Samsung SCH-U740 Review - Conclusion
ConclusionConclusionI'm something of a geek and something of a style freak when it comes to gadgets, and mobile phones, of course, are just about the ultimate gadgets right now. I want my mobile phones to do everything - voice calling, messaging, email, Web, music and video playback, games - and I want them to pack all of that functionality into slim, lightweight packages that look good. I'm perfectly happy to deal with a bit of a learning curve in order to master a do it all handset that requires a number of menus or multi-functional buttons in order to put everything plus the kitchen sink into my hip pocket.
Given that self-assessment, the Samsung SCH-u740 for Verizon Wireless is definitely the kind of phone I like. It's a flip phone that opens in two directions. It's got more than 40 buttons and two screens but is only 15mm thick. Best of all, it's a messaging powerhouse that looks like a regular old phone to the unknowing outsider.
All in all I really liked the u740 despite Verizon's best efforts to put Samsung's clever hardware design to shame. While perhaps a bit too complicated for the basic phone user, the u740 neatly packs a full QWERTY keyboard into a sleek form factor while being comfortable to use. Unfortunately, Verizon's user interface is less than comfortable to use, and their messaging and email applications definitely don't make the most of the hardware they run on. Still, if you're looking for a great texting phone without the bulk of a true smartphone, the u740 is well worth a look. Just be sure to sign up for an unlimited messaging plan when you get one!
 Compare prices »Fetch me more...Quickly jump to more information about related topics, cell phones, carriers or phone manufacturers mentioned in this In-Depth Review by using the links below. About our in-depth cell phone reviewsWe take great pride to ensure that the our reviews are thorough and accurate. In no way are our editors directed or influenced by any manufacturers, advertisers, or partners; we believe that honest, opinionated reviews -positive or negative - are the only way to maintain credibility and serve our users. Reviews by companyApple, BenQ, BlackBerry, Eten, HTC, LG, Motorola, Nokia, o2, Palm, Pantech, Samsung, Sanyo, Sharp, Sony EricssonNoah unboxes the Samsung Alias VCAST messaging phone for Verizon. This update to the U740 features a dual-flip design with QWERTY keyboard, 1.3 MP camera, and media player with access to VCAST music and videos. PhoneDog and Samsung are proud to announce the winner of our user review contest, Jeff Davis of Nebraska. He will be receiving a new Samsung SCH-U740 for his review he left about his Verizon Motorola RAZR V3c.
The contest began March 12, 2007 and ran through April 30th, 2007. Jeff's review was selected randomly out of many approved during that time period. We would like to thank everyone who submitted a review and... A few years back, Motorola generated a lot of buzz in the mobile phone community with their ultimately ill-fated MPx (MPx300) dual-hinge clamshell. The mpx packed a full QWERTY keyboard into a standard flip phone form factor, and opened both the "long" and "short" ways for use either as a traditional phone or widescreen device. While that phone was a little ahead of its time (it's big problem was not enough horsepower for its intended... While messaging is the u740's true raison d'etre, it's also a full-featured multimedia phone compatible with Verizon's VCAST 3G network. The handset can play music in stereo from microSD cards either over its built-in stereo speakers or via wired or wireless headphones. Music can be controlled from the main keypad or using three touch-sensitive controls mounted on front panel of the phone. The controls (like most touch... I'm not entirely sure why Samsung opted for a relatively low-res main display on the u740, given its VCAST compatibility and stereo speakers. The 2.2" TFT main screen can display 262,000 colors, but only at 176 x 220 pixels. While this is fine for reading and writing messages, it makes for lousy full-screen viewing of images and video clips, which is really too bad considering that holding the handset in widescreen orientation makes... Messaging on the u750 includes SMS and MMS as well as IM support for AIM, MSN, and Yahoo!; Email is handled through Verizon's optional WAP-based system (Mobile Web 2.0) or Wireless Sync application, which I found overpriced and underpowered. The handset's hardware is so well tailored for a quality messaging service, it's a shame to see it as hampered as it is by Verizon's software. Photos and Videos can be attached to MMS messages... PhoneDog is hooking up with Samsung to offer you the chance to win a SCH-u740 messaging phone for use on Verizon Wireless. Check out my Sixty Seconds of Phone overview of this great dual-flip phone - it's thin, has solid multimedia features, and a full QWERTY keyboard for text messaging madness.
You've got until April 30, 2007 to enter to win a u740. All you have to do is post a 30 word or longer review of your current cell... Done!!! Sweeeeeeeeeet phone [:D] I don't have Verizon, but I'll take the phone if I win [:]
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4.7
