Whenever you talk about the prolific cell phone manufacturers in the United States, you will also count the Samsung. Its Samsung Freeform for Alltel Wireless is a good messaging phone. Its unlocked version has a price tag of $199.99 and also costs $69.99 with one-year contract after a mail-in-rebate of $50. The Freeform features GPS, basic multimedia capabilities with 3.5mm headset jack, and corporate email support. It has familiar rigid design unlike its name. The additional highlights are three-way conference calling, voice recognition, Bluetooth, and more. The overall call quality is good and its messaging features are the main selling point. Samsung also offers two display languages: English and Spanish. However, its QWERTY keyboard is bit cramped and photo quality needs improvement. If you need an entry-level budget phone then Samsung Freeform is a good choice. Design The charger jack and  [...]

The Samsung Omnia II costs $199 with two-year Verizon Wireless contract after a mail-in-rebate of $100. There are several touch-screen smartphones available in the market. What the Omnia II offers as compared to them? It is the successor of the previous Samsung Omnia and runs on Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system. The smartphone features large touch-screen display, revamped Samsung TouchWiz interface, 3G support, GPS, Bluetooth, and other advanced multimedia features. However, the Omnia II still suffer from drawbacks including its bulkier design, average performance and the Swype keyboard requires more acclimation. If you are looking for an advanced multimedia smartphone with Verizon and do not mind sluggish performance, then the Omnia II will be a good choice. However, HTC Droid Eris and Motorola Droid are its good alternatives with Verizon Wireless. The business users can consider the HTC Imagio with HTC Sense user interface. Design You  [...]

Pantech is one of the famous manufacturers for sliding QWERTY phones. From Helio Ocean to Pantech Reveal, the company had launched great messaging phones. Now, the company has come up with flip-design messaging phone – Pantech Impact. It looks like LG enV3 and has external keypad, full QWERTY keyboard and dual displays. The Impact costs $99.99 with two year AT&T Wireless contract after mail-in-rebate. It features touch-sensitive OLED exterior, 2-megapixel camera, Opera Web browser, GPS, and 3G. However, the Impact also has some drawbacks. Its camera is a bit difficult to use, the keyboard is off-balanced, and external keypad is not spacious. The Impact has something in common with Sanyo SCP-6760 Incognito. Both Incognito and Impact has small external display on exterior, but the Incognito has a better QWERTY keyboard. If you need a low cost messaging phone with QWERTY keyboard and 2-megapixel camera, then go for – Pantech Impact.

Can you see an alphanumeric touch-pad on the front surface? No, then flick a small switch on left spine. Now, it will show the touch-pad on the front. This is about the Sanyo SCP-6760 Incognito that has horizontal flip design like LG enV Touch. The SCP-6760 has a bit in common with Pantech Impact for AT&T. Both the Impact and the Incognito look little quirky due to their small displays and touch-sensitive keypads on the exterior. On opening, both of them reveal color displays and QWERTY keyboards. Not only this, but they also offer several same features such as 2-megapixel camera, music player, and 3G support. In contrast, we like the built and keyboard of the SCP-6760 Incognito. The speakerphone call quality is low, while the exterior touch interface and excellent messaging keyboard will draw the attention of large consumer base. The Incognito costs $49 with Sprint service contract after mail-in-rebate of $50. Design You  [...]

There is a large consumer base for rugged handsets from Casio ever since the launch of Type-V model in 2006. These handsets are not only for industry workers, but also for swimmers, mountaineers, safari and naval professionalizes. Now, the company has launched another rugged phone – Casio G’zOne Rock. The Rock is not a beauty like its predecessor – Verizon G’zOne Boulder. It is MIL-STD-810F (military specification) certified to withstand extreme temperatures, high altitude, solar radiation, humidity, fog, salt, vibration, immersion, dust, shock, and water. The G’zOne Rock is available for $149.99 with two year contract from Verizon Wireless. The handset offers GPS with compass, thermometer and tidal graph, push-to-talk, and EV-DO. The G’zOne Rock looks masculine with its blocky and jagged angles. On the contrary, its call and photo quality as well as music player interface needs improvement. Noteworthy that Rock will be first choice for those persons who need rugged handset  [...]

Casio is one of the famous rugged handset manufacturers in the U.S. All of its cell phones are military certified. Now, the company has launched its new product – Casio G’zOne Brigade that is also MIL-STD810F certified. The G’zOne Brigade can withstand extreme temperatures, high altitude, solar radiation, humidity, fog, salt, vibration, immersion, dust, shock, and water. The Brigade costs $249.99 with two year contract from Verizon Wireless after mail-in rebate of $50. It offers good multimedia features, A-GPS, EV-DO Rev., push-to-talk, 3.2-megapixel camera, full QWERTY keyboard, great call quality, and tough exterior. All of its ports are covered with rubber stoppers and battery cover is protected by a locking mechanism to remain secure from water damage. If you need a durable and rugged messaging handset, we will recommend – Casio G’zOne Brigade. Design The external display on the  [...]

Most of the cell manufacturers are adopting Google Android as their mobile operating system. Now, Sony Ericsson has released its first Android smartphone – the Xperia X10. It features large, sharp and gorgeous display, excellent multimedia features, easy-to-use interface, and virtual keyboard. However, the onscreen keyboard does not work in all applications. The Timescape application is very useful, but has a complicated interface. The X10 provides good call quality and fast internal speed. On the contrary, Timescape updates do not complete successfully and data connection strength is variable. We hope that these issues are due to the carrier and other service provider may fix these issues. You can purchase the unlocked version of Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 for $700. You may have to use third party application for synchronizing Outlook calendar. If you can afford an expensive price tag for a fast and good looking smartphone and can get an U.S. 3G carrier to overcome above problem, then  [...]

Complicated smartphones with excellent multimedia features and touch screen are common in the cell phone market across the U.S. On the other hand, there are a good number of consumers always waiting for basic entry-level handsets. One such phone is – Cricket Captr that is one of the smallest flip handsets. The Captr costs $129.99 and offers color external & internal displays, basic features, VGA camera and decent call quality. However, it has lackluster display, poor photo quality and needs improvement for its speakerphone. The additional highlights are TTY compatibility, USB, T9 Intelligent Typing, and Bluetooth. What’s more – the battery life is 5 hours of continuous talk time. Like other Cricket phones, you will find shortcuts at the bottom row of display in standby mode of phone. These shortcut icons point to widgets and applications like news headlines, horoscope, local weather, and so forth. If you need a handset for simple communication only, then Cricket Captr is a good  [...]

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1 is the first Sony phone to release with Windows Mobile 6.1. It is a luxury smartphone with solid construction and extensive price tag. We appreciate the Sony Ericsson to work perfectly on hardware to provide a wow factor to the Xperia X1, but it works like other Windows Mobile devices. It features slide-out QWERTY keyboard, optical joystick, various multimedia features and easy-to-use panel interface. There are standard seven panels and you can download more from Sony Ericsson download site. Its unlocked version costs $799.99 and available at Sony Style stores. We are disappointed that currently no U.S. carrier is supporting the Xperia X1. Its navigation array is a bit difficult to use and Sony need to focus on Web browsing. The Xperia X1 supports 850/1900/2100 UMTS/HSDPA bands, which means it fully operates with AT&T SIM in the United States. On the contrary, the X1 only works for calling and Web surfing at T-Mobile with EDGE because its  3G network runs on  [...]

The very first Jitterbug phone had set a market trademark due its great hit. The previous ones to hit the floor are Samsung Jitterbug One Touch and Samsung Jitterbug Dial. Now, company has launched the new – Samsung Jitterbug J. The two new additions are Bluetooth, and send/receive messages. Previously the Jitterbug was available for only Jitterbug service (a virtual network operator). Now, the Jitterbug has made the deals with major CDMA service providers and you have the freedom to change the carrier. The Jitterbug J is available for $147 plus additional $35 for one time setup fee. It has round and clamshell design like original Jitterbug phone. Jitterbug claims that the ear cushion is so built that that it can fit the hearing aids also. What’s more – Jitterbug is not charging for any contract or cancellation fees. The cell phone features large keypad for easy work and powerful speakerphone for loud/clear sound. On purchasing the J phone, Jitterbug is also providing free 24/7 U.S.  [...]