Samsung S105 Phone (T-Mobile)

Impressive in terms of sheer design, this little flip phone approaches perfection. A combination of equal parts efficiency and flash, the Samsung S105 offers a comprehensive package of standard features and fun, useful extras. When closed, the phone appears alluringly hi-tech with its silver finish, rectangular body, and external LCD display, which shows date, time, battery level, service icon, and caller ID. And, even though the phone only weighs four ounces, it still feels substantial. When flipped open, the S105 doesn't disappoint. Its brilliant full-color LCD with its animated menus, uniquely shaped buttons, and blue backlit keypad numerals dazzles the eye. The folks at Samsung certainly know the power of symmetry, form, and color.

But what good is a cool-looking phone without practical features? The S105 is loaded with them. Extensive call records allow you to view missed incoming and outgoing calls, and the length of total and individual calls. The organizer contains a to-do list, calculator, alarm, currency exchange estimator, and calendar, in which you can write yourself memos for any given day. You can also read and write messages in text format (with SMS support from T-Mobile). The S105 also provides nine precomposed, time-saving templates for simple messages you can send in lieu of typing them yourself. Late for a date? Simply scroll and choose, "I am late and will be there in ___ minutes" and hit Send. These templates can of course be edited and saved. You can also attach sound or graphic objects to messages.

The phone book in the S105 allows for 500 entries in phone memory, and another 250 in the SIM card. Contacts can be organized in up to 10 groups, with each group having its own ring tone and graphic display. You can store up to nine speed-dial numbers.

When it comes to the ring tone, you’ve got many choices. In fact, customizing these settings might bring up unusual quandaries, such as deciding whether or not the phone should play "Carmen" or "Valse des Fleurs" when you get a call. If you’re feeling retro, you can just set the phone to ring like an old-fashioned rotary dial. There are 20 of these polyphonic ringer options to choose from. You can also set your alert to vibration, vibration plus melody, or display light only. Speaking of light, users can even change the color of the service indicator light (eight options), alter the contrast of both LCD displays, choose from 12 full-color animated wallpaper displays, and select menu color themes.

Changing the appearance and sounds of phones is great, but what about mission-critical features? In our tests we found the voice quality to be excellent. A long-distance call from a busy downtown Seattle street corner was successful. The answering party did not hear a huge truck rumble by, thanks to the phone's microphone noise-cancellation properties. The phone’s network services menu allows broad control over call waiting, call forwarding, and caller ID, as well as network selection (automatic or manual), and band selection (GSM 900/1,800 or GSM 1,900) for travel in foreign countries. Users can manipulate and store settings such as the SMS service center used for sending messages, and the channels on which broadcast messages are received. Depending on your service plan, the WAP-enabled browser allows access to mobile-friendly Internet sites. You can store URL favorites and set a home page, as well as download Java-enabled games and additional sounds for your phone. An infrared port lets you beam data to other IR-equipped units.

All of the many features of the S105 are easily accessed via the phone’s simple navigation interface. An oval-shaped four-position button is used for scrolling, and soft keys to the left and right allow for selection or cancellation/return to a previous menu. There is also a volume button on the side and a headphone jack for the hands-free ear microphone (included). For those times when you’re stuck at the airport, there are three full-color games loaded on the S105. Of these, we like My Pet (you have to see it).

Many of us want, even crave, the most futuristic devices, even ones that will provoke the curiosity and admiration of friends. To this end, the Samsung S105 should be the perfect choice. It’s a spectacular instrument that does the basic work of a cell phone--and much more--in grand fashion. The S105 has it all and never disappoints. --John Bosch

Pros:

• - Overall design
• - Large, color LCD screen
• - Variety and functionality of features
• - Animated graphics

Cons:

• - No light on external LCD

Comments

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************Samsung in general: the speaker quit working on the first Samsung I owned (with Sprint)after about 1.5 yrs. (Sprint refused to sell me another phone at a good price without resigning a contract, so I switched to T-Mobile.) The LCD quit working on the second Samsung (my S105 through t-mobile). I dropped the 3rd one into my swimming pool on accident (e315), so it was too soon to know if it was going to be a good phone!************** The Samsung S105 was a pretty good phone overall. I switched from Sprint to T-Mobile when I purchased this phone, and the call quality was much improved - so I don't know if it was the phone or the service provider. The battery was great,the interface was easy to use. The phone felt solid, but was still dainty. Sometimes when I would try to access the phonebook it would stall out, but not very often. After about a year of solid performance, the LCD displays on both the inside and outside went blank. (To be fair, I should add that I live in FL and often had the phone clipped to my waist when working outside - so it could have been the heat.) If this phone has lasted 2 yrs I would have given it a 4 star rating. Maybe a year is more realistic? (Astonishingly enough, the LCD on the e315 phone still works after a dip in the pool, but it won't stop vibrating when I put the battery in and the keys won't work.) My advice - think about buying the insurance or paying less for a phone!