restrictions, but overall the Nokia 6133 is a solid choice for a mid-range phone.The 6133s case comes in an attractive black and mirrored silver, and we like the phones smooth, rounded edges and its lack of an external antenna. At 3.6x1.9x0.8 inches, its not super thin, but its still sleek and compact. Front and center is the phones stunning 1.5-inch, 128x160-pixel external display. With support for 262,144 colors, this is a vast improvement over many other Nokia external screens. It displays the time, battery life, signal strength, and photo or video caller ID; you can also customize backlight time, screen savers, or wallpaper. The camera lens sits above the display. While theres no flash or self-portrait mirror, the external display functions as a viewfinder for vanity shots. A volume rocker is located on the left spine, while a camera control and a power button sit on the right. Another external control rests on the right side of the 6133s hinge. At first glance, it looks like a generic button, but a quick press proved its a release mechanism for the front flap. You don't need this button to open the phone--it opens the old-fashioned way, too--but its fun to use and is more effective than the push-and-release method of the Motorola Pebl. The 6133 opens quickly but not with so much force that we felt it might jump out of our hand. The button is tactile, and the mechanism seems sturdy overall. Granted, it is a bit gimmicky, but we liked it. Be aware that the hinge closes stiffly, and the phone has a tendency to open when dropped on the ground.Whichever method you use to open the 6133, youll be drawn immediately to its brilliant main display. At 2.2 inches, 240x320 pixels, and supporting an awe-inspiring 16 million colors, the 6133s screen puts most other comparable mid-tier cell phones to shame. Colors and text pop; photos, graphics, games, and animation are displayed beautifully. You can change font size and backlight time, and though you cant alter the brightness, it didnt seem to matter. Whats more, the inclusion of the Nokia Series 40 platform means menus are vivid and intuitive. The 6133s navigation controls sit below the display. They include a four-way toggle with an OK/menu button at its center, two soft keys, and the Talk and End controls. The toggle can be set to give one-touch access to four user-defined shortcuts. Soft keys can be designated as shortcuts, too. One option even includes a shortcut bar, with a selection of user-defined applications. All this changes, however, if you choose layer T-Mobiles MyFaves application on the display above your chosen wallpaper. In this case, the right soft key is the only customizable shortcut, while the menu is accessible only through the left soft key. Ergonomically, navigation is easy and the buttons are large, but we did find the flush keys a little slick. The 6133s keypad design differs from the Nokia 6126. Formerly raised, black number keys on the 6126 are now flush (and colored silver) with the phones face with the 6133. We were split on these changes, and in the end give a slight edge to the 6126 design. While we like that the 6133s buttons are tactile with large, backlit numerals, they were too slippery and not easy to use by touch. Skinny silver bars separate the individual rows of keys.As with the 6126, we werent impressed with the placement of the 6133s MicroSD card slot behind the battery cover. Granted, you don't need to remove the battery itself (an improvement over earlier Nokia models), but you do need to remove the battery cover. This is not a huge deal, but its worth noting. Since the charger port is located on the top of the 6133, it can be somewhat awkward to talk while the phone is plugged in. On the upside, however, we liked the textured covering on the phones rear flap. The Nokia 6133 inherits much of its siblings features but there are some minor differences. The phone book has been cut in half to just 500 contacts, but that should be sufficient for most users. Each entry can handle five phone numbers, e-mail and Web addresses, job title, company name, work and home addresses, birth date, a nickname, and notes (the SIM card holds an additional 250 names). You can organize callers into groups or pair them with one of the seven polyphonic ring tones (six fewer, however, than on the 6126). You can also pair callers with photos or videos for caller ID (photos show up on the external display). Other offerings include: a vibrate mode; text and multimedia messaging; a calculator; a world clock; a voice recorder (limited by available memory); a calendar with reminders; a to-do list; a notepad; a countdown timer; a stopwatch; and an alarm clock. For more demanding users, theres Bluetooth for connecting to a headset or sending files. The 6133 also includes voice dialing and commands, a speakerphone, and audio messaging for sending voicemail directly to another phone. Unfortunately POP3 and IMAP4 e-mail support, as well as the Infrared port, are missing; in exchange, you get instant messaging for AOL, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo accounts. Offbeat features include a translator for English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese; the Nokia sensor application for sending personal messages to other Bluetooth phones; and a Presenter application that allows you to control a PowerPoint presentation or other Microsoft Windows application from the 6133 via Bluetooth to a PC (youll need the Nokia PC suite). Finally, we liked that you could use many of these functions even without a SIM card. The Nokia 6133s camera doesnt come with a flash. The 6133s has a 1.3-megapixel camera that takes pictures in six resolutions: 1,024x1,280, 960x1,290, 600x800, 480x640, 240x320, and 120x160. You get a variety of camera settings, including: three quality modes; five color effects; a night mode; a 10-second self timer; a sequence option for shooting three photos in rapid successions; and an 8X zoom for use at any resolution. The only thing missing is a brightness setting, but were willing to overlook that omission. The camcorder shoots 3GPP videos in two resolutions (176x144 or 128x96) with sound. The default mode lasts just 6 seconds, but you can also shoot longer clips depending on available memory. Image quality was just above average for a 1.3-megapixel camera phone. Colors and subject outlines were distinct, but images werent very bright, and smaller objects tend to appear fuzzy. Video clips were fine--a bit grainy, as expected, but suitable for short segments. Internal memory is quite small at 11MB, so you should probably invest in a MicroSD card (not included) The Nokia 6133 had good photo quality overall, but weve seen better from a megapixel camera. If you tire of photos, you can use the 6133 to listen to tunes. Inside, theres a digital music player that supports files in MP3, MP4, AAC, and WMA formats. The interface is rudimentary and easy to use. Options include: Random and Repeat modes; an equalizer; stereo widening; and an Airplane mode. Also, you can minimize the players interface or even use it with the phone closed. On the downside, it appears T-Mobile disabled the phones capability to use MP3s as ring tones. Though we transferred a couple our favorite tunes via Bluetooth, we had no luck doing anything beyond playing them. We knocked the 6126 for not having an FM radio, but were glad to see it here. You can save 20 station presets, save station names in your city, or direct the radios audio to the phones speaker.You can personalize the 6133 with a variety of color themes, wallpapers, screen savers, and alert sounds. If you want more options, you can download them via the WAP 2.0 wireless browser. You can always get more ring tones and use MP3 files to identify callers. The 6133 supports Macromedia Flash Lite 1.1 and Adobe Flash Player. Two Java (J2ME) games are also included (Snake 3 and Midnight Bowling) and you get a demo application of Zuma 3D.We tested the quad-band GSM (850/900/1800/1900; EDGE) Nokia 6133 world phone in San Francisco using T-Mobile service. Call quality was quite good and on par with the 6126. We enjoyed admirable clarity and volume, and callers said we came through loud and clear, even in noisier environments. We had no trouble getting a signal and encountered little interference from other devices. Again, our only real complaint was that voices sounded a little harsh at times. Speakerphone calls were loud enough, though voices sounded a bit muffled on our end. Likewise, callers had more trouble hearing us, but they didnt report significant problems. Call quality was decent over a Bluetooth headset.Music quality over the single phone speaker was nothing special. As with the 6126, tracks on the 6133 played tinny and somewhat distorted, especially at higher volumes. By all means--use a stereo headset. The phone comes with a serviceable headset, but for really good audio quality, we recommend you use a different headset. The 6133 has a rated talk time of 3.5 hours and a promised standby time of 12 days, both of which are slightly higher than the 6126. Our tests indicated a talk time of 3 hours and 56 minutes, which is slightly higher than the rated talk time. According to FCC radiation tests, the Nokia 6133 has a digital SAR rating of 0.89 watts per kilogram. ),
(907,RIM BlackBerry 8703e (Verizon Wireless),Positives: The RIM BlackBerry 8703e is EV-DO capable and supports up to 10 e-mail accounts with real-time delivery. The 8703e also boasts a sharp screen, a full QWERTY keyboard, Bluetooth 2.0, and a speakerphone. Negatives: The RIM BlackBerry 8703e for Verizon does not include any instant-messaging clients and occasionally suffered from muffled call quality. Facts: Despite some spotty call quality, the RIM BlackBerry 8703e for Verizon Wireless is a great messaging device offering reliable e-mail delivery, a full QWERTY keyboard, a gorgeous screen, and EV-DO support. , We imagine a few CrackBerry addicts and messaging fanatics rejoiced when Verizon Wireless announced the availability of the RIM BlackBerry 8703e during the fall CTIA 2006 show. Similar to theBlackBerry 8700g for T-Mobile and the BlackBerry 8700c BlackBerry 8700c for Cingular, the 8703e features a full 35-key QWERTY keyboard and famed push technology for real-time e-mail delivery, while keeping a fairly compact form factor. Were also big fans of the gorgeous screen and EV-DO support. Unfortunately, we did experience some occasional problems with call quality but not so much that we couldnt carry on a conversation. That said, if e-mail is a top priority for you, the 8703e is a solid choice. The RIM BlackBerry 8703e for Verizon Wireless is available now for $249.99 with a two-year contract. DesignAs the saying goes, if it aint broke, don't fix it, and this certainly applies to the design of the entire BlackBerry 8700 series. Similar to its GSM cousin, the BlackBerry 8700g, the RIM BlackBerry 8703e sports a nice and compact form factor at 4.3x2.7x0.8 inches and 4.7 ounces. True, its not as sexy or sleek as the BlackBerry Pearl; it has a blockier, wider form factor that takes some acclimation to use as a phone, but the trade-off is you get the advantage of a full QWERTY keyboard (not that pesky SureType deal) and a large 2.5-inch diagonal QVGA display. Also, the 8703e is extremely easy to use one-handed, thanks to the trademark BlackBerry track wheel and escape button on the right spine.The screen shows off 65,536 colors at a 320x240 pixel resolution, which makes for a great viewing experience as images and text appear sharp and colors are bright. The BlackBerry 8703es display also features a light-sensing technology that automatically adjusts the backlighting depending on whether youre indoors, outdoors, or in a dark environment. Sure enough, we had no problems reading the screen even when in direct sunlight. As with other BlackBerrys, you can change the backlighting time, the home screen theme, and the font size, style, and family, all through the Options menu. For phone calls, there are Talk and End buttons right below the display, as well as a convenience key in the middle that can be programmed to launch any app, while the full QWERTY keyboard can handle all your messaging needs. The 35 individual keys are tactile and well spaced, but they are a bit slick and feel plasticky. Still, we had no real problems writing any e-mails or text messages, and theyre adequately backlit for typing in dim rooms.There is a 2.5mm headset jack, a mini USB port, and another customizable soft key on the left side of the BlackBerry 8703e, while the power button and mute key are on top of the unit. Finally, the speakerphone is located on the back of the device. Verizon packages its BlackBerry 8703e with a travel charger, a USB cable, a belt holster, and reference. Features As with other BlackBerrys, e-mail is king on the RIM BlackBerry 8703e. The smart phone is compatible with BlackBerry, Microsoft Exchange, IBM Lotus Domino, or Novell GroupWise servers and the famed push technology delivers your corporate e-mail in real time right to your device. In addition, you can access up to 10 personal/business POP3 or IMAP4 e-mail accounts, and thanks to the handy BlackBerry Internet E-mail service, you can set up everything right out of the box. Just go to the E-mail Setting utility on the device, enter your e-mail address and password, and let the 8703e do the rest. We used this process to access our SBC Global account, and we started receiving our messages without any problems within about 10 minutes. Of course, mobile professionals may need more functionality than e-mail to get work done on the go, so the BlackBerry 8703es attachment viewer opens popular file formats, such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Corel WordPerfect, PDF, JPEG, and GIF.Disappointingly, the Verizon BlackBerry 8703e doesnt come with any instant-messaging clients (not even BlackBerry Messenger) preinstalled on the device. We were able to log onto Yahoo Messenger via the phones Web browser, and even though the 8703e is more of a business-oriented device, we still appreciate the convenience, or at least the option, of having a preloaded IM app. That said, the phone does support text and multimedia messaging. One great advantage of the Verizon BlackBerry 8703e is the EV-DO capabilities. With the support of the carriers 3G network, youll be able to connect and browse the Web at almost broadband-like speeds. While data speeds can reach up to 2Mbps, youll probably experience more in the 400Kbps to 700Kbps range. You can also use the 8703e as a tethered modem for your laptop using the included USB cable, but you will need to sign up for Verizon Wirelesss BroadbandAccess Connect service in order to do so. If you already have an unlimited data plan with qualifying voice plan, you can get unlimited BroadbandAccess Connect for $15 a month, otherwise, it will cost $30 a month. The 8703e also has integrated Bluetooth 2.0 (no Wi-Fi) but its limited to wireless headsets, hands-free kits, and synching with Bluetooth-enabled PCs. It does not support the object exchange (OBEX) profile. As a phone, the address book is limited only by the available memory, which tops out at 64MB Flash memory and 16MB SDRAM. For each entry, you can store up to eight numbers, work and home addresses, e-mail and Web addresses, company information, and notes. In addition, you can assign them to a group category--business or personal. You get 32 polyphonic ring tones with support for MP3 rings tones, as well as a vibrate mode, conference calling, speed dialing, call forwarding, and a speakerphone.The RIM BlackBerry 8703e does not have any multimedia capabilities, such as an audio or a video player or a camera). You do get one game (BrickBreaker), as well as a number of PIM tools, including a calendar, a task list, a memo pad, and a calculator. PerformanceWe tested the dual-band (CDMA 850/1900; EV-DO) RIM BlackBerry 8703e in San Francisco using Verizons network, and call quality was a bit of mixed bag. While our friends said they had no problems hearing us and were impressed by the clarity of the phone call, we thought they sounded a bit muffled and had some difficulties hearing our callers. On a brighter note, speakerphone quality was great on both ends of the conversation. We also had no problems pairing the phone with the Logitech Mobile Traveller Bluetooth headset.Armed with an Intel processor, the BlackBerry 8703e was responsive and speedy as we opened and worked on various apps. Also, thanks to the EV-DO speeds, the Web browsing experience was great as pages loaded quickly. The 8703es battery is rated for 3.3 hours of talk time and up to 8 days of standby time. In our battery drain tests, we were able to get a solid 5.2 hours of talk time before having to recharge. According to FCC radiation tests, the BlackBerry 8703e has a digital SAR rating of 1.44 watts per kilogram. ),
(908,Motorola Krzr K1,Positives: The Motorola Krzr K1 offers good call quality and comes with Bluetooth, a 2-megapixel camera, and a speakerphone. Negatives: The Motorola Krzr K1 lacks 3G support and external music controls. Facts: Though the GSM Motorola Krzr K1 has a more attractive color scheme than the CDMA Krzr K1m, some feature differences make it mostly comparable with its sibling. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Krzr K1 series. ., Photo gallery:Motorola Krzr K1 ),
(909,Virgin Mobile Slice (UTStarcom PCS1400),Positives: The Virgin Mobile Slice is a small and skinny candy bar handset that features a wireless Web browser and a speakerphone. Negatives: The Virgin Mobile Slice has a tiny lackluster screen and a membrane keypad thats too flush to the phones surface. Facts: The Virgin Mobile Slice is a slim and lightweight phone, but its tiny, hard-to-press buttons, small screen, and lack of features make it less than perfect. However, its affordability still makes the Slice an attractive option for those who want a thin phone without a carrier contract. , The Virgin Mobile Slice (otherwise known as the UTStarcom PCS1400) is the latest phone to join the thin handset bandwagon. Looking very much like a clone of Cingulars Motorola Slvr L2, the Slice is a skinny candy bar handset with even slimmer features. It has no camera or Bluetooth but it does offer a Web browser and a speakerphone. Virgin Mobile claims that at a price of $49.99 the Slice is the thinnest phone in the U.S. without a contract, and while we cant confirm that, the price certainly makes the phone a steal. The Virgin Mobile Slice looks a lot like a SLVR clone. The design of the Slice is evident from its name; the sliver of a handset measures a slight 4.3x1.8x0.4 inches and weighs a mere 2.3 ounces. Available in basic black, the Slice feels almost too lightweight, and we could imagine losing it easily if we werent careful. It feels fairly blocklike in the hand and not quite as contoured as the Slvr L2, but it was comfortable to hold next to the ear. The left spine is home to the volume rocker, while the headset jack is located on the right spine.We are rather disappointed by the Slices tiny 1.5-inch, 65,000-color screen. That said, the colors are bright and vibrant for a basic handset such as this, and we were glad we could adjust the screens contrast as well as the backlight timer. However, you cant adjust the brightness or the font size.Below the display are the membrane-like navigation controls and keypad buttons, which are substantially smaller than the keys of any of the Slvr models. The navigation array consists of two soft keys, the Talk and End key, a back button, and a four-way circular toggle complete with a middle OK key. The toggle also doubles as a shortcut to My Account (to top up your Virgin prepaid minutes), to text messaging, to recent calls, and to VirginXL, Virgins proprietary Web browser. Not only are the keys flush to the surface of the phone, theyre also tiny, making it quite tricky to navigate through the menu, text message, and dial by feel. The keypad has a blue backlight when the phone is activated. Besides being skinny in its design, the Slice is pretty thin on features too. Though both the Slice and the Slvr L2 lack a camera, the Slice doesnt have Bluetooth, which the L2 does. Since its billed as a basic phone, we found the lack of a camera and Bluetooth acceptable, and even found the lack of camera a good thing, as certain businesses might not allow camera phones in the vicinity. The Slice comes with a 500-entry contacts list, with each entry able to hold four numbers, an e-mail address, and a note. You can assign contacts into groups and even assign them to one of four polyphonic ring tones.Other features of the Slice include text messaging, a calculator, an alarm clock, a scheduler, a stopwatch, a world clock, and a wireless Web browser that allows users access to VirginXL, Virgin Mobiles mobile Web portal. VirginXL also provides access to an array of personalization options such as ring tones, wallpapers, and screensavers, as well as exclusive content from MTV and Comedy Central. You can also activate the speakerphone feature, but only during a call. The phone comes with three games (Midnight Pool, Sexy Poker 2006, and Platinum Solitaire) but they were only demo versions. Youll have to access Virgin XL in order to purchase and download more games. We tested the CDMA 1900 Virgin Mobile Slice in San Francisco using the Virgin Mobile network. Audio quality on calls was good and sounded clear from both ends. Sound quality suffered a bit with the speakerphone, as callers had to ask us to speak up a few times, but otherwise it was passable. The Virgin Mobile Slice has a mediocre rated talk time of 3.83 hours and a rated standby time of 11.25 days. Our tests confirmed the rated talk time with 3 hours and 49 minutes. According to a FCC radiation test, the Virgin Mobile Slice has a digital SAR rating of 1.47 watts per kilogram. ),
(910,Motorola Razr V3 (Dragon Tattoo), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: The Motorola Razr V3 - Dragon Tattoo for T-Mobile is part of Motorolas Miami Ink collection, along with the Motorola Razr V3 - Cherry Blossom Tattoo. While the gray phone sports a designer print on its exterior, its features are similar to the original Motorola Razr V3. Read our review of Cingulars Razr V3 for a full assessment. ),
(911,Motorola Razr V3 (Cherry Blossom Tattoo), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: The Motorola Razr V3 - Cherry Blossom Tattoo for T-Mobile is part of Motorolas Miami Ink collection, along with the Motorola Razr V3 - Dragon Tattoo. While the magenta phone sports a designer print on its exterior, its features are similar to the original Motorola Razr V3. Read our review of Cingulars Razr V3 for a full assessment. ),
(912,Cingular 8525,Positives: The Cingular 8525 is the first UMTS/HSDPA smart phone to be offered in the United States. It has integrated Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi, and supports Cingulars new location-based services. The Windows Mobile device also has push e-mail capabilities, a 2-megapixel camera, a spacious QWERTY keyboard, and good call quality. Negatives: The Cingular 8525 is on the heavier side and the navigation array is a bit cramped. The smart phone is also pricey. Facts: For the ultimate road warrior, the 3G-enabled Cingular 8525 provides the speed, the power, and the productivity tools to get your work done on the go. , Photo gallery:Cingular 8525),
(913,Samsung SPH-M500 (silver),Positives: The Samsung SPH-M500 offers good call quality and a generous range of features, including Bluetooth, a speakerphone, an external memory card slot, and EV-DO compatibility. Negatives: The Samsung SPH-M500 has slippery keys, and its video and music quality is below par. Facts: The Samsung SPH-M500 is a decent option for a low-end multimedia phone. Just don't expect too much. Note: This product is part of the Samsung SPH-M500 series. ., Once in a while, a cell phone manufacturer will repackage one of its handsets for a different carrier. No, its not very original, but that didnt stop Samsung from putting out its new SPH-M500 for Sprint. Samsung fans should notice immediately that the SPH-M500 is basically T-Mobiles Samsung SGH-T619 but with a Sprint logo stamped on the front. The design of the phones is identical, but the SPH-M500 does offer some extra goodies, such as an external memory slot and support for Sprints EV-DO network.Like the SGH-T619, the SPH-M500 is slim, but its certainly not sexy. Thin-phone fans will appreciate the compact dimensions (3.9x2x0.6 inches) and its trim weight (2.8 ounces), but overall this phone isnt very exciting. Other exterior features are the same, including the color internal and external displays, the location of camera lens and charger port, and the design of the navigation control and keypad. Again, we werent impressed with the latter two as we found them a bit slippery. The external controls are alike as well, except that the headset jack has been moved from the left spine to the right spine with the aforementioned Micro SD card slot positioned just below it.Though they share many similarities on the outside, the SPH-M500s internal features are quite different from the T-Mobiles. The phone book is smaller, with just 500 contacts instead of 1,000, but theres room in each entry for five phone numbers, e-mail and Web addresses, and notes. You can save callers to groups and pair them with a photo and one of 29 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones. Other features consist of a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, voice commands and dialing, instant messaging and e-mail, a scheduler, a task list, a countdown timer, a memo pad, a world clock, an alarm clock, a calculator, and a voice recorder. Theres also Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and in an unusual twist, a Spanish/English dictionary. All of the information is stored on the phone already, and if you can type fast on the alphanumeric keypad, itll come in handy. The SPH-500 more clearly sets itself apart from its sibling when it comes to high-end offerings. While the SGH-T619s data speeds clock out at T-Mobiles 2.5G EDGE network, the SPH-M500 offers full support for Sprints 3G EV-DO coverage. That means the phone is compatible with the carriers Power Vision steaming video service and its Sprint Music store for music downloads to the onboard digital music player. The SPH-M500 comes with a respectable 50MB of internal shared memory (more than twice whats on the SGH-T619), but you must use a Micro SD card in order to download music. Furthermore you get Sprints On Demand service for access to a host of information such as news headlines, sports scores, and weather updates personalized for your zip code. Like the SGH-T619, the SPH-M500 has no flash. The SPH-M500s 1.3-megapixel camera also shows some differences from the SGH-T619. The 1.3-megapixel camera allows you to take pictures in four resolutions (1,280x960, 640x480, 320x240, and 176x220) as opposed to six on the T-Mobile phone. Other camera features include three quality settings, brightness and white balance controls, a multishot mode, a self-timer, seven color effects (as opposed to five), 10 fun frames, and a 4X zoom thats not usable at the highest photo resolution. There are also four shutter sounds plus a silent mode. The camcorder records QCIF clips in 176x144 resolution with sound. Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at 30 seconds; otherwise you can shoot for about 45 minutes. For easy photo printing, the SPH-M500 supports Sprints PictBridge technology for transferring images directly to a printer. In our tests, photo quality was acceptable for a megapixel camera. Colors were sharp for the most part, and though smaller objects were a tad fuzzy, we werent bothered by it. The SPH-M500 has decent photo quality. You can personalize the SGH-M500 with a variety of screensavers, menu colors, display themes, clock and font styles, and alert tones. If youre looking for more options or additional ring tones, you can download them through the phones Web browser. The SGH-M500 also supports MP3 tunes and comes with a generic digital music player (see the SGH-X820 review). Gaming options include demo versions of six Java (J2ME) titles--Midnight Pool, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Tetris, World Poker Tour, and Zuma--but you can always download more. We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) in San Francisco using Sprints service. Call quality was a bit improved over that of the SGH-T619. Voices sounded natural and there was plenty of volume. Callers reported no significant problems, but we noticed a slight amount of static at times. It wasnt too bothersome, and speakerphone calls were satisfactory as well, provided we spoke close to the handset. If we moved more than a few feet away, callers had a lot of trouble understanding us. Calls on a Bluetooth headset were fine.Music quality wasnt the best as tracks sounded tinny and faded over the SPH-M500s sole speaker. We definitely wouldnt want to listen for music too long. Video quality wasnt much better. The picture size was tiny and videos were way too pixelated. Whats more, the volume level was variable and ranged from too low to bass-heavy. On the upside, the phones EV-DO connection was strong and fast, but much better multimedia phones are in Sprints stable, such as the LG LX550.The Samsung SPH-M500 has a rated talk-time battery life of 3.5 hours and a tested talk time of 3 hours and 40 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SPH-M500 has a digital SAR rating of 1.44 watts per kilogram. ),
(914,Samsung SPH-M500 (red),Positives: The Samsung SPH-M500 offers good call quality and a generous range of features, including Bluetooth, a speakerphone, an external memory card slot, and EV-DO compatibility. Negatives: The Samsung SPH-M500 has slippery keys, and its video and music quality is below par. Facts: The Samsung SPH-M500 is a decent option for a low-end multimedia phone. Just don't expect too much. Note: This product is part of the Samsung SPH-M500 series. ., Once in a while, a cell phone manufacturer will repackage one of its handsets for a different carrier. No, its not very original, but that didnt stop Samsung from putting out its new SPH-M500 for Sprint. Samsung fans should notice immediately that the SPH-M500 is basically T-Mobiles Samsung SGH-T619 but with a Sprint logo stamped on the front. The design of the phones is identical, but the SPH-M500 does offer some extra goodies, such as an external memory slot and support for Sprints EV-DO network.Like the SGH-T619, the SPH-M500 is slim, but its certainly not sexy. Thin-phone fans will appreciate the compact dimensions (3.9x2x0.6 inches) and its trim weight (2.8 ounces), but overall this phone isnt very exciting. Other exterior features are the same, including the color internal and external displays, the location of camera lens and charger port, and the design of the navigation control and keypad. Again, we werent impressed with the latter two as we found them a bit slippery. The external controls are alike as well, except that the headset jack has been moved from the left spine to the right spine with the aforementioned Micro SD card slot positioned just below it.Though they share many similarities on the outside, the SPH-M500s internal features are quite different from the T-Mobiles. The phone book is smaller, with just 500 contacts instead of 1,000, but theres room in each entry for five phone numbers, e-mail and Web addresses, and notes. You can save callers to groups and pair them with a photo and one of 29 (72-chord) polyphonic ring tones. Other features consist of a vibrate mode, text and multimedia messaging, voice commands and dialing, instant messaging and e-mail, a scheduler, a task list, a countdown timer, a memo pad, a world clock, an alarm clock, a calculator, and a voice recorder. Theres also Bluetooth, a speakerphone, and in an unusual twist, a Spanish/English dictionary. All of the information is stored on the phone already, and if you can type fast on the alphanumeric keypad, itll come in handy. The SPH-500 more clearly sets itself apart from its sibling when it comes to high-end offerings. While the SGH-T619s data speeds clock out at T-Mobiles 2.5G EDGE network, the SPH-M500 offers full support for Sprints 3G EV-DO coverage. That means the phone is compatible with the carriers Power Vision steaming video service and its Sprint Music store for music downloads to the onboard digital music player. The SPH-M500 comes with a respectable 50MB of internal shared memory (more than twice whats on the SGH-T619), but you must use a Micro SD card in order to download music. Furthermore you get Sprints On Demand service for access to a host of information such as news headlines, sports scores, and weather updates personalized for your zip code. Like the SGH-T619, the SPH-M500 has no flash. The SPH-M500s 1.3-megapixel camera also shows some differences from the SGH-T619. The 1.3-megapixel camera allows you to take pictures in four resolutions (1,280x960, 640x480, 320x240, and 176x220) as opposed to six on the T-Mobile phone. Other camera features include three quality settings, brightness and white balance controls, a multishot mode, a self-timer, seven color effects (as opposed to five), 10 fun frames, and a 4X zoom thats not usable at the highest photo resolution. There are also four shutter sounds plus a silent mode. The camcorder records QCIF clips in 176x144 resolution with sound. Clips meant for multimedia messages are capped at 30 seconds; otherwise you can shoot for about 45 minutes. For easy photo printing, the SPH-M500 supports Sprints PictBridge technology for transferring images directly to a printer. In our tests, photo quality was acceptable for a megapixel camera. Colors were sharp for the most part, and though smaller objects were a tad fuzzy, we werent bothered by it. The SPH-M500 has decent photo quality. You can personalize the SGH-M500 with a variety of screensavers, menu colors, display themes, clock and font styles, and alert tones. If youre looking for more options or additional ring tones, you can download them through the phones Web browser. The SGH-M500 also supports MP3 tunes and comes with a generic digital music player (see the SGH-X820 review). Gaming options include demo versions of six Java (J2ME) titles--Midnight Pool, Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Tetris, World Poker Tour, and Zuma--but you can always download more. We tested the dual-band (CDMA 800/1900; EV-DO) in San Francisco using Sprints service. Call quality was a bit improved over that of the SGH-T619. Voices sounded natural and there was plenty of volume. Callers reported no significant problems, but we noticed a slight amount of static at times. It wasnt too bothersome, and speakerphone calls were satisfactory as well, provided we spoke close to the handset. If we moved more than a few feet away, callers had a lot of trouble understanding us. Calls on a Bluetooth headset were fine.Music quality wasnt the best as tracks sounded tinny and faded over the SPH-M500s sole speaker. We definitely wouldnt want to listen for music too long. Video quality wasnt much better. The picture size was tiny and videos were way too pixelated. Whats more, the volume level was variable and ranged from too low to bass-heavy. On the upside, the phones EV-DO connection was strong and fast, but much better multimedia phones are in Sprints stable, such as the LG LX550.The Samsung SPH-M500 has a rated talk-time battery life of 3.5 hours and a tested talk time of 3 hours and 40 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SPH-M500 has a digital SAR rating of 1.44 watts per kilogram. ),
(915,Motorola Slvr L2 (pink), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Slvr series. ., Cingular is now carrying a pink version of the Motorola Slvr L2, an entry-level version of the Slvr L7 and the Slvr L6. Aside from the color, everything else remains the same: the slim form factor, the lack of a camera, and the 1.75-inch screen. Read more about it in our review of the Motorola Slvr L2. ),
(916,Verizon Wireless PN-210,Positives: The Verizon Wireless PN-210 (Pantech PN-210) is a compact, basic phone with text messaging, voice recording, and a speakerphone. It has great call quality as well. Negatives: The PN-210 has a small internal display and no external display. It doesnt come with a Web browser, so personalization options are limited. Facts: The PN-210 is a no-frills phone with great call quality, perfect for those who want a cheap phone just to make calls. , Lately it seems that a cell phone is not just a cell phone anymore. With so many companies integrating cameras, music players, video recorders, and high-speed Internet capabilities into handsets, its almost as if the phone itself is an afterthought in the manufacturing process. While we certainly appreciate this trend, many consumers simply want a cell phone that performs the No. 1 job of making calls. The Verizon Wireless PN-210 (manufactured by Pantech) is one such simple cell phone. Its so basic, it doesnt even have a Web browser. But at the incredibly low price of free with a two-year contract, the PN-210 may be a great solution for those of you who just want a simple, easy-to-use cell phone. The PN-210 has a rather boring design. The PN-210 is the very definition of a no-frills phone. It has a completely minimalist design that, while bordering on dull, isnt totally unattractive either. Measuring 3.35x1.85x0.93 inches and weighing 3.2 ounces, the PN-210 has a compact and lightweight design that fits comfortably in the hand as well as when cradled next to the ear. The left spine is home to the volume rocker while the headset jack lies on top of the handset, and on the top-right corner is an extendable antenna. We were disappointed with the lack of an external screen as you have to open the phone to see your callers identity. Yes, the phone is designed to be basic, but the display would be a nice touch.The internal screen measures a dinky 1.5-inches diagonally and is rather lackluster with only 65,000-color support. You can adjust the backlight time, the contrast, and the font size. Yet because the size of the screen is so small, we had to scroll through the menu options more than were normally used to. On the other hand, because the PN-210 doesnt have too many functions to begin with, we didnt mind scrolling too much. Under the display are the navigation controls that consist of two soft keys, a four-way toggle that doubles as four user-defined shortcuts, a middle OK button, the talk and end/power key, and a clear button that doubles as a speakerphone control. The dial pad was raised enough above the surface so the keys felt tactile and easy to dial by feel.As we mentioned, the PN-210 is a basic entry-level phone with not much in the way of features. It has a 500-entry address book, and each entry can hold up to five numbers, two e-mail addresses, and a picture ID, and the entries also can be organized into groups and personalized with one of 15 64-chord polyphonic ring tones. Because the phone doesnt have a camera and there isnt any way to download clip art into the phone, the picture ID feature doesnt seem to have much use. Other features of the phone include text messaging with enhanced messaging support, a speakerphone, voice-activated dialing, a voice memo, a vibrate and a silent mode, a calendar, a scheduler, a notepad, a world clock, a calculator, and a stopwatch. You can customize the phone with a few preloaded wallpapers, screensavers, display themes, and alert tones. You can download more options by using Verizons TXT Download service that lets you purchase graphics and ring tones and send them to yourself via enhanced text messaging.We tested the dual-band (CDMA 850/1900) Verizon Wireless PN-210 in San Francisco using Verizon Wirelesss network. Call clarity was fantastic, and though callers could tell we were on a cell phone, they could still hear us loud and clear and vice versa. Speakerphone quality was not as good, but it was still easy on the ears. The Verizon Wireless PN-210 has a rated talk time of 3 hours and 35 minutes and a rated standby time of 7 days and 15 hours. Our tests indicated a talk time of 3 hours and 27 minutes. According to the FCC, the PN-210 has a digital SAR rating of 1.3 watts per kilogram. ),
(917,LG KG800 Chocolate,Positives: The LG KG800 Chocolate has decent call quality and offers Bluetooth, world phone support, and a gorgeous display. Negatives: The LG KG800 Chocolate has tricky controls, and it lacks a speakerphone, an external memory card slot, and voice dialing. Facts: The LG KG800 Chocolate is indeed pretty, but its feature set and performance don't back up its trendy design. Note: This product is part of the LG Chocolate series. ., Even before its formal debut last July, the LG Chocolate had been one of the most discussed cell phones of the year. Though it offered nothing new in the way of features, its slim slider design captured two hot trends currently streaking through cell phone design houses. As of this writing, Verizon Wireless is the only carrier that offers the CDMA LG VX8500 Chocolate, but LG has also produced an unlocked GSM version of the handset that is available stateside. The LG KG800 Chocolate sports the same eye-catching design as the VX8500, save for a few adjustments to the still-tedious touch pad controls. The feature set is also similar, but the KG800 lacks an external memory slot and does not support 3G networks. The KG800 should cost about $300.Like the VX8500, the KG800 Chocolate has a rectangular shape thats vaguely reminiscent of a chocolate bar. The sleek form factor and straight lines are familiar as is the basic black color scheme (an all-white model is available as well). The KG800s dimensions (3.7x1.9x0.6 inches) are only slightly different from its cousins, and its a tad lighter but still has a comfortable and solid feel in the hand. Just keep in mind that as with other slider designs, the KG800 doesnt cradle your head when held against the ear. The slider mechanism slips up and down easily but firmly; we needed only one finger to make it work.Though the KG800s display has a slightly lower resolution than the VX8500s, its still a treat to view. With support for 256,000 colors, the two-inch (176x220 pixels) display shows off everything beautifully, from photos to graphics to its simple, user-friendly menus. The screen is more difficult to see in direct light and disappears completely when the backlighting is off. You can change the backlighting time, the font color, and the brightness. The KG800s touch-sensitive controls are rather difficult to use. For menu navigation, the KG800 Chocolate uses the quirky touch-sensitive controls found on the VX8500. But instead of arranging the controls in a wheel, the KG800 puts them in a square. Though we like this version a tad better for aesthetic reasons, the new design doesnt improve usability. The controls still take a lot of acclimation--we didnt know quite where to put our finger at first--and are too sensitive even at the lowest setting. Overall, these flaws caused a lot of misdials. Also, the controls disappear completely when the backlighting is off. The other navigation controls are carried over from the Verizon Chocolate. There are two soft keys, a talk button, and a clear key. Theyre touch sensitive as well, so you don't get the tactile feel of pressing down on a button.Weve griped about it before and well gripe about it again: we cant imagine what LG was thinking when it moved the Chocolates end/power button to the left spine--we kept forgetting where the control was. A covered headset jack and a dedicated control for launching the camera and the MP3 player sit on the right spine, while a sole volume rocker is on the left spine. The camera lens, flash, and self-portrait mirror are on the rear face of the slider, so you must have it open to take pictures.While somewhat slippery, the keypad buttons are easy to use and have a slightly better design than on the VX8500. We liked the alternating black and gray color scheme that resulted in a checkered effect. Also its great that the backlit keys are tactile and have a clear separation between them.The KG800 Chocolates phone book holds 1,000 contacts with room in each entry for four numbers and an e-mail address (the SIM card holds an additional 250 names). You can save contacts to groups, pair them with a photo, or assign them one of 44 polyphonic ring tones. Other basics include a vibrate mode, a voice recorder, text and multimedia messaging, an alarm clock, a calculator, a unit converter, a world clock, a calendar, and a memo pad. As for high-end features, theres Bluetooth, e-mail, and USB data storage and transfer capability, and you can use the phone as a modem. Unfortunately, theres no speakerphone or voice dialing. The omission of the former is especially puzzling on such a trendy phone. Verizon released a firmware upgrade to add a speakerphone into its Chocolate; we only hope the same will happen with the KG800.The KG800s music player is serviceable but nothing fancy. You can play music in MP3 and AAC formats. Features arent plentiful--you cant make playlists--but it does offer rudimentary equalizer controls and basic visualizations for when your music is playing. The included stereo headset is top quality, but be warned: it uses a proprietary plug. We loaded music on the phone with the included USB cable without any problems. The KG800s camera lens is hidden on the back of the slider. The 1.3-megapixel camera takes pictures in five resolutions (1,280x960, 640x480, 320x240, 220x176, and 72x72) and three quality settings (normal, fine, and superfine). Additional camera options include a self-timer, brightness and white balance controls, a multishot mode and three color effects. In an improvement over the VX8500 Chocolate, theres also a flash, a self-portrait mirror, and a 4X zoom for use at the lower resolutions. The camcorder takes clips with sound in two resolutions (176x144 and 128x96); editing options are similar to the still camera. You can limit clips to a minute or record for as long as the phones memory permits. With 128MB onboard, the GSM Chocolate does have more integrated memory than the VX8500, but theres no external memory card slot. Photo quality was quite good in our tests, with sharp colors and distinct object outlines. In bright conditions, the lighting was a bit washed out. Videos were decent but nothing special as they tended to be grainy and pixelated. We like the KG800s image quality. You can personalize the KG800 Chocolate with a variety of wallpapers, alert sounds, and menu colors. If you want more options or more ring tones, polyphonic or MP3, you can download them via the WAP 2.0 wireless browser. The phone includes one game (ZooZooClub) but the integrated Java (J2ME) support ensures you can get more. Be advised that gameplay through the touch pad is a bit difficult.We tested the triband (GSM 900/1800/1900) KG800 Chocolate world phone with Cingular Wireless service in San Francisco. Call quality was decent but not quite as sharp as on Verizons Chocolate. Voice quality had a slight echo effect, and volume was a tad low, so at times it sounded as if callers were talking through a screen. On the other hand, reception was great, and we encountered no interference from other devices. Music quality was fine but a bit tinny, so its nothing wed want to listen to for long. On the data end, the KG800 maxes out at GPRS speeds and does not support 3G networks.The LG KG800 Chocolate has a rated talk-time battery life of 6 hours and a standby time of 8.3 days. Our tests resulted in a talk time of 5 hours and 45 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the KG800 has a digital SAR rating of 0.14 watt per kilogram. ),
(918,Sony Ericsson W850i,Positives: The Sony Ericsson W850i has great performance and a wealth of features, including a 2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth, and a digital music player. Negatives: The Sony Ericsson W850i has poorly designed navigation controls and limited integrated memory. Facts: The Sony Ericsson W850i offers the great performance and high-end features weve come to expect from the companys Walkman phones, but its usability is hampered by unintuitive controls. , Photo gallery: Sony Ericsson W850i),
(919,Kyocera K132, , The Kyocera K132 is a simple flip phone for use on CDMA networks. The phone case is a soft-touch blue and has an internal antenna. Features include a speakerphone, polyphonic ring tones, a 65,000-color display, text and enhanced messaging, voice dialing, organizer applications, hearing aid compliance, a WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser, and support for BREW applications. ),
(920,Motorola Razr V3i Dolce & Gabbana (T-Mobile),Positives: The Motorola Razr V3i Dolce & Gabbana is an eye-catching slim cell phone with Bluetooth, a speakerphone, a memory card slot, and world-phone support. Negatives: The Motorola Razr V3i Dolce & Gabbana lacks iTunes support, and call quality and music player performance could be improved. Also, we were hoping for EDGE compatibility. Facts: With mixed performance and a standard feature set, the Motorola Razr V3i Dolce & Gabbana ultimately is a design-first phone. Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., If you think the trendy Motorola Razr doesnt try hard enough to be stylish, Motorola is on a serious quest to prove youre wrong. The company that started the thin phone revolution and gave the world the first gadget in bright pink has partnered with Dolce & Gabbana to produce a special blinged-out version of the Motorola Razr V3i for T-Mobile. A perfect cell phone for anyone with the Midas touch, the Razr V3i D&G is clad in a bright gold skin and features D&G-themed wallpapers and ring tones. The feature set and basic form factor unchanged form the original gray V3i; this is a phone for fashionistas rather than gadget-fiends. As with the all D&G couture, youll pay a lot for the privilege--$400 to be exact--but T-Mobile offers it for $299 with service. The Razr V3i D&G makes a big statement. The V3i D&G strikes a pose from the moment you get out the box. The shiny gold skin is truly unique and is sure to catch glances on the street. The color scheme extends to the inside of the phone as the navigation array, the keypad buttons and the border surrounding the internal display are covered in the same bright hue. You also get a gold D&G dangle that attaches to your handset, and the box is covered in gold as well. It may be a bit much for those with a more understated style, but slaves to fashion should be impressed. Otherwise, the V3i D&G is no different from previous members of the Razr family. It sports the same dimensions as its V3i siblings (3.9 x 2.1 x 0.54 inches) and the same weight (3.5 ounces). The external and internal displays, the navigation controls and the keypad are similar as well. The V3is feature set is mostly unchanged, except for one big difference. Unlike Cingulars V3i, this V3i does not come with integrated support for iTunes. While were not fans of the iTunes/Motorolamarriage, support for Apples popular service was one of the unique offerings on the original V3i, and it was a feature many people looked for. Unfortunately, T-Mobile owners will have to live with Motorolas generic music player instead. Otherwise the feature set is good, but not fantastic. Among the highlights are Bluetooth, a 1.3-megapixel camera, a digital music player with support for iTunes, Bluetooth, a MicroSD card slot, a speakerphone, basic organizer functions, text and multimedia messaging, and support for IMAP4 and POP3 e-mail. For even more bling, the phone comes with themed D&G wallpapers, screen savers and ring tones. And for a really-over-the-top effect, the handset says \"Dolce & Gabbana\" when you turn it on and off. Overall the V3I D&G is a goldmine (pardon the pun) for high-end label lovers. Unfortunately, there are no D&G games. You get just three Java (J2ME) titles: Asphalt Urban GT, Bejewled, and Solitaire. We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900; GPRS) world phone in San Francisco using T-Mobiles service. Call quality was about the same as on the original V3i. Overall, audio quality was fine, but volume was low and voices sounded fuzzy from to time. Again, we were disappointed in the lack of no support for EDGE networks. Music quality wasnt stellar either, but its passable for short stints. See our review of the original Razr V3i for a full performance assessment. ),
(921,Verizon Wireless GzOne Type-V,Positives: The GzOne Type-V is an extremely rugged durable phone that can withstand submersion in water and multiple drops to the floor. It offers decent call quality, a speakerphone, a 2-megapixel camera, and support for 3G EV-DO networks. Negatives: The GzOne Type-V lacks Bluetooth, a music player, analog roaming, and an expandable memory slot. Facts: The ultrastrong GzOne Type-V is a perfect phone for extreme sports enthusiasts. It lacks some key offerings but otherwise offers a decent selection of features and performance. , Photo gallery: GzOne Type-V),
(922,Motorola Razr V3 (T-Mobile), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: The original Motorola Razr V3 for T-Mobile is almost identical to Cingulars version of the phone. Read our review of the first Razr V3 for a full analysis. ),
(923,Motorola Special Edition Black Razr V3 (Cingular Wireless), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., Quick take: The special edition black Motorola Razr V3 is an alternate version of Cingulars original Razr V3 in silver. The black models features are identical to its predecessor. Read our review of the first Razr V3 for a full analysis. ),
(924,Motorola Red MotoRAZR V3m (US Cellular), Note: This product is part of the Motorola Razr series. ., The Motorola Razr V3m has received a fresh coat of red, thanks to Bono and Bobby Shrivers Project Red initiative to help combat HIV and AIDS in Africa. It will be available for both Sprint and US Cellular. Please read our review of the Motorola Razr V3m for more information on the phones features. ),
(925,Samsung SGH-C417 (black),Positives: The Samsung SGH-C417 is simply designed and comes with a useful set of features, including Bluetooth, world-phone support, and a speakerphone. Negatives: The phones keys are flat and slippery, and voice quality is poor. The SGH-C417s VGA camera does not support video. Facts: The Samsung SGH-C417 is a good choice for low-end cell phone users looking for a functional handset with just a few extras. Note: This product is part of the Samsung SGH-C417 series. ., With so many silver cell phones on the market, its nice to see a handset that dips into another hue. Samsungs SGH-C417 for Cingular Wireless does come in basic gray for traditionalists, but its also available in eye-catching, candy-apple red. And if youre into slim phones, the SGH-C417 has this dimension covered too. The phones simple, attractive design echoes its feature set, which is basic but useful. Audio quality is decent, but can sound at times hollow. Overall the SGH-C417 is a solid device that you can find for the bargain-basement price of $29, with service.The SGH-C417 doesnt try to hard to look pretty, but thats OK. We liked the phones understated design, with its sleek lines. The SGH-C417 is relatively thin and compact, at 3.66 by 1.89 by 0.65 inches. It is, however, too small to cradle comfortably between your ear and shoulder. At 2.86 ounces, the SGH-C417 is also relatively light, but we couldnt help but notice that the flip mechanism and the stubby antenna felt flimsy. This isnt a phone for the adventure sports enthusiast. The external grayscale display measures 1 inch (96x96 pixels) and shows all the required information: date, time, battery life, signal strength, and caller ID (when available). It doesnt support photo caller ID, but it does act as a rudimentary viewfinder for self-portraits with the phones VGA camera. You can only change the display contrast, but fortunately it is visible when backlighting is dimmed. The camera lens sits above the display, but doesnt come with a flash. A volume rocker and a covered headset jack sit on the left spine while a camera shutter key and the charger port sit on the right spine.The internal display measures 2 inches and supports 65,000 colors. Though its perfectly adequate for navigating through the minimal but functional menus, the display isnt very bright or vibrant. Perhaps weve been spoiled with 262,000-color displays, but the difference between more modern screens and the SGH-C417s resolution is stark. You can change display font, color, brightness, and backlighting time, but thats about it. The navigation controls and keypad buttons suffer from the same problems that beset many thin phones. Not only are the buttons flush with the surface of the handset, but also theyre slippery. While the red SGH-C417 has an easy-to-read silver interior, the gray SGH-C417 comes with a black interior that makes keypad numbers and letters harder to decipher. Primary navigation is through a four-way toggle and a central OK button. The toggle doubles as a shortcut to four user-defined functions, while the OK button opens the phones Web browser when in standby mode. This isnt ideal, as wed prefer the OK button open the menu instead. However, its a design quirk that you quickly get used to. Other controls include two giant soft keys, a clear button, and the Talk and End/Power buttons. The keypad buttons have a unique design that unfortunately doesnt make them very easy to use. Each row of numbers sits on one long button, with different pressure points for each number. Theres little tactile separation between the individual digits, so dialing by feel is difficult.The phone book holds 500 contacts, with room in each entry for five phone numbers, an e-mail address, and additional notes. You can assign callers to groups, or pair them with one of 10 polyphonic ring tones. You also can pair friends with photos, but the images wont show up on the phones external display. Other basic offerings include text and multimedia messaging, a voice recorder, AOL instant messaging, a vibrate mode, an alarm clock, a calendar, a task list, a notepad, a calculator, a converter, a timer, a stopwatch, and a world clock. On the high-end, the SGH-C417 has Bluetooth capability and a speakerphone. The SGH-C417s camera doesnt come with a flash. The phones VGA camera takes pictures in four resolutions (640x480, 320x240, 160x120, and 128x120) and with three quality settings. Other camera options include a night mode, a 2X zoom, five color tones, brightness control, and three shutter sounds plus a silent mode. Once youve taken a picture, you can send them to friends or save them to the phones relatively meager 2.5MB of internal memory. Photo quality was what wed expect from a VGA camera--colors were washed out and details were fuzzy. Still, the quality is sufficient for quick shots for friends. The SGH-C417s camera does not shoot video. The SGH-C417s photo quality is average for a VGA camera. You can personalize the SGH-C417 with wallpapers, colors, skins, and sounds. If desired, you can also download additional design options or ring tones via the phones WAP 2.0 wireless Web browser. Gamers will enjoy a modest collection of four Java (J2ME) titles--Snow Ball Fight, Bubble Smile, Bowling 2, and Bejeweled--but Cingular offers more titles for purchase.We tested the quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) Samsung SGH-C417 in San Francisco using Cingulars wireless service. Sound quality was satisfactory, but voices at times sounded hollow. Volume level was fine, and callers could hear us plainly. Yet we did experience some problems with the phones voice-response systems when the surroundings were noisy. Speakerphone calls were good, and we had no troubles using a Bluetooth headset.The Samsung SGH-C417 has a rated talk time of 5 hours and a promised standby time of 10 days. Our tests showed a surprising talk time of 10 hours and 28 minutes. According to FCC radiation tests, the SGH-C417 has a digital SAR rating of 1.51 watts per kilogram. ),