We asked our friendElvi — who happen to be , among other thing , an in - memory board Sprint instance — to give us the gratifying and low on Sprint’scurrent lineup of phones . Think of it as the same variety of entropy you ’d get if you spend an hr or two of time with a Sprint employee at his most candid . If you are a mobile sound packman for another carrier and would like to give us your take on your offerings , let us know .
Nokia 3588i
Sprint has often been criticized by the teeny bopper crowd for not carry any “ cool ” phones . This infuriates Sprint ’s buying department , who have made major investments in the new technology and most advanced ( read : most expensive ) phones .
Sprint seems to have picked up this Nokia poser for no other feature than the customizable faceplate that is so popular with twelve year sometime girls . Now even Sprint has a hot pink phone !
This is the last remaining non - Vision phone in Sprint ’s lineup . To do text electronic messaging , a freestanding $ 5 service is postulate . For the same amount , Britney could share the Vision service on mom or dad ’s account , bewilder text edition messaging , web browse , downloads , etc .
The $ 150 price tatter means that dispose customer can get this one for barren , but I ca n’t imagine anyone choose this earpiece for any reason other than toll . There are better choice available without paying much more .
See those well options after the startle .
VI600 aka Audiovox 8450
This speech sound is often overlook by shoppers with impudent phones on their mind , but it might be a better choice . If Mary Leontyne Price is an return , you really ca n’t beat the VI600 ’s lineament to cost ratio . $ 180 seems just right for such a small package .
cut the speakerphone . Yes , it has one , but if you ’re interested in that feature , Sanyo phones have higher tone Speaker . You did require the other someone to understand what you were tell , right ?
VI660 aka Samsung A660
At $ 200 , this is the cheapest threefold band snotty-nosed telephone set . There is no international window to show the time or caller ID , which is peculiar . For those who do n’t use their phone as a watch , this might not be a trouble . If it is , another fifty bucks gets you a different model with a full colour outer display and a television camera .
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=gizmodo08c-20
Sanyo RL2000 aka Sanyo 7200
A very large telephone set by today ’s standard , but that ’s the point . The intended market for this is the building worker who wants a walkie - talking picture , but ca n’t seem to keep his phone from fall off of tall building . Sprint says “ durable design for furrowed economic consumption ” . I say the black rubber grips on the side make it feel like the phone would survive a two taradiddle drop into the back of a Ford F-150 ( as it turns out it can , but the guy lose his battery ) .
LG VI-5225
Most phones Sprint sells are dual band , mean they can ramble outside of Sprint ’s coverage surface area on either digital or analog tug . This is one of Sprint ’s first to extend digital roaming , but not erstwhile school parallel stray . This still covers a large footprint , but check Sprint ’s coverage maps to be sure you ’ll be able to call from grandma ’s business firm out in the country .
This phone ’s lack of outside feeler makes it calculate a bit left . It does have an external video display windowpane , but it is n’t in color like most other models . There is no camera , so there is n’t much to see in color anyway .
The phone competes with Samsung ’s VI660 in price . The determination comes down to which is more of import ; roaming or the external presentation . I always cut it short by indicate the Samsung A620 that has both .
Sanyo RL-4920
This is a much lowly translation of Sanyo ’s 7200 . Sanyo claims a battery life of five and a half time of day , far longer than any other earphone by any manufacturer .
These have n’t been out long , but I depend they ’ll be the upright seller among Sprint employees . You see , most communication between employees is done via voice mail instead of electronic mail , so having a speakerphone is a must . Sanyo has long been considered the high - end of phone manufacturers , and the $ 220 damage for this one make it a good paroxysm for shoppers on a budget .
Nokia PM-6225
This is the only non - flip to sport a camera . The 640×480 motion-picture show look fine after you get them off the phone , but the display on the phone is weak at only 4 K colors . The outside show of most Sprint phone are unspoiled than the Nokia ’s main CRT screen .
The feature article that sets this model asunder is the built in AM / FM radio . There are optional stereo earpiece ( $ 30 ) , and a base unit ( $ 100 ) that roleplay as a courser and external speaker system set . The approximation is to apply the telephone as a clock radio , heat up in the morning and get out the phone out of the base unit of measurement on your style to in-between school .
Samsung VGA1000 aka Samsung A620
A well built camera phone , this was one of the first 640×480 modeling available ( hence the model name ) . Both the main and kayoed screens are 65 K colour , and look pretty estimable .
We trade lots of these $ 250 phones , but I ’d buy the Sanyo 8200 or else because I use the speakerphone all the sentence .
Motorola V60v
This telephone cost $ 250 , but DOESN’T include a camera , speakerphone , web admittance , a dainty display , small size , ready linkup , or even a people of color display on the exterior . No wonder you have to particular order them . People who shop for name brands instead of quality deserve to have to give threefold . I ’ve never learn one of these in person , because we do n’t carry them in stores . I think Motorola must have want Sprint ’s byplay back , so they impart us this model for free as an incentive . I ca n’t envision selling any of them at $ 250 , but consumer do n’t always do their homework .
Sanyo RL7300
The flip version of the 7200 , this has the same rubberized sides as it ’s fat brother . All the same features are included here , plus a 2d color display for when the flip is closed . Because of the lowly sizing , the battery does n’t last quite as longsighted at 3 hour public lecture fourth dimension . If your phone needs to be rugged , this is a good choice . If not , spend the same $ 280 for the smaller Sanyo 8200 and get a built in television camera .
Sanyo PM-8200
Sanyo always seems to be one step onwards of other phone companies in terms of build timber and useableness . This is one of the hot phones ever made , block off none . For $ 280 I look a clump of features , or a eminent quality earphone , but not necessarily both . What Sanyo give up is a well milled port and top notch structure at just the right price . As small as it is , the stamp battery still feature a 3.5 hour talk prison term .
This 640×480 tv camera telephone is available in three colors : Silver , Midnight Blue , or Red . The kayoed shell looks more like a machine ’s finish than a typical cheap plastic sound . There are pics uncommitted on the website , but you really must see this phone in individual . The red is gorgeous , and I trust Sanyo continues to make red phones yr after year .
This is a fairly new mannikin , so do n’t expect to be able-bodied to snap pictures of unsuspecting hotties . As a result of politics “ mesmerism ” many camera phone manufacturing business have jump including an audible shutter phone , or a visual clew to allow you know that someone is taking your picture . This example has a small red light on the front that turns on when in television camera modality .
Last year ’s 8100 was the best seller , and the 8200 look like it could surpass even those fully grown sales numbers . The gain of a flash and zoom for the camera , Ready Link with speaker phone make this the first ( and unremarkably last ) headphone to seem at .
Samsung VM-680
This is the smallest flip earpiece I ’ve ever seen . The tiny parcel is even more impressive when you deal the tv camera with flash and zoom , video recording tv camera that lets you take and place 15 2nd cartridge clip with phone , and a full semblance outer display .
At $ 300 the 680 is an entering level television earpiece , but you might not leave out much from the other models . Unless you want a speaker system phone , or want to say you pack the most expensive phone useable , this would be a good choice .
Toshiba VM4050
Toshiba does n’t put their name on many phones , usually putting the Audiovox name on the low end models that they betray . The 4050 is not a low-pitched ending example . It is a $ 330 video telephone set with the best looking display screenland ever . The 2.2 inch 260 K covert is as good as anything ever has to be ( outer display is “ only ” 65 K ) . I ’m sure people have made similar statements about other advances in engineering science , but really , you ’ll never involve anything pretty than this display . Other phones should front this goodness . inferno , other camcorders and TV games should look this good ! You should see this phone , even if you end up buy another model .
Camera ? Check . Video ? hitch . Speakerphone ? Check . SMS school text electronic messaging ? Check .
So why would you bribe another framework ? peradventure you would n’t , I do n’t know . perchance you talk a draw and need to add a longer life bombardment ( the Toshiba ’s battery is internal , so there is no way to put back the standard 3.3 60 minutes talking - time battery with a fatter extended one ) . Maybe you want to be able to walkie talkie . perhaps the sizing is too much for you to handle . The bigger the display , the bigger the earpiece has to be . Not that this is a with child headphone , but there are small models if that ’s your affair .
I love this phone , and would love to have one .
Samsung A600
The matter about this speech sound is the flip around main screen . Unlike most models that have a main and outer display , this one evoke that you flip over the screen around while it ’s fill up so you ’ll have a big outer showing for the 99 % of the time where the phone is n’t in use . Because of this , the camera lens is n’t on the back of the phone like most models . The tv camera lens rotates up and down so you’re able to flip it back to take a ego portrait .
The intent is overbold , and fun , but I would n’t go so far as to call it functional . I ’d rather have a bushel housing with a second display on the outside , even though get a full size video display on the outside would be coolheaded .
The telephone set itself is skillful , but not special . I ’d suggest keep a hundred clam and getting the Sanyo 8200 . With that one you ’d get a smaller , light example with a speakerphone . Then again , I do n’t spend an extra $ 100 just for one coolheaded feature .
Sanyo VM4500 aka 5500
Everything that the other top - of - the - line Sanyo telephone set do is admit with this one , plus the power to do 15 second video clips . In fact , this was the first phone in the US with television . To this Clarence Shepard Day Jr. , it is still the leader in features . As with all the current tv camera phones , you could add a vocalisation transcription to a still picture . Ready Link is there , but of grade most mass will just use the speakerphone for even earphone calls .
This phone is available in silver or drab bluing .
Samsung I-500
This is the best matter to happen to the Palm since they started including coloring material screens . The insolent design is just staring , with the main video display on top , and the graffiti pad and phone computer keyboard on the bottom half . The earphone is thinner and clean than regular flip phones from even a few age ago . The phone is so small when shut that the stylus contracts to fit inside .
If you have a Palm now , this would be a good pick for a earphone . Why carry two gadgets everywhere you go , especially when this one does everything your existing PDA does , and is probably little . pass the $ 600 on this one and betray your other equipment on eBay .
There are two batteries included with the phone , a slender one for when size of it matters , and a roly-poly with a 5 hour talk time when you know you ’ll be visit or web browse for a long time .
The telephone uses Palm OS 4.1 with 16 MB of memory . Something to keep in mind is that unlike other Vision cyberspace - enabled headphone , the I-500 does n’t lease you download games , ringers , pictures , or other coating . There are of course thousands of Palm covering that you get to expend or else , but do n’t expect to play Pac - Man like you could on other phones .
Treo 600
Never had a organiser before ? The merged keyboard of the Treo 600 makes text input quick and easy . There are pointer on the computer keyboard that let you voyage the menu organization without using the stylus on the screen . Graffiti users cuss by it , but there is of path a learning curved shape involved with that written language . You ’ll be using the QWERTY keyboard now for sending emails and entering contact names , even though you ’ll probably pick up the stylus to range the vane .
Handspring ( now PalmOne ) included a tv camera with this twist , so you’re able to crack photograph of everyone in your address record . When they call , you see their smile grimace ( or cleavage , or whatever ) . The television camera is the standard 640×480 .
There is an SD / MMC card slot , so you could increase the 16 MB storage if demand . This slot supposedly have you add a Bluetooth carte du jour , but I have n’t played with one before .
Any downsides to this speech sound ? A couple , but they would n’t bear upon me ( the $ 600 price puts it out of my stove anyway ) . The stamp battery is inner , so if 4 time of day of talk time is n’t enough , you do n’t have the option of upgrading . The earphone does n’t have analog roaming , so you ’d want to check a coverage map to see that you may make calls from everywhere you travel .
Hitachi G1000
reckon on your perspective , this is either a very big PDA or a very pocket-sized computer . At almost 6″ tall and 3.3″ wide , this is not going to equip in your pouch unless you ’re a heavy devotee of cargo pants . The sizing feel just right when you ’re typing on the keyboard or looking at the immense screen , but is too much to be able to channel around like a phone . apply the G1000 up to your ear while on the phone look pretty funny , so you should use the speakerphone or invest in a courteous headset .
Microsoft Pocket personal computer is a tricky oxygen for a wireless gadget , and integrate well with the speech sound . With Palm - based telephone set , you ca n’t do anything else while using the phone . [ He ’s smoking shot here , and we talked about it . The reason he thought this was because so many customers had return Palm phones to him with this exact problem , so there might be a disconnect with the users about how best to do it . This will be changed in the next revision of this article – ed ] With this one you’re able to be talking while entering striking information into Outlook ’s address script , or even into Word or Excel . There are big advantage to being able to spill to somebody about a website at the same time you ’re view it on the screen . medium role player have you play downloaded videos , or .mp3s too , estimable to have while wait around an aerodrome .
There are unlike way to come in info , besides the obvious built in QWERTY keyboard . There is also a mode that allow you write on the CRT screen and it seek to recognize the letters , but I ’d just habituate the keyboard alternatively . you’re able to apply the style to imitate / spread info from one practical app to another .
The camera flips around to take self portraits , but we are n’t quite to the point where video conferencing is a reality . Add an Mount Rushmore State or MMC bill if you satisfy the phone ’s national retention with word-painting of yourself .
Oh yeah , it ’s single band only , so you do n’t get to make roaming margin call .
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