Samsung Cell Phones

Distinguishing Features

It is difficult to set yourself apart in the world of cellular phones, but there are a few things that set Samsung apart from its competition:

• Slim Profile: The Motorola RAZR may have first popularized the idea of a skinny phone, but Samsung took the idea and ran with it. Many of their newest handsets are among the slimmest in the world, most recently with the SGH-X820, which is a mere 6.9mm (just over a quarter inch) in thickness.

• Slider Form Factor: Samsung does produce clamshells (flip style) and candybar style handsets as well, but many of their most popular mobile phones take on the slider form factor. This allows for a large vibrant screen, but a relatively small footprint when the keypad is slid out of the way.

• Megapixel Camera: Most cellular phones these days come with integrated cameras, but Samsung usually throws higher-resolution cameras in their handsets. In fact, they have produced mobile phones with cameras as high as 8 megapixels.

• Multimedia Functionality: Musicphones seem to be all the rage these days, and again, Samsung has jumped all over this trend as well. With large internal memory, expansion slots, and external media controls, several Samsung handsets are highly sought after.

• Black Casing: Contemporary silver may be all well and good -- and Samsung does make silver phones -- but many of their most cutting-edge and newest phones are housed in black-colored casing.

Popular Units

Available in the United States

• SGH-D307: Available from Cingular Wireless, this dual hinged phone is great for people who have a thing for text messaging. Flip the phone open the conventional way for regular voice calling needs, but flip open the phone on its side to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard and a landscape-oriented full-color display. Other features include Bluetooth Wireless Technology and speakerphone, but unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a camera on this unit.

• SGH-P207: Also from Cingular, the Samsung P207 is a good entry-level clamshell that comes with high speed EDGE data to go with a VGA digital still/video camera, speech to text technology, and a 65k color external display.

• SPH-A900: Clearly targetted against the Motorola RAZR V3 line of slim flip phones, the Samsung SPH-A900 one ups its competition with external media controls. Yup, this phone also known as the "Blade" has full multimedia functionality (play your MP3s at will) and is available through Sprint. Other highlights include Bluetooth, EVDO, and a swiveling 1.3 megapixel picture taker.

• SCH-I830: One of Samsung's main entries into the PDA/Smartphone market, the SCH-I830 comes with a huge color screen, a slide out QWERTY keyboard, and an integrated MP3 player. All of your basic smartphone functions can be found on this Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC 2nd Edition device, including pocket versions of Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet Explorer. Available through Verizon.

• SGH-T809: This slim phone with a sliding form factor is available through Catherine Zeta-Jones over at T-Mobile. The internal antenna adds to the sleek design, and it comes with your a host of features including a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth, stereo speakers, and video playback.

• SGH-E635: If you're looking for a really compact phone that you can carry around with you just about anywhere, you should take a serious look at the SGH-E635. Making use of Samsung's signature sliding form factor, they've kept the package small (around 3.5-inches long and just a touch over 3 ounces). An internal antenna, VGA camera, and a 128x160 pixel color display round out the features. Available through T-Mobile.

Hot Import Models

Most of Samsung's hottest handsets will never make it over this side of the Pacific Ocean. Alas, so many juicy goodies will be restricted to Korea, or in the some cases, over to Japan and surrounding countries. However, some of these phones are available for import and use in Canada and the United States.

• SGH-D600: It may not be the skinniest or even the smallest phone on the block, but the D600 comes packed with features at a more reasonable price. You can usually pick one up for less than $400, and along with multimedia functionality, quad-band GSM connectivity, and a 2.0-megapixel camera, you'll also enjoy a large vibrant screen, video recording, and an integrated video player.

• SGH-P850: Appearances are a little deceiving, because the tri-band GSM SGH-P850 looks more like a camera than a phone when in its closed position. This clamshell styled handset comes with TV output, a 3 megapixel camera (that also does video), and an external 65k color OLED display. Other features include FM radio, Bluetooth, and stereo speakers with 3D effects.

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